Month: December 2017

IMPHAL | Dec 12

Thadou Students’ Association, General Headquarters (TSA-GHQ) has strongly condemned the burning of the house of Lhunkhomang Baite by unknown miscreants on December 7. Lhunkhomang was reportedly arrested by the police in connection with the Sugnu double murder case on May 5 and released recently, said a release. 

It also stated that TSA-GHQ is seriously concerned that no arrest has been made in connection with the murder of 21-year-old woman, Cicilia Nengkhokim Haokip, who was found brutally murdered at Muoltinchan village road junction near Sugnu on May 5 after being allegedly gang-raped.  

A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the joint action committee and the government representatives, including the local MLA of Chandel, who is also the minister for WR and YAS, on May 6, had assured justice in the case. However justice is still eluded. It has emerged that the case has been transferred from Sugnu Police to Kakching Police, but this has not yielded any significant progress in finding justice, said the release.

We wonder why the police have not made any arrest so far in connection with the heinous crime. There is a growing suspicion that there is a deep conspiracy. It is high time that the authority act expeditiously and bring justice without any further delay, otherwise there is a strong possibility of public outrage, said TSA in the release.  It also stated that as the case has been delayed for so long, it is now necessary to be investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for speedy justice. 

TSA has appealed the government to deliver justice at the earliest, otherwise the students’ association may be compelled for strong agitation, said the release.

From A Correspondent

NEW DELHI | Dec 12

In an effort that could provide the much needed impetus to campaign for waste segregation at source across the country, Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) Manipur and Gangtok Municipal Corporation(GMC) of Sikkim along with 18 municipalities from 11 other Indian states joins their hands and floated a ‘Forum of cities that Segregate’ on Tuesday.

The other municipal bodies include Bangaluru, Panchghani, Indore, Allappuzha, East Delhi, New Delhi (NDMC), Amdavad, Bobillli, Bhopal, Gurugram, Thiruvanthapuram, Mysuru, Bhagat, Patna, Greater Hyderabad, Gaya, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Vajiapur, etc.

The joining of these two Municipal bodies in the forum was came to light when New Delhi based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE),an NGO set up to disseminate information about science and environment launched the ‘Forum of Cities that Segregate’ during a function following stakeholder’s meet cum media briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday evening.

“The main agenda of this forum is to give participating cities a platform for exchanging knowledge on solid waste management (SWM),”says deputy director, General Chandra Bhushan of CSE. “We hope that the cities in the forum would become pioneers in terms of SWM and guide other cities on technical, economic and social aspects of managing their waste.”

The said 20 Municipal bodies from 13 states have also pledged to achieve the target of 100 per cent segregation and fulfill the vision of clean India by 2019. CSE is also planning to assist these Municipalities on building their capacity, according to program manager, Swati Singh Sambyal of CSE.

In terms of actions initiated by the Forum cities, many – including NDMC and the SDMC, Bhopal, Imphal etc — have started door to door collection of waste.

CSE director, General Sunita Narain said that from collection to disposal of waste,cities are struggling to implement an affordable and sustainable model. On the other hand, the amount of waste generated is increasing every day. Urban India alone generates a gigantic 1.5 lakh metric tonnes per day of municipal solid waste; this amount goes up by 5 per cent every year. Bazar officer, Atish Rai of GMC Sikkim and assistant commissioner of IMC Thoudam Sony also attended the event.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 12

Parental family of late Mirnalini and locals of Heirangei Thong Awang Maibam Leikai tried to storm at the Imphal police station demanding that the arrested husband, mother-in-law and the husband’s brother of Mirnalini be handed over to them.

Longjam Ongbi Mirnalini (24), wife of L. Rabichandra of Keishamthong Maning Longjam Leikai was found dead reportedly by hanging in her own bedroom on last Sunday night and her parental family alleged her husband and mother-in-law for killing her and staging the murder as suicide.

Police stopped them at Moirangkhom area and only a few members including mother of the deceased were allowed to witness the three arrested individuals.

