Manipur News

THOUBAL, June 19: The District Food Safety Wing, Designated Food Safety Officer, Dr. N. Jayentakumar has announced that `Maggie noodle`™ and `Nan-Pro 3 Milk`™ by Nestle has been temporarily banned in Thoubal district following reports of the presence of high level of Monosodium Glutamate and lead in the food products.

During a press meeting at his office, Dr. Jayentakumar said that according to an order by the Health Commissioner of the State issued on June 3, Food Safety Officer of Thoubal also collected sample of the two food products from shops at Kakching, Wangjing and Thoubal Bazar sent them to State Food Safety laboratory for testing.

Moreover, order has been given to agents and sub-agents not to sell the food products till the test result arrived.

However, while waiting for the result of the test, if the said items were found to be sold, no order for arrest has been given so far, said Jayentakumar.

Meanwhile, drive will soon be conducted on all food items without proper labels imported from Myanmar by District Food Safety Wing.

The press meet attended by Food Safety Officer of Food Safety Wing, Thoubal, N. Devendra has said that sample of Maggie noodles and Nan-Pro 3 were collected as much as possible immediately after order was sent by the State Health Commissioner on June 3 by his team.

He further said that some wholesalers were found to return the Nestle products according to the announcement made by the company.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/temporary-ban-on-maggi-nanpro-3-milk/

IMPHAL, June 19: The Naga People`™s Party with an absolute majority of 17 elected district council members has stake claim to form the Ukhrul Ditrict Council today.

The 17 NPF members are joined by an Independent candidate.

According to a press release of the party, the MDC members met the deputy commissioner, Ukhrul today requesting an oath taking ceremony of the elected members.

During a meeting on June 17, the elected members chose Dr Yaronsho Ngalung, elected from 15-Tongou DCC to lead the council, while advocate KS Thanmi elected from 22-Loutei Riha was selected as his deputy, it said.

The statement said the 17 newly elected NPF ADC members along with party leaders escorted the chairman designate to the Deputy Commissioner`™s Office to submit the stake claim letter.

The DC extended a warm welcome to Dr.Yaronsho and his team and had a friendly discussion on burning issues concerning the district, it said.

In the letter submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul, Dr. Yaronsho had made specific mention requesting to administer an oath taking to all newly elected MDC members at Ukhrul district HQs as soon as possible added the press release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/npf-stakes-claim-to-form-ukhrul-district-council/

THOUBAL, June 19: An unknown disease has killed nine Mithuns in Kampang Village, Tengnoupal sub division in Chandel over the past few days.

Following information of the deaths of the bovine, a veterinary team led by joint director Veterinary Office, Chandel Dr W Ibomcha including staff of the office and members of the Chandel District Animal Formers Welfare Union including president K Prakash Maring, finance secretary W Anthony Monshang visited the village today.

According to locals of the village, the first death was reported on June 17.

Dr Ibomcha said since there are reports of black spots on the sliced muscles of the dead cattle, they could be suffereing from Black Quarter.

The villagers said their bovines are release to graze at a jungle some 5 to 10 km far from their village.

Owners who went to check on the animals found many of the death due to an unknown disease, they said.

They further claimed that some of the mithuns which were healthy a day before when their owner went to feed them salt, were found death the next day.

According to the Kampang Khullen Village Authority chairman Ch Morung Maring the village has 99 mithuns of which nine bodies have been recovered.

He said the dead mithuns belong to DM Angkha,DK Angtha,Kh.Kodun,Kh.Konai,DK Kodar,DS Koshil, Kh.Angkha.

A mithun owner, DS Koshil Maring told the team the villagers are all poverty stricken and they fed their families by rearing mithun.

The mithuns which were found dead cost from Rs 30,000 to 60,000, he said appealing to the authorities to act fast so as to save the other surviving animals.

He further appealed to the government to provide some financial assistance to the owners whose mithuns were found dead.

Meanwhile, Dr Ibomcha said they have left some anti-biotics with the villagers today and will soon return with vaccines for Black Quarter.

He also said that his team will discuss with their higher ups as to what help could be provided to the owners of the dead cattle.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/unknown-disease-claims-nine-mithuns/

BISHNUPUR, June 19: Acknowledging that women of Manipur are blessed with immense skill in weaving, deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam asserted that the handloom sector has the potential to sustain livelihood of many uneducated people and accelerate economy of the state.

Gaikhangam was attending launching programme of E-Monitoring, Skill Development & Cluster Development on Handlooms organized by Department of Commerce & Industries under Ministry of Textiles at Ningthoukhong Model High School, Bishnupur district today.

