Manipur News

IMPHAL, July 7: A team of Narcotic Cell Imphal West District has detected and seized five kg of Opium at Khuman Lampak Namdulong area on July 3.

According to a release of the PRO Police Department, two persons, namely Thangginial, 39, son of (l) Doukhojang of Shangkai village, Ukhrul District and Nemneng Vaiphei, 30, wife of Damthinlal of Shangkai village, Ukhrul district who pissed the said drug were arrested.

The market value of the seized contraband drug is estimated to be Rs. 4 lakh. A case has been registered at Imphal Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

In another release, a combined team of District Police Commando I/W and 25 AR has conducted frisking and checking at Lamshang Bridge crossing near Excise Office on July 5.

During the frisking and checking, an active worker of PREPAK (GS) organisation, namely, Thongam Zee alias Nanao alias Salus, 35, son of (l) Th. Kunjo Singh of Iroisemba Lousemba Leikai was arrested.

Investigation revealed that he served demand letters to general public, private NGOs in Lamshang area for party fund. A case has been registered at Lamshang Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

Acting on a reliable information, a combined team of District Police Commando I/W and 25 Assam Rifles has conducted frisking and checking near Phumlou Water Supply on July 6.

A press release of the PRO, Police Department has said that an active cadre of PLA organisation, namely, Waikhom Surchandra alias Birchandra, 30, son of W. Chonjon Singh of Loitang Khulen (Sandum) was arrested.

A case has been registered at Lamshang Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

In yet another release of the PRO, Police Department, a team of District Police Commando I/E has conducted frisking and checking at Khongman Mangjin crossing on July 5.

During the frisking and checking, one vehicle lifter Md. Akbar alias Ethem, 32, son of (l) Md. Manou of Sangaiyumpham Lamdign Cherapur was arrested.

One Honda Activa grey in colour bearing registration No. MN05/5936 was seized from his possession. Investigation revealed that the said Honda Activa was stolen by him from JNIMS main gate on July 5.

On his disclosure, his two associates, Md. Umar Khan, 21, son of (l) Md. Abdul Sattar of Lilong Turel Ahanbi Ubakthong and Md. Abdul Sayeed, 24, son of (l) Md. Abdul Gaffar of Lilong Chingkham Makha were arrested on the same day from Kiyamgei Oinam Loukon crossing. One Honda DIO, white in colour having no registration number was also seized from the possession of Md. Umar Khan. Investigation revealed that, they has stolen a number of vehicles from different areas of Imphal city, it said.

A case has been registered at Irilbung Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/narcotic-cell-seizes-5kg-opium/

IMPHAL, July 7: There are reports of State police personnel collecting illegal taxes from the Mao vendors who are provided a temporary market shed in Imphal following unrest over alleged assault and threats meted out to them in Kohima by Southern Angami People`™s Organisation in the wake of the Dzuko tension.

This was stated by Opposition MLA Laisom Ibomcha in the House today moving a Calling Attention Motion to draw the attention of the State Home minister.

He said the Mao people are already facing hardships due to the fallout of the Dzuko Valley land encroachment issue and the State police instead of helping them are said to be collecting illegal taxes.

The police, he said is creating more hardship for the vendors and the concern Home department need to consider the matter seriously, he said.

Meanwhile, clarifying on the issue, deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio said there is no official report of any such incident.

However, if any police personnel is found indulging in such behavior, the guilty will receive befitting punishment, he assured the House.

He continued since tension rose due to the Dzuko dispute, the people of Mao had arrived in Imphal to vend their items at Nagamapal and Dingku Road Khongnang Ani karak.

The government has already directed the Imphal Municipal Council to conduct a survey for the setting up of a proper temporary market until a permanent solution is chalked out, he informed.

He continued, the State government is considering construction of a market for the displaced Mao people along Dingku Road, Chingmeirong which will be constructed under the North East Council funding.

The allotment of the site will be settled soon under the Tribal Development, he continued.

He also said that the State DGP has been directed to check all illegal taxes along the national highways and to take immediate action against anyone found indulging in any such practice.

He also said that no police personnel can check any vehicle or passenger unless it is related to anti-social incidents along the national highways.

The government is also in touch with the Mao MLA L Dikho that any unwanted incident should be informed to the police or himself, Gaikhangam said.

Any unauthorised tax collection along the highways by State or no-State actors must be brought to task immediately, he said.

If there is any illegal tax collection, people should inform the nearest police station or district SPs, he continued.

