Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 14: The 5th Tamenglong ADC Chairman Election was held again today at the ADC Hall of Tamenglong.

Namsinrei Panmei, 53 of NPF from Pallong village, who was elected from Lamlaba ADC segment was elected unopposed as the new Chairman of ADC Tamenglong.

However, the election for the post of vice-president has been fixed on September 16.

The new Chairman was sworn in by the Returning Officer Tuntanbou Guangta in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Tamenglong M Luikham and Chief Executive Officer of ADC Tamenglong Joseph Pauline.

Ex-minister Samuel Jiandai, party leaders of BJP and NPF, leaders of civil society organizations and church leaders were present at the solemn occasion.

It may be mentioned that the election of the ADC Tamenglong Chairman was already held on September 9 despite postponement order from the government due to the pressure from the elected members, party leaders and social organization`™s leaders.

As the election was declared as invalid, a fresh notification was issued on September 10 for re-conducting the election on September 14.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/tml-adc-chairman-election-reconducted/

IMPHAL, Sept 14: The three bills passed by the State Assembly have nothing that will hurt the interest of the hill peoples. If there is anyone who could point out the lines or clauses in the bill that will harm the interest of the hill people then let us sit down together and discuss the issues.

This was stated by MLA Ng Bijoy, chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board, who was also involved in the drafting of the bills as a member of the all political party committee.

He was speaking at the launching function of `Mannaba Wayel` a monthly law journal and its website: www.mannabawayel.com at the Manipur Press Club today.

Bijoy also gave a brief explanation on how the base cut off year of 1951 will not affect the native communities especially the Kukis.

He said nevertheless, there is always room for consideration.

Misunderstandings can be cleared through dialogues with the government, he said.

Senior advocate Khaidem Mani who also attended the function maintained that it is only misunderstanding that has created the hill-valley divide on the three bills.

He further explained how the misunderstanding could deepen, unless the people do not try to sort out the differences by sitting down together.

The function was also attended by DIPR director Somorjit Salam, Civil Judge Dr Ch Santibala and AMWJU president W Shyamjai.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/bills-will-not-harm-hill-peoples-interest/

IMPHAL September 14: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) organized a State level consultation on Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act today at Manipur Press Club Imphal and resolved to demand a separate POCSO Court considering the delay in justice delivery to the increasing number of related cases.

According to the MACR convener, Montu Ahanthem, it is imperative to brainstorm together on the implementation and progress of the Act in Manipur as accountable and concern stakeholders, to strive at better convergence and wider dissemination of awareness.

K Pradipkumar, chairperson, CWC, Imphal East moderated the vibrant consultation on the theme `Gaps and Challenges in the implementation of POCSO Act 2012`™.

Three experts on the subject N Nonibala, L Pishak and Th Rajkishor were the panelist for the consultation.

The panelist also shared their experiences regarding several cases with the public.

They narrated several interesting cases which gave new insights to the people attending the consultation.

After an indept brain storming the consultative meeting adopted some resolutions including to facilitate the service environment for implementing POCSO Act in Manipur.

The moderator said, `Rectify the unhealthy gendered/sexist attitude of the society towards victims, shifting and burdening the post incident onus to the victims. Popularize the police punishment component in the Act for unwillingness to register POCSO cases and compliance to special POCSO procedures while dealing with victims and other legal entitlements. Demand a separate POCSO Court and proper constitution of Juvenile Justice Police Unit to expedite the cases.

The resolutions also include insisting on the CWC and DCPU to immediately constitute a pool of trained translators for Children with special needs, to initiate a social campaign to address mob justice proposing the option of Legal Justice System so as to avoid the burden on the innocent family members of the offenders while ensuring punishment for the offenders and comprehensive justice for the victims.`™

Unfortunately very few cases have been disposed off in the State till date. For instance only one out of forty cases in Imphal West has been disposed off till date. Inadequate qualified human resource within the police despite the practical exhaustiveness of the procedures is cited as one major reason for delay in the POCSO cases, the convener shared.

