Manipur News

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 27

A KYKL Sergeant Major and two active cadres were arrested in separate incidents on October 26, said a release from Police PRO.

A combined team of Thoubal District Police Commando and 6 AR arrested one S/S Sergeant Major of KYKL, Thangjam Hemanta Meitei alias Premjit, 35, from Lilong Bazar.

The other two active members of Kanglei Yawol Kunna Lup were arrested from two different places by Thoubal Police commandos unit yesterday.

According to police report it is said that acting on specific information a joint team of commando unit, Thoubal and 6 AR arrested one Thangjam Hemanta Meitei alias Premjit, 35, son of Th. Kalimu Meitei of Arong Heibong Makhong from Lilong Bazar near Arapti crossing at around 6:30 pm.

The man is a self-styled sergeant major of the group, the report said.

Police further said that Hemanta join the group through one Priyo of Waikhong on March 2002 and he had completed three months basic training at Khoupum Nungkhoi camp and his army number is 4546. The arrested person was handed over to Lilong police station for further action.

Another self-styled Lance Corporal of KYKL was also arrested yesterday by Thoubal Police commandos. The arrested person is identified as Saikhom Sidam Singh alias Sanjit, 27, son of S. Santosh Singh of Heirok part-1, Heituppokpi.

Police said Sidam was arrested from Salungpham Ananda Bazar and upon further interrogation he revealed that he joined the group on June, 2010 through one Okram Biju of Wangjing Purana.

According to the police report he had completed forty-five days basic military training at Tanan training centre, Myanmar and his army number is 7031 of 31st batch of KYKL. The arrested person has been handed over to Heirok police station for further action, the report said.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 27

Manipur University of Culture Teachers’ Association (MUCTA) today staged a sit-in-protest at the gate of Government Dance College at Konung Mamang, opposite Lamyanba Shanglen demanding their 11 months pending salary.

General secretary of the association, Irom Robindro, said that the university is in a very fragile state with no proper infrastructure, with no proper classes and the salary of the teachers are not given away for 11 months in a row.

In a demand for the regularisation of teachers’ salary and to get the attention of concerned authorities, the teachers association of the university today staged the ‘dharna’.

He said that cease work strike had started on October 12 for the demand of the same and it has been over 15 days now.

Students’ representatives of the university went to meet the Governor yesterday on the latter’s invitation, but did not get any positive response, he added.

Robindro also said that the irony of art and culture department is that it is planning to lay a foundation stone at Wakha for construction of MUC. He appreciated the initiatives of the government yet he wanted the government to work to improve what are in hand already, than continually chase new dreams.

IMPHAL | Oct 27

Manipur Gender Justice Collective (MAGJC) has convened a meeting to discuss about the ongoing issues faced by women in the present society, at the conference hall of Human Rights Alert today.

A release said, the meeting strongly had a discussion on the recent unfortunate incident of posting a Manipuri girl’s photo in an improper manner in the social networks. The photos of the girl in a Thabal Chongba event were clicked and edited by some photographers of ‘Manipur Mirror’ and uploaded through its online journal.

According to the organising team of the event ‘MACHU’, the flashlight used by the photographer has made the dress worn by the girl seemed to be revealing in the photograph uploaded by Manipur Mirror. The statement truly has given a proof that the photo has been edited and deceived, said the release.

In the release, MAGJC has strongly condemned the Manipur State Women Commission and Cyber Crime Unit of Manipur Police for not taking any stringent action against the unfortunate incident.

All kinds of discrimination towards women should be erased from the society. According to Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), men and women should be given equal rights. However, there have been many incidents in the state in which women are being suppressed, said MAGJC in the release.

The release further mentioned the article 5 (A) of CEDAW, which is said as ‘to modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women’.

The meeting was resolved to take inputs and decision from the public so as to end the menace of discrimination against women in the society, said the release.

The meeting was attended by Arambam Memchoubi, Khangembam Anandi, L. Nganbi, M. Sobita, N. Shreema Devi, Babloo Loitongbam, Rose Mangshi Haokip, Thumningtha Tongsin, Pilot Khangembam, Basanta Wareppa, Romabai Khoirom, Edina Yaikhom, Renu Takhellambam, Monika Khangembam, L. Geetarani, T. Nomita, T. Aphy, Kamla U, Kiranmala Laishram, Ranjeeta Sadokpam, Hemam Chilsi Chanu, Hmanrose Anal and Chinglembi Sagolshem.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 27

Tribal Affairs & Hills and Fisheries minister N. Kayisii today inspected the on-going construction work of Women Market at the old electricity department, behind NPO building at Senapati District Headquarter.

The Minister expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the work which is going on in full swing. He instructed the work agency to keep up the speed of the construction work and also the quality and workmanship without compromise.

Kayisii said that he would be visiting the site from time to time to ensure that the work is carried out as desired. He applauded the stake holders and urged them to extend support and cooperation so that the district can have speedy infrastructure development for the welfare of all sections of people in the district.

The minister made the inspection on his way for the inaugural function of SBI public waiting shed today at Senapati.