According to the deceased’s mother, police assured her that the investigation of the case will be completed as soon as possible.

Parents of the deceased alleged that the mother-in-law used to torture and harass her from time to time and due to which she had returned back home and stayed for some time before her husband came and took Mirnalini back to their home earlier.

They claimed that in the morning of that particular day when the incident happened,  Mirnalini visited their parental home along with her two years old child in a scooter.

Mentioned may be made that post-mortem of the deceased women was conducted yesterday with full video coverage at RIMS morgue in the presence of duty magistrate.

Heated exchange took place between the locals and parental family of the deceased and maternal family members at RIMS Morgue complex when the maternal family tried to claimed the body for last ritual.

Moreover the parental family members pelted stones toward the four wheeler vehicle which took away the mother-in-law from the place.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 12

A total of 40 gold bars weighing approximately 6.632 kilograms and worth around Rs. 1,72,63,096 were seized from two individuals who were arrested yesterday by a team of Tengnoupal district police led by Tengnoupal SP, S. Ibomcha.

The arrested individuals are identified as Mv. Md. Iqbal Hussain (31), son of Md. Allaudin of Kwakta Tearkhongsangbi, Bishnupur and Mv. Md. Gayajuddin alias Sagei alias Ningthou (33), son of late Mv. Allimuddin of Lilong Kaleikhong.

Briefing media persons today at the conference hall of Imphal West SP office, Babupara, Ibomcha said that the checking was conducted based on a specific input received from Customs Preventive Force, Moreh that some smuggled gold bars were being transported from Moreh towards Imphal on a maruti van.

Two suspected maruti vans of silver colour were search thoroughly and during checking, the gold bars were found hidden inside both, rear doors the frames of one van bearing registration no. AS-01DB/0580, he added. The SP continued that owner of the van, Iqbal disclosed that the gold bars were smuggled by him from Myanmar in collusion with driver of the other maruti van, Gayajuddin and one person, Md. Aslam of Lilong Mayai Leikai.

The two drivers were arrested by observing formalities and they along with the seized items were handed over to Customs Preventive Force, Moreh and police are still on process to identify and arrest the other party involved identified as Aslam, added Ibomcha.

Stating that the police department is working at its best level to stop illegal activities and crimes in the state, the SP said public cooperation is required in conducting their duties.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 12

Women voluntary organisations today filed a recommendation to the chief minister and governor of the state that the maintenance support given to children, be extended so that it will cover 18 to 25 years of age, saying 18 years is too tender to support oneself.

The organisations which filed the recommendation are Women Action for Development (WAD), Rongmei Lu Phuam (RLP), All Tribal Women Organisation (ATWO) and Our Rest House (ORH).

The recommendation also demanded establishment of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in the state so that the forensic test results process could be faster instead of sending the reports to Kolkata and Hyderabad.

The CVOs with the recommendation urged to speed up court hearings and not to postpone trial dates further. It also demanded to repeal AFSPA from the state and to release the forensic reports sent to different parts of India. They urged state legal authorities to organise awareness programmes on legal procedures so that any common man have the basic idea to go through legal procedures.

The recommendation was filed today at the get together programme of domestic violence victims in relation with International Fortnight Observation protesting Violence against Women. It was held at Youth Hostel, Khuman Lampak and organised by WAD and Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights (YFPHR).

Around 20 women shared their testimonies of violence which included domestic violence, fake encounters, physical violence, rape, sexual harassment and so on. Many complained of slow legal procedures in court trials and expressed their desires to hasten the process.

One victim of domestic violence, Thoinu (name changed) narrated how her then husband mistreated her after having an extra marital affair. She said that her in-laws even mistreated her along with her husband, who is a government employee in electricity department and also said that her husband used to come home drunk at night and beat her and assaulted her for no big reason.

WAD has been observing the International Fortnight Observation protesting the violence against women since 2003.