The consultation was participated by more than sixty stakeholders namely the district partners of MACR, NGOs working on Child Rights, Child Line, CWCs, JJBs, DCPUs and other stakeholders.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/macr-demands-seperate-pocso-court/

LAMKA, September 14: The JAC Churachandpur has submitted a petition to the Churachandpur DC Lunminthang Haokip asking to close down all government offices and establishments in the district considering the ongoing unrest and fragile atmosphere in the district until further order.

The petition added that irrespective of their status one should understand and respect the days of mourning of the tribal martyrs in the district.

It has further asked the security forces to restrain their movement during its general strike and advised that in case of emergencies, the security forces should intimate the JAC in `written` in order to avoid any untoward incidents as is the desire of the public.

In a separate press release, the JAC said the bandh relaxation will be extended from 5am to 1pm in the district till September 20 starting from September 15.

It said it has also written to various tribal councils to set up JACs or refer suitable existing organisations in their respective areas which could work in collaboration with the JAC Churachandpur.

The JAC`™s hand-out also listed its future course of action and announced the appointment of women who will assist other women under the JAC with effect from today.

The JAC also alleged that Bishnupur Police commandos assaulted JAC volunteers at Kangvai who were preventing a vehicle carrying up to 50-60 liters of liquor from entering the district on September 13 during the JAC`™s bandh.

It said the JAC abhors the State force and the various anti-tribal elements obstructing the good cause of the tribals. It added in the future such acts will be looked at with suspicion and the commandos will be blamed for any eventualities.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/jac-ccpur-appeals-dc-to-close-down-offices-establishments/

IMPHAL, September 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi had formally launched the Pradhan Mantri Micro Units Development and Re-Finance Agency Bank (MUDRA Bank), a public sector financial institution on April 8, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti told media persons today.

Jyoti also announced that her ministry is willing to provide a mega food park in Manipur at the earliest once the State government allot the land required.

She was speaking at a press conference called at the office of the BJP Manipur Pradesh here today.

MUDRA was initially announced in the 2015 Union Budget and launched in April, she said.

Explaining the working of the banks, she said the MUDRA banks will be set up under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana and will provide its services to small entrepreneurs outside the service area of regular banks, by using last mile agents.

About 5.77 crore small business have been identified as target clients using the NSSO survey of 2013, she added.

The MoS also said that such scheme is the first of its kind and will give opportunity to many especially youth and women by providing loans to micro units based on the stage of growth under three categories – Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000/-), Kishore (loans up to Rs 5,00,000/-) and Tarun (loans up to Rs 10,00,000/-).

She said only 4 percent of these businesses get finance from regular banks.

The MUDRA will also ensure that its clients do not fall in debt and will lend responsibly, she added.

Availing loans will not require any guarantor from the poor persons, but will require a detail report on the establishment of the units, Jyoti added.

She said in this connection, five SBI units and four UBI units in the State have already been instructed to visit villages and conduct a survey to provide the schemes to the needy people.

Meanwhile, prior to the press conference, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti had visited the Nilakuthi Food Park, Takyel Industrial Estate and the Trade cum Permanent Exhibition Centre presently under construction at Lamboi Khongnangkhong and attended a State-level interactive programme on MUDRA Bank at the party`™s office.

She said she had met the concern minister of the State and the chief secretary at the Old Secretariat.

Jyoti continued her minister is willing to provide a mega food park in Manipur at the earliest once the State government allot the land required

She continued, her ministry has taken up 33 skill development training programmes in 13 States.

The press meet was also attended by BJP North East in-charge Prahlad Singh Patel MP and BJP State unit president Th Chaoba among other State representatives of the party.

Meanwhile, in a statement BJP Mahila Morcha Manipur Pradesh general secretary Organisation Laishram Boby said after an interaction with the MoS, they came to know of the scheme and attacked the State government for not highlighting the new scheme before the public.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/mos-sadhvi-niranjan-jyoti-highlights-benefits-of-recently-launched-mudra-bank/

IMPHAL, September 14: The JAC formed in connection with the death of L Ajit who succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident involving a doctor has demanded that the doctor who treated the victim at JNIMS and the doctor involved in the accident take responsibility of the accident within two days.