Meanwhile, MLA Ibomcha commented that no one would dare to make a complaint against illegal tax collected by the police or the NSCN (IM) and it should be the obligation of the State Home department to monitor such incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/mla-ibomcha-raises-concern-against-illegal-tax-collection/

IMPHAL, July 7: The Coordination Committee (CorCom), an umbrella group of several armed outfits based in Manipur has greeted the people on its 4th Foundation Day.

A message issued by the convenor of the committee Kh Pambei said on behalf of the group, he wishes those who have laid down their lives in the fight for independence, those who have fall prey to the enemies and the public.

It said CorCom`™s strong belief is that Manipur is the land of all indigenous communities residing together since time immemorial and that every community has the same rights.

The CorCom also believes that all communities should respect one another and safeguard Manipur together, it said.

The message continued that the integrity of the land both territorial and that of its population has been there since more than two thousand years and safeguarding it is the duty of all communities residing together. The CorCom will also lead in achieving these objectives, it said.

And in order to achieve these objectives, the foremost importance is to gain independence it said, declaring that the biggest enemy of the land is India.

It continued that CorCom`™s first objective is to gain sovereignty for Manipur.

The four most important ingredients for the survival of a society as accepted by the UN are survival, well being, identity and freedom of its people, it said.

It also said that being a neighbor of India which has a total population of 1.20 billion people has become the worst nightmare of the land.

If the present trend of non-locals entering the land continues, in another 5 to 10 years, more than 10-15 lakhs of Indians will be found in Manipur, it continued.

The entry of such non-locals into Manipur is a well charted out plan backed by the Indian Army, it said adding that even the Manipur government is supporting it with the formation of Crisis Management Plan, State level Crisis Management Group, core group.

It further charged the Chief Minister of going against the people`™s desire by passing the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrants Workers Bill, 2015.

The statement further continued that the region which should be known as Western Southeast Asia has a total land area of 255,511 sq kilometer with a total population of 44.98 million.

Considering the culture, origin of the people of the region, the region should be known as WESEA, it said.

Although the communities residing in the region have differences, they share the same society values, origin and a long history, it said.

It further said that now Manipur cannot stand alone and the time has come for the communities of the region under the rule of India to unite against the common enemy.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/corcom-greets-people-on-4th-foundation-day/

IMPHAL, July 7: In the absence of any intervention from the State government, the Manipur Bhavans at Delhi and Kolkata have been reduced to mere bhavans with some officials running it according to their whims.

Levelling the allegation in a press release signed by Ratan Luwangcha, vice-president of All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union (AMWJU), the union claimed that there is no Deputy Residence Commissioner (DRC) at the bhavans and a person who has retired from the service has been made as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) by extending his post four times.

Several other officials who have been retired from the service are kept at the bhavans by extending their service period repeatedly, it claimed.

Accredited journalists of the State, who are entitled to get VIP rooms at the bhavans have been deprived of the facility and the same is allotted to dear ones of the officials employed at the bhavans without any official letter from the GAD, Government of Manipur, it pointed out.

Contending that all the wrongdoings came to light during an official visit to new Delhi by president of AMWJU Wangkhemcha Shamjai and vice-president Ratan Luwangcha who is also the National Secretary of Indian Journalists`™ Union (IJU) to Delhi recently, the release said that the Manipur Bhavans at Chankyapuri and Sadar Patel Marg in Delhi which are run by GAD as the concerned department of the Government of Manipur is devoid of any DRC to look after them.

Prior to the official visit, a letter signed by Deputy Secretary of GAD for allotment of VIP room to the AMWJU officials was sent to the concerned officials of Manipur Bhavan, Delhi through fax. However, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) RK Mor whose service was extended for four times allotted ordinary room at Tikendrajit Bhavan, Chanakyapuri, it said.

Despite asking the OSD by the AMWJU officials to allot the VIP room as told by the GAD as National President of IJU, Executive Member of International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) and representatives of Press Council of India will be coming to meet them, the OSD refused to do so citing non-availability of the VIP room at the bhavan.

The officials made phone call to RK Mor to enquire the matter but he did not receive the call.

Taking strong exception to the behaviour of RK Mor, the AMWJU team informed the matter to the elected members from Manipur at the bhavan. A woman who claimed to be the care taker of the bhavan told the officials that there is no VIP word written on the allotment letter signed by GAD.

The woman care taker also told them that she does not know them as accredited journalists from the state. She was shown the original copy of the allotment letter but refused to regard it.

After much argument, the AMWJU officials were allotted VIP room at Manipur Bhavan, Sadar Patel Marg, the release said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/manipur-bhavans-in-delhi-kolkata-in-mess-amwju/

IMPHAL, July 7: The government is ready to take legal action against doctors of government run hospitals practicing in private clinics, but till date there has been no evidence against such doctors, claimed Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing in the House today.