The market complex is to be constructed on a floor area of 135 feet by 64 feet, with G1+ rooting with facilities of water supply, electricity, washroom, vehicles parking and a foot path.

The construction package was announced by the Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren during his visit in the district at the Barak festival held in the month of May 2017.

From Our Correspondent

CHURACHANDPUR | Oct 27

The Young Mizo Associations (YMA) Lamka block office at New Bazaar bus parking was demolished today under the order of deputy commissioner of Churachandpur.

YMA members have been protesting by staying at the office complex since last week demanding for Rs. 50 lakh as compensation against demolition.

However, no protesters were present today to stop the demolition. There is no clue that how the protest was ended today.

It may be mentioned that the ADCC had given orders on October 16 to clear the premise within five days but the protest by YMA volunteers had stopped the works. The construction of proposed women market at New Bazaar will be executed by Manipur Police Housing Corporations.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 27

Northeast Speakers’ Conference held in Assam today resolved on the necessity to create a separate Ministry, department or forum exclusively for ‘Act East Policy’ for giving importance, focus, direction and implementation.

The Conference was held at Assam Legislative Assembly complex, Dispur orgnaised by the Speakers’ Research Initiative, North East.

Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker, Y. Khemchand also participated in the Speakers conference.

Others resolution adopted during the speakers conference includes the necessity for all round development of the region with respect to transport, communication and connectivity in terms of road ways, railways and water ways.

Acknowledging acute employment problem especially the educated skilled and Semi skilled youths the region is facing, it resolved the needs for immediate expansion and upgradation of telecommunication and high speed band with networks, citing the huge potential for development in Energy, tourism, trade and commerce in the region.

The conference further felt the need of special category state status, backwards region Grant Fund (BRGF), the north east industrial and investment promotion policy (NEIIPP) etc for all round development and investment in the state.

IMPHAL | Oct 27

A review meeting was held at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat today with Chief Minister  N. Biren Singh in the chair for ensuring the doorstep delivery of Old Aged Pensions and other related banking arrangements.

In the review meeting it was decided that pensioners who have bank accounts with the banks within 15km of the bank branch will be issued Ru-Pay cards by the concerned banks for easy withdrawal of the funds.

Further, it was also resolved that the Banks and the Social Welfare Department will facilitate the delivery of Ru-Pay cards to the pensioners who do not have bank branch at the respective villages for stress-free withdrawal of funds. For Pensioners who do not have bank branch nearby nor Banking Correspondents/Common Service Centres (CSCs)/ Customer Service Points (CSPs)  , then an authorised person would be deputed by the Social Welfare Department for the doorstep delivery.

The delivery of Ru-Pay cards and other arrangements by the Social Welfare Department for doorstep delivery of pension will be ensured by 15th November 2017.

The meeting also discussed about the progress and status of opening of bank branches in the 27 unbanked blocks of the State. It was informed that banks have already opened branches in 9 unbanked blocks out of 27 unbanked blocks in the State very recently. Another 4-5 unbanked   blocks would also have bank branches within 15 November, 2017. For the remaining unbanked blocks, Common Service Centres (CSCs), Customer Service Points (CSPs) will be authorised as  Banking Correspondents by the respective banks.

Parliamentary Secretary  Awangbow Newmai, Chief Secretary  R.R. Rashmi, Principal Secretary (Planning)  Vineet Joshi, Principal Secretary (Finance)  Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Commisionner (Social Welfare)  H. Deleep Singh, Director (Social Welfare) Smt. Jacintha Lazarus, Additional Director (IT) N. Deben and officials from various banks attended the review meeting.

IMPHAL | Oct 27

The State Cabinet today discussed the finalization of various developmental programmes to be taken up by different departments with a deadline of completing them within 365 days of the new government. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh chaired the meeting which was held at the Cabinet Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The State Government have identified and decided to take up 161 kinds of works under various sectors of Health & Family Welfare, Information Technology, Science & Technology, Agriculture, Horticulture, Transport, Public Works Department, Home, Art and Culture, Public Health Engineering Department, Finance Department, Power, Tourism, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Education, Planning, Social Welfare, MAHUD, Minorities and Backward Classes etc. to be completed in 365 days of the government. The above listed works would be reviewed at the level of concerned Ministers and Administrative Secretaries. And the overall monitoring for the developmental works would be done by the Planning Department and the Chief Minister’s Office. Mentioning that the concern Ministers and Departments should be committed to complete the identified works on time, Chief Minister directed the Ministers to monitor and conduct spot verification, if necessary, of the work progress so that the programmes could be completed on time.

The Cabinet also approved the payment of compensation of Rs. 1,41,690 for the properties damaged during the bomb blast occurred on 2nd March, 2017 at the residence of Leishiyo Keishing at Langol, Imphal. It also approved the creation of 2 posts of Superintending Engineer (Civil) in the Manipur Police Housing Corporation Limited.

It also resolved to refund 1% Labour Cess in favour of Manipur Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, Manipur.