The victim is identified as Laishram Ajit Singh alias Lokeshwor, 53, of Kwakeithel Thounaoujam Leikai.

JAC secretary Thongam Kombirei said the JAC will launch severe forms of agitations if the two doctors failed to meet the demand within the set deadline.

(L) Ajit`™s son in law, Pukhrambam Devan said on August 21 late evening, his father in law was driving a Maruti Alto car and trying to cross the main road near the Old Assembly Road when his car was hit by a Santro car which was being driven by Dr Ayam Sylvia Devi.

He added that his father in law was taken to the JNIMS in an auto rickshaw, where he was attended to by Dr Ibomcha.

Dr Ibomcha recommended a CT Scan as the patient had hit his head during the accident, Devan said.

He said his father in law underwent six stitches.

He continued that the next day Dr Ibomcha after examining the CT Scan report said his father in law was out of danger and accordingly a discharge memo was served to the relatives.

On august 23, however, his father in law`™s health deteriorated and had to be rushed to the RIMS casualty, he said.

However, the RIMS authority citing that the institution had no dedicated neurology facility suggested shifting him to a more advanced medical institution following which he was shifted to Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, Devan claimed.

On September 13 after undergoing a series of multiple surgeries, the patient was declared dead, he said.

The JAC and the son in law also claimed that Ajit died because of negligence of Dr Ibomcha who discharged him without proper examination and Dr Sylvia`™s reckless driving.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/jac-demands-doctors-to-take-responsibility-for-death-of-accident-victim/

IMPHAL, September 14: Anti-AFSPA crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila today denounced the present chaos and unrest for land in the State.

No man can take their land with them beyond death, Sharmila told media persons at the Cheirap Court where she was being brought for a court appearance in connection with a fast at Khwairamband Market during the last week of January this year.

However, her hearing was adjourned as the Judge was on leave and it has been re-scheduled for September 24, 2015.

Expressing shock over the recent development in the State, she called upon the different communities in the State to solve their differences in a more humane and peaceful manner.

She said she is deeply hurt by the differences that have appeared among the various communities following the August 31 passing of the three bills.

No one can take their land with them to their afterlife, she said, and added it is worthless to fight over something which is meaningless.

It is also a shame that we have to fight among ourselves for land she said, referring to all the violence and unrest erupting in the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/antiafspa-crusader-denounces-chaos-for-land-in-state/

IMPHAL, September 14: Legal action will be initiated against the eight individuals who have been tarnishing the image of former Thangmeiband MLA Khumukcham Joykishan by making wrong allegations on a local cable network, informed Joykishan`™s counsel Mutum Gourahari during a press conference today.

The press conference was conducted at Joykishan`™s residence.

He said the eight identified as Ng Bina Devi, N Gomti Devi, Th Tonny Singh, S Tiku Singh, M Amba Singh, S Abhiram, I Purnimashi and Th Thoi Devi have been notifying through the local cable networks that they would no longer support the former MLA Joykishan alleging that he has failed to hand over the Local Area Development Fund to the people during his tenure as the MLA. They have also stated that they will support a social worker instead of the former MLA, he said.

This notice has been repeatedly telecasted by the two cable networks, which is hurting the prestige and political image of Kh Joykishan, he added.

He claimed the former MLA had utilised all his LADF since 2012 when he was elected as the local representative.

The fund has been utilised to the full satisfaction of the people with the help of the Beneficiary Committee Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, he added.

The LADF was utilised through the District Rural Development Agency for the welfare of the people of the constituency and the former MLA had never broken his promise made to the people, he said.

Procedure of serving the legal suit will be initiated tomorrow and in case the eight fail to tender an apology to the former MLA directly or through the local daily papers and cable networks, defamation case under IPC 500 will be filed against them, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/joykishans-counsel-warns-of-legal-suit-against-eight/