IMPHAL | Dec 12

The authority of Raj medicity had confirmed that Takhellambam Jarmanjoy who had admitted in November 13 is still alive and asked the family of the patient, who did not turn up to look after the  patient since last three days, to come and take care of the patient.

Speaking to the media persons, medical superintendent, Raj medicity Dr. A. Ibotombi Sharma said that the patient from Sawombung Awang Leikai was admitted for heart stroke. After putting lot of effort by the nurses and doctor, the life of patient was saved from danger. He is still under treatment and kept at Intensive care unit (ICU).”

“However, the most unfortunate thing is the patient’s party have not shown up to take care of the patient since December 10. I would like to appeal the patient family to communicate with authority of Raj Medicity and support for further treatment otherwise we will hand over to police for trespass” he said.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 12

Members of North East India, North East Indigenous Peoples’ Parliament (NIPP) who came from several parts of India had passed nine recommendations unanimously for the development, protection and welfare of all the ethnic tribes residing in the North East.

The recommendations were passed in a one day interaction and plenary session held at Manipur guest house yesterday.

Speaking to media person in the press meet held at Manipur press club, convenor NIPP, Wangkhem Saratchandra said “The recommendations that were being placing in public domain will concretise in coming session which being planned to be organised in the end of January or in the first week of February in the form of memorandum and will be handed over to central and state government.”

The recommendations were mainly about controlling of persistent influx of illegal migrants, amendment of Indian citizenship act 1955, withdrawal of AFSPA act, control of extraction and exploitation of natural resources from northeast India, increase in border trade between north eastern states and south east Asian countries, promotion of quality education and so on.

Recalling the initiatives taken up by NIPP since 2015, he said that the NIPP had already passed various recommendations at the first NIPP conference held in the year 2015 which was also termed as Imphal declaration. Seven sessions were held in that conference, he added.

Citing the case of ethnic tribes of Tripura becoming a minority group as an example, president of Tripura Peoples’ Front Patal Kanya Jamatia said that “The population of ethnic tribes of Tripura has been reduced to 19 percent of total population of Tripura which was 96 percent right after the merger of Tripura with Indian union.”

Collective effort is needed from the entire north east India in order to protect and preserve all the ethnic tribes of North east India otherwise the chances to become a minority status in their own state like Tripura is very high, she added.

IMPHAL | Dec 12

The unions and associations of BSNL, Manipur SSA, will be joining the rest of its fellow comrades in the two-day strike across the country which has been called by its parent organisation, from December 12 to December 13, said a release.

The proposed agitation is to press upon the government of India and the BSNL authority to settle the 3rd pay revision for BSNL employees, with 15 percent fitment benefit and review of all allowances, it mentioned.

Further, to resolve the issues concerning the 2nd pay revision committee and also to drop the union cabinet’s decision for formation of subsidiary tower company, the release maintained.

The release also informed that important BSNL offices, such as CSCs and administrative offices shall remain closed and unmanned on the days of the strike.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 12

Lamana II (daughter of Black Mountain) a Zeliangrong drama in Rongmei dialect was today premiered at M.D.U. Hall, Yaiskul Police Lane.

It is translated, designed and directed by Star Kamei and an original play written by Budha Chingtham.

At the premiere of the show, deputy mayor of Imphal Municipal Council, Sujata Phaomei, president of Theatre Centre Manipur, Wareppa Naba, Ward No.26 corporator, Meibon Phaomei, director of the play, Star Kamei among others attended the function as presidium members.

Wareppa Naba in his presidential address said that this traditional play reflects the rich cultural heritage of Rongmei community and should be carried forward.

He expressed his concern that such indigenous tradition should be preserved and protected from further extinction. He cited examples of how some cultures of the state have slowly vanished with time.

Fearing that Rongmei culture could be next, he ensured that through arts, the culture of Rongmei will be preserved. He also said that though the government does not take notice and recognise the need to protect such cultures till date, it will with the help of arts that will knock the ears of the government.

The play is about a girl called Lamana, who came back to life from her younger sister’s body and took revenge of the family who killed her and her family.