Speaking as chief guest, Gaikhangam said that adequate raw materials is required to set up an industry or factory otherwise it may collapse due to failure to produce products despite investing crores of rupee.

He noted that many agro base projects can be set up successfully here in Manipur as there are many medicinal plants grown abundantly in the state.

Admitting that potential in handlooms is much in valley districts than in hill districts, the Dy CM informed that there are 1.9 lakh looms in valley districts.

The attractive Wangkhei Phi is not made by machine but by loom. Handsome amount of money could be earned by exporting the unique Wangkhei Phi outside the state, he said.

Gaikhangam added that weavers should not try to commercialize the handloom trade by using machine so as to maintain the aesthetic value of handloom products of the state.

Today`™s function was also attended by Commerce & Industries and Seri, Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Minister Govindas Konthoujam as president; MLA of Oinam Constituency Dr I Ibohalbi and MLA of Nambol Constituency N Loken as guests of honour.

Representatives of handloom clusters and weavers coming from different districts were also present at the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/gaikhangam-underlines-potential-of-handloom-sector-in-state/

IMPHAL, Jun 19: In order to enable the tribal women to equally share the democratic rights of reservation enjoyed by the women of the valley under Panchayat and Municipal bodies, former MP (Rajya Sabha) D Bahring said that he has appealed to the State Governor to nominate two seats under each ADC from the unrepresented tribe for the tribal women under Manipur (Hill Area) District Council Act, 1971 Chapter II 4(3).

He was speaking in a press meet held today at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

Further speaking, he mentioned that today at around 11:00 am he had a meet with the State Governor at the Raj Bhavan.

He said he also submitted a memorandum on the issue.

The Indian Constitution under Article no 243 D (1)(2)(3) has provided 33 percent reservation for women in the election of local governing bodies like the panchayat and municipal councils, however, unfortunately such provision is absent under in Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971.

He also said that the memorandum submitted includes appeal to make arrangement for the ADCs to function from the hill districts.

The functioning of ADCs from the State capital can only bring unrest among the people of the hills, he asserted.

Departments meant for the hill districts should also operate from the concern hill districts, he said.

He further added that road connectivity in the hill districts have improved significantly except for in a few remote areas.

Behring said replying to his appeal to make visits to the hill districts, the Governor responded in the positive.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/former-mp-behring-seeks-reservation-for-women-in-adc/

IMPHAL, June 19: A day after the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West remanded the 16 members of Democratic Students`™ Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) to six days police custody for assaulting a computer science teacher of St Joseph School at their office, the Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West, Takyelpat has registered a case against the teacher identified as Gurumayum Rupachandra Sharma, 35 son of G Jadumani Sharma of Uripok Achom Leikai.

Gurumayum Rupachandra Sharma is charged of meting out corporal punishment to a student of the St Joseph School.

According to reports, the case (JJB/IW Case No 6 of 2015) was registered under Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 and Indian Penal Code Section 324.

Along with registering the case, the Board has also issued an order today directing Officer-in-Charge of Lamphel Police Station to investigate the incident.

The order was collectively signed by Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West RK Memcha Devi; Member Rarry Mangsatabam and Member T Rojibala Devi.

The copy of the order was submitted to the Special Juvenile Police Unit, Lamphel Police Station under Rule 10 (b) of JJ Act (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007.

A copy of the order was also submitted each to Director General of Police (DGP) Manipur and Superintendent of Police (SP) Imphal West.

As per the order, Lamphel police should submit report of the investigation to the Juvenile Justice Board, Imphal West within June 24, the reports stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/jjb-registers-case-against-st-joseph-teacher-for-corporal-punishment/

IMPHAL, June 19: The Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) has expressed grave concern over the repeated incidents of subjecting young students to physical assaults and mental harassment in the name of disciplining by their own teachers in the State.

According to a release of the MACR, the recent incident involving a teacher of the St Joseph School Sangaiprou which occurred on June 16 is quite deplorable and highly condemnable.

It testified again that school authorities and teachers are still unable to give up the outdated concept of using `Corporal Punishment` as a part of education in the schools.

It is quite horrendous to learn that a young student of class VI was mercilessly assaulted by canning with as much as 51 counts on both palms other parts of the body by a teacher that dropped the child in a severe traumatic condition.

It is a stark violation of the Section 17 (1) of Right of Children to free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which prohibits physical and mental harassment to child. And the St. Joseph Schools authority needs to understand that, whoever contravenes the sub -section (1) shall be liable to disciplinary action under the service rules applicable to such person, it said.