He was replying to cut motions raised by Opposition MLAs Shyamkumar, Dr I Ibohalbi and L Ibomcha during discussion and voting on Demand no 11- Medical, Health and Family Welfare.

Raising a cut motion, Shyamkumar had said the frequently reported referral of a patient from a medical college run by the government to a private institute is shameful, Andro MLA Th Shyamkumar.

He said what do the government medical colleges lack, that patients have to be referred to the private institutes.

He was speaking during the discussion and voting on demand of the Health, Medical and Family Welfare.

Elaborating further, Shyamkumar had said do the frequent referral of patients from the government hospitals JNIMS and RIMS to the private hospitals means that the latter have more sophisticated equipments or more expert doctors.

The people are confused as to whether the equipments in the government hospitals are even functional, he said.

He further observed that during such practices, it is the poor patients who have to pay huge sums in private hospitals.

Construction of the Primary Health Centre, Keithelmanbi was completed in 2009-10, however, the department is yet to inaugurate it till date, he asserted questioning if there is a rule of the department not to inaugurate the PHC.

Although many PHCs were upgraded to open 24×7, gynecologists doctors are still lacking in most of the PHCs in both the hills and the valley, he continued.

He further suggested the minister to visit the PHCs around to monitor the problems of the people.

MLA Ibomcha raised the issue of government doctors doing private practices, while Dr Ibohalbi raised the issue of promotion and vacant posts.

Dr Ibohalbi said most surgeons suggest their patients to undergo operations in the private hospitals where they are practicing.

There are specialists in both JNIMS and RIMS who are also practicing in private hospitals and clinics, he observed.

Meanwhile, in his clarification, the minister had said that although the government could take legal action against the government doctors practicing in private hospital, none of them have been caught with evidence.

He also said that the lack of doctors in all PHCs will be filled up the present batch of PG doctors passed out.

The Manipur Health Service Rule has been amended four times since 2010 in connection to promotion of doctors, he said adding that the draft copy of rules and regulations for promotion of Grade II to grade I has been sent to the Manipur Public Service Commission for the conduct of direct recruitment and promotion process.

He further assured to MLA Shyamkumar that the PHC, Keithelmanbi will be inaugurated very soon within this month.

He continued that the referral of patients from government hospitals to private hospitals is a serious issue and the government will look into the matter seriously.

He said the government has discussed with the top officials of the department to prepare a rule against such practice.

He also said that specialists for the far flung PHCs will be filled up soon, however, the doctors don`™t agree to even the two-months rotation of posting in the far-flung areas. Phungzathang also said that the AIDS Control Programe has also been drafted.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/no-evidence-of-government-doctors-practicing-in-private-clinics-claims-phungzathang/

IMPHAL, July 7: The Manipur Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed seven demands amounting to a total of Rs 701,38,71,000.

The demands which were tabled for discussion by the leader of the House, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh are Demand no 11- Medical, Health and Family Welfare amounting to Rs 4,94,39,36,000; Demand no 12 – Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development Rs 93,92,66,000; Demand no 16 – Co-operation Rs 21,48,70,000; Demand no 26 – Administration of Justice Rs 54,12,01,000; Demand no 35 – Stationary and Printing Rs 5,36,78,000; Demand no 46 – Science and Technology Rs 3,99,01,000 and Demand no 50 Information Technology Rs 28,10,19,000.

Opposition MLAs Th Shyamkumar, Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha and K Shyam took active part in the discussion and voting of the demands and moved cut motions.

During discussion on Demand no 12 Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development, Dr Ibohalbi raised a cut motion on the `Failure to provide adequate space in appropriate place for vegetable vendor of rural areas by IMC.

He asked when the government will start construction of the proposed market shed at the former Tombisana High School campus.

He further said the government should arrange a temporary market shed until the construction of the proposed market shed is completed.

He also opined that the drainage system of the MLA quarters is a total failure.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also in charge of the MAHUD clarified that funding for the construction of the market shed at the old Tombisana High School for the street vendors have been ceased due to some disturbances.

In the aftermath of the recovery of the human skeleton during digging at the construction site, civil organisations had restricted undertaking of further earth work until a CBI investigation is launched, however, the CBI has denied any such request of the State, Ibobi informed the House.

At the same time, another association has filed a case with the High Court regarding land allotment of the former school campus, he continued.

He said soon after the High Court`™s summer break, the case would be settled and the work could resume.

Ibobi also observed that if there were no interferences, the work would have been completed by atleast 80 percent as the government was targeting to inaugurate the market shed by December of this year.

As for the drainage system of the MLA quarter and MLA guest house in Babupara and Major Khul will be looked into at the earliest.