The Cabinet also gave its permission for a restricted tender of the Integrated Water Supply Project for Imphal Planning Area under PHED for the completion of the balance work to be executed at 10 different places at Koirengei, Sangakpham, Khuman Lampak, Porompat, Canchipur, Iroisemba, Singda, Kangchup, Kangchup Extension and Iroisemba Reservoir.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Oct 27

Chief minister, N. Biren Singh has said that his Government has reaffirmed its stand not to compromise with the territorial integrity of the State and oneness of its people at any cost.

Biren stated this while speaking to media persons on the sideline of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” spot painting competition at DM College Multipurpose Hall today.

Biren’s statement comes in the wake of the confusing statement made by some NSCN-IM leaders that the central government has agreed to recognized the territorial integrity of the Naga-inhabited areas.

He further informed that the resolution to reaffirm its earlier stand was taken during a meeting of ministers and MLAs of coalition partners convened a few days back.

Biren informed that an all-political party meeting would be held tomorrow at 4 pm at CM’s secretariat wherein a firm decision will be taken to strengthen the state government’s stand on its territorial issue.

Moreover, if necessary a delegate of all political parties would visit New Delhi to inform the Central leaders about the government’s stand and apprise that the talks should not affect the “historical status”, oneness and territorial integrity of Manipur, he asserted.

Biren further opined that his government will support and encourage the ongoing peace talks that a peaceful solution is brought to the issue.

Responding to a query regarding Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s assurance to Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal regarding the former’s assurance of not altering Assam’s territorial boundary, N. Biren said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP National president Amit Shah had already made the same promise to Manipur as well during campaigning of the last Assembly election.

The first ever Nagas peace talks held in Nagaland between the NSCN-IM and Government of India has triggered apprehension across the northeastern states particularly Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Against this backdrop, reports emerged that Nagas residing in the Upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh writes to the Naga National Political Groups (NNPG) to include them in their political dialogue. They requested the NNPGs to include the Nagas of Arunachal Pradesh and Upper Assam in Nagalam further raising apprehensions of the locals of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that parts of the states have to be given away for Nagalim formation.

Meanwhile, speaking at the main function of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the Chief Minister said that the society needs to acknowledge the role and contribution of women.

The programme was jointly organised by State Level Committee on Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and State Social Welfare Department.

The Chief Minister stated that the State Government is planning to announce a welfare scheme for BPL families belonging to OBC during his proposed Chandel visit on November 4.

The Chief Minister said that women have been making immense contributions in all spheres including social movements in Manipur. However, women are still discriminated up to some extent in Manipuri society, he added.

He observed that mothers generally go through great pains throughout their life for the wellbeing of their children.

As such, it is annoying to see denying necessary care and love to old mothers by their children, he added. The Chief Minister urged the public to give due respect and care to womenfolk especially mothers.

Stating that the new Government is fully committed to extend support and assistance to widows,  N. Biren said that many social security and welfare schemes are being implemented by the State and Central Governments in this regard.

Social Welfare Minister Nemcha Kipgen was the functional president of the occasion.

In her speech, she urged the public to take a pledge to put in joint effort to improve Child Sex Ratio as a National priority agenda.

She said that all over the world, Manipuri women have been known for their courage, skill and active involvement in many social, economic, political and cultural activities.

From this year onwards, awareness programmes would be conducted all over the State with the goal of empowering womenfolk, preventing gender biased sex selective elimination, ensuring survival and protection of the girl child and education and participation of girl child, she added.

A special attraction of the function was giving the opportunity of taking selfie with the Chief Minister to selected girl students.

Later, the dignitaries led by the Chief Minister distributed prizes of the spot painting competition.

Rajya Sabha MP  Ksh. Bhabananda, Commissioner (Social Welfare, YAS and Higher Education)  H. Deleep and Social Welfare Director Smt. Jacintha Lazarus also attended the function as guests of honour.

From Our Correspondent

MOREH | Oct 27

The Kwatha festival has kicked off today and it was inaugurated by the village chief of Kwatha village, N. Kamal.

The festival will be for three days where the traditional songs and dances and martial arts of Thang-Ta will be showcased. There will also be a medical camp during the festival.

The inauguration day was attended by village chief of Khudengthabi, Pacho Kom as chief guest, while village chief of Kwatha village, N. Kamal was the functional president. The guests of honour were, SP of Tengnoupal, S. Ibomcha, village chief of Ganaphai, Semseithong, village chief of Chalawa, Haokip Letkhuthang, president of ACODOM, RK. Sanayaima, president of MCM, M. Thoiba and vice-president of Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup, Moreh, T. Premabati Devi.

Ibomcha urged the organising committee that the kind of festival should be organised in larger scale to cover the whole state, for which all the necessary assistance will be given from his favour.

Thoiba said the people of Kwatha must be discontented towards the state government for not giving any support for the festival. The government has never taken care about any of the primary requirements of the village in terms of road connectivity and education. The school set up by MCM will provide free education to the underprivileged children of the village, he added.

He further expressed his hope towards the state government to look into the shortages faced by the village.