MACR has appealed the school authority to be more sensible in the Right to Education of the child and to stop any kind of re-victimizing approach, which may affect the academic career or emotional health of the child. It further appealed the school authority, student`™s bodies and state authority to take up immediate steps so that normal academic atmosphere is restored in the school, and every child gets his or her right to education without fear of Corporal Punishment and re-victimisation, it said.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Recognised Private Schools`™ Welfare Association, Imphal has also expressed grave concern over the issue which has resulted in the arrest of several members of the DESAM.

A press release of the association has said that it strongly condemned the teacher`™s physical assault on a student and the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM due to a misunderstanding by the police.

Moreover, the association has also submitted a memorandum to DESAM appealing not to impose bandhs or blockades regarding the issue and not to take up any issue against the Education sector as well.

It further appealed to DESAM not to inflict any form of disturbance during the programme `Disturbance Free Zone in Education`™ to be held on July 5 through out Manipur, it said.

The association has also appealed for the release of the arrest of the 16 members of DESAM in order to avoid any agitations from student organisations, it said.

The All India Students`™ Federation (AISF) Manipur State Council has also demanded the government to take up necessary steps on the issue.

According to a release of the council, a teacher beating his student is not for personal gain but in order to draw the student to the right path.

Similarly, DESAM`™s assault on the teacher is due to his misconduct, it said.

The issue was due to the teacher`™s excessive use of force against the student which the student body considered to be an insult to the whole student community, it said.

The council has appealed to resolve the issue as soon as possible in order to avoid any form of agitation. It also appealed the release of DESAM members as soon as possible.

It further stated that it is necessary for the student, teacher and members of DESAM to arrange a meeting with the government and discuss the issue in a democratic manner as soon as possible otherwise any form of agitation that may occur will be sole responsibility of the government, it said.

All Manipur Students`™ Guardian Organisation has also joined in the several organisation in condemning the incident.

A statement of the organisation signed by its secretary organisation S Sumati said that the incident of a teacher assaulting his student in such a reputed school like the St Joseph High School is condemnable.

She further appealed to the school authorities to check the credentials and qualifications of candidates prior to their recruitment as teachers.

On the other hand it is also wrong for a student association like DESAM to summon a teacher and thrashing him, she said.

The quick response of the State police is also laudable, she said.

Sumita further appealed to revoke the stand for stronger form of agitation from the DESAM if the apprehended 16 DESAM members are not released within 24 hours time and also showed interest to legally punish the teacher accordingly.

Sumati further mentioned that the incoming trend of serving harsh punishment to the students at private schools has triggered fear psychosis among the guardians from putting their wards to private schools and boardings.

Later she appealed not to repeat the incident in future and to release the 16 apprehended DESAM members at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/teachers-assault-of-student-evokes-much-concern/

IMPHAL, June 19: A combined team of Myanmar Army and civil police forcefully dismantled houses within the Indian Territory along Border Pillar no 6 and 7 at Choro Zingshopai area in Kangpat Khullen Ukhrul district.

A highly placed source said that the Manipur government has already submitted a report on the alleged incursion by the Myanmar forces to the joint secretary Home (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs.

The special secretary (Home) Government of Manipur has submitted a report received from the Deputy Commissioner, Ukhrul on the matter requesting to look into the matter for taking necessary appropriate actions, according to reliable sources.

The issue has crept up at a time when the State is facing another boundary issue in Ukhrul district with alleged incursions from the Nagaland side in Dzuko valley.

The report said that the combined force of the Myanmar Army and the Police evicted houses at a newly established village which is about 250 meter into Indian Territory near the border pillars on April 18, even as National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other PMO officials were in Myanmar on a two-day visit from June 17.

Sources said on April 20, the secretary of Kangpat Khullen and general secretary Raizan Long (a civil organisation of the area) submitted a complaint report on the alleged incursion to the SDO Kamjong under whose jurisdiction the area falls. The SDO on his part had submitted the report to the DC, sources said.

Sources also said that the two in their complaint had stated that villagers of Kangpat Khullen had been taking up some construction work. And on April 18 afternoon, some villagers of Kamjong area had established a new village call Aloyuo (Zingshopai) near border pillar no 6 well within the Indian Territory for which some construction were going on in the area, it said.

However, all of a sudden, a group of Myanmar Army soldiers came into the village and forced the residents to evacuate immediately. The Myanmar soldiers also dismantled all houses and any other structures including a saw mill, the complaint said according to the sources.

In their complaint, they also charged the Myanmar soldiers of carrying away the belongings of the villagers, sources informed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/centre-apprised-of-alleged-myanmar-incursion-near-border-pillars-6-and-7/