In another reply to a cut motion moved by K Shyam during discussion of Demand no 50 Information Technology regarding the status of various IT programmes undertaken in the State, the Chief Minister said since 2009-10 his government has given e-governance training to staff and officials of 37 offices.

In 2011-12, about 1030 employees of the government were given training, while in 2014-15, another 3333 staff were given training, he added.

He further observed that in the country, Manipur stands in 13th position in IT sector and second among the NE States.

Recently 400 DDOs were given training on e-payment systems in departments, he said.

Replying to a cut motion in connection to Demand no 12 – Municipal Administration Housing and Urban Development, the Chief Minister said regarding failure of resource mobilization, the government has constituted a proper tax board and the appointment of a chairman is under process which will be completed soon.

He continued construction of the Kwakeithel Bazar is a top priority of the government and the PDA has already handed it over to HADCO.

The Chief Minister also said that the government has approved to install State Bank of India branches, toilet/ washrooms, canteen and a first aid facility centre at the first floors of the three Ima Markets.

As for the monitoring of town planning, the interview of research and assistant research officers has been fixed for July 26, he said.

Following clarifications from the concerned ministers, the Opposition MLAs withdrew their cut motions and the demands were passed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/house-passes-seven-demands-amounting-to-rs-7013871000/

IMPHAL, July 7: The 19-hour general strike imposed by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the demand for implementation of ILPS in the State to safeguard the indigenous people, has widely affected normal life in the State.

The general strike that had started from the midnight of July 6 was called demanding withdrawal of Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 during the ongoing Assembly session and its replacement by another appropriate one to check the rampant influx of outsiders.

Shops, cinema halls, educational institutions and oil pumps remained closed in many of the parts due to the strike. Passenger services and vendors at Khwairamband Market also bore deserted look. Number of commercial and private vehicles ply in Imphal area was low.

Strike supporters stopped vehicles at various places and burnt effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi at many places in protest against the failure of the government to enforce ILPS in the State.

Effigies of 57 MLAs of Legislative Assembly were found hanging along the Thangmeiband Main Road. However, the ongoing 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly was not disrupted.

A large number of security personnel were deployed in the area to foil any unwanted incident. There is no news of any untoward incident during the strike.

The general strike also left a deep impact in normal life in Thoubal district too.

Educational institutes and business establishments at Kakching, Yairipok and Wangjing areas were closed due to the strike. Movement of commuters in the areas was minimal. Government offices in the district were also paralysed.

Supporters of the strike came out in large number and blocked roads at Thoubal Haokha and Wangjing. However, there is no news of any untoward incidents during the course of the strike.

Ching-Tam Apunba Nupi Lup, Pallel also fully endorsed the general strike.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/19hour-general-strike-affects-normal-life-in-state/

IMPHAL, July 7: Annoyed at the failure of the government to withdraw the controversial Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 and replace it by another strong bill during the ongoing 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has announced to boycott the Assembly session from July 8.

Declaring the call during a press conference at the office of MSF here today, convener of JCILPS Khomdrom Ratan said that the committee and several other civil society organizations have been demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in order to monitor the incessant entry of outsiders into the State, which has posed a serious threat to the existence of the indigenous people but no step has been taken up by the government to do so.

All the MLAs have failed to raise the issue during the Assembly session even after series of agitation launched by many sections of people including students. The ILPS could be implemented in the State as well to check the rampant influx of outsiders into the land if the MLAs show enough political will in this regard. The committee was compelled to boycott the ongoing Assembly session as the government prefers to remain silent for long on the issue, he fumed.

Stating that implementation of ILPS in the State has become much necessary not only for the people but also for the government too as there has been unchecked influx of non-locals into the State without proper identifications, he appealed to women folk to take out state-wide torch rally on July 8 as a mark of safeguard of the indigenous people.

The convener of JCILP also strongly condemned the harsh behaviour of SI Thoubal District Police Naobi and Hawaldar Dhanajit for abusing women folk while taking in the 19-hour general strike called by the committee from June 6 midnight.

The police power were supposed to protect the people but the State police misuse the power given to them and such abusive languages should not be repeated again considering the fact that the women folk are demanding for the welfare of the State and its people including the State police and the government and not only for few individuals or communities, he said.

He expressed gratitude to all who extended support to the 19-hour general strike imposed by the committee in pursuance of the demand for ILPS implementation in the State at the earliest.

Co-conveners of JCILPS Md Khairudin Saha; BK Moirangcha; Somendro Thokchom and Arjun Telheiba were also present at the press conference.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/jcilps-announces-assembly-session-boycott-demanding-withdrawal-of-mrvt-mw-bill-2015/