Manipur News

IMPHAL, Aug 10: The Raj Medicity has strongly condemned the alleged life attempt of Priyarani Loitongbam, a staff nurse of the hospital.

In a statement, Haobijam Rajen Singh, managing director, Raj Medicity, said that such mindless act of attacking a medical staff who has been selflessly discharging its duty, should be condemned by one and all.

He urged that the authority concerned to ensure safety of medical staff considered as essential services in the future.

In the meantime, it further appealed to the agitators to refrain from harassing medical staff, adding that the Raj Medicity has been contributing for the society including the people`™s movement by providing free medical aids to victims of ILP protest besides the hospital has reserved five beds in case any victim is brought to the hospitals.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/attack-on-nurse-deplored/

IMPHAL, August 9: Welcoming the peace accord signed between National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM) and Government of India on August 3, the Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) has highly appreciated the political will displayed by the Indian leaders in solving the Indo-Naga political issue.

In a statement, the ZYF said the Nagas have been waiting for the realization of their political aspiration with high expectation for positive outcome when the Government of India and Naga political group(s) declared ceasefire and engaged in peace talks after going through extreme situations due to military suppression for many decades in the Naga areas.

It is apparent from the signing of the historic peace accord that the Government of India and the Naga group are determined to solve the long pending Nagas political issue.

It is the belief of the Zeliangrong Youth Front in particular and Zeliangrong people in general that the signing of the peace accord will surely usher on the path of progress and prosperity and bring long lasting peace and development in the region in particular and the entire nation in general for both the Indians and the Nagas in the days to come, the statement stated.

UKHRUL, Aug 10: Many supporters took to the town`™s thoroughfare staging a silent Peace March and later gathered for Thanksgiving Day observed at TNL Ground to celebrate the recent Peace Accord signed between the NSCN-IM and Government of India (GoI).

The supporters including uniform clad students holding the Naga National Flag and a banner reading `Lonf Live PM Modiji, Long Live RN Ravji, Long Live Yaruiwo Issac Chishi Swu, Long Live ato kilonser Th Muivah` had gathered at points of the town at 11am and marched through the main road of the town from two different ends of the Town Mission ground and Dungrei Junction and finally converged at the TNL Ground.

Various Tangkhul organizations and village headmen also attended the gathering even as all shops and commercial establishments remained closed while all vehicles kept off the road during the day.

Addressing the public gathering, TNL president V Weapon Zimik thanked the Almighty for guiding both the leaders of GoI and NSCN-IM/GPRN with His infinite wisdom through the years.

TSL president SC Ringluiwon and TKS president Joel Angkang also lauded the signing of the peace pact and the public of the district for their support.

Later, in the evening from 7pm onward, power was put off and all households across the district lit up candles at their respective yards for 30 minutes.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/zyf-hails-goinscn-im-peace-accord/

IMPHAL, Aug 10: Several armed organisations of the region have joint called a `total shut down` of the region on August 15.

The Co-ordination Committee, a conglomeration of proscribed underground groups of Manipur has issued a joint statement of the United Liberation Front of WESEA, CorCom, Garo National Liberation Army and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council stating that a `Total Shut Down` of the region has been called from midnight to 6pm on August 15.

During these hours, essential services, emergency measures, media and religious activities are exempt from this shut down, it said.

The statement said `India`™s yearly independent day celebration by unfurling her tri-colour in our WESEA Region is nothing but reaffirmation of The Indian Colonial Occupation over our Region and people.`

It said `The Indian establishment is obstinate to keep their occupation symbol flying high for the world to see defying the democratic norms of the civilized countries of the world and is itself a provocation.`

`The revolutionary organizations of the region are determined to resist the Indian hegemonic occupation of our region, by all means necessary and we understand the hidden agenda of the so-called `Peace Talk` offered by the colonial regime within the Indian Constitution, which is akin to a sugar coated bullet,` it said.

`The only way to be free from the bondage of Indian occupation is to defeat the IOF and drive them out of our soil forever,` the statement claimed.

It further appealed to all the people in the region to avoid the celebration and any supportive activity in connection with it and to display our solidarity against India, the common enemy, by making the total shut down a complete success.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/total-shut-down-called-on-august-15/

IMPHAL, August 10: More than a month after young student Sapam Robinhood died in police action during a rally demanding Inner Line Permit System in the State, the State government and the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System sat down together and talked on the issue for the first time today.

Both parties agreed to perform the last rites of the student at the earliest, while the government assured to release the students arrested by the police during the present movement and proper punishment for the policeman who manhandled a girl student protestor during a recent agitation of the students.

The talk which was held at the Chief Minister`™s bungalow commenced from 4 pm and was attended by all the cabinet ministers and MLAs Ng Bijoy and RK Anand.

The JCILPS was represented by a 14 member-strong team in the talk which lasted for almost 3 hours.

Following the talk, the JCILPS convenor, Kh Ratan told mediapersons that the talk with the government has been satisfactory and another round of further talk to discuss the 5 points chalked out by the JCILPS will be held on August 12 at 3 pm.

However, the second round of talk will be held only if the government fulfills the primary agreement reached today, which is to release the students currently in judicial custody, he said.

The convenor also pointed out that the JCILPS had demanded to see the ILP bill drafted by the State commissioned drafting committee which was recently submitted to the government.

However, it was denied by the State citing that the bill was still a basic framework and not entirely completed and hence needed more inputs, he added.

`The government has said that it was only a dummy bill and needs more retouching from experts,` Ratan said.

He added that in the next rounds of talk, the JCILPS`™ 5-points will be deliberated upon for inclusion in the draft bill.

Both sides had assured mutual cooperation to the best possible extent, he claimed.

The convenor however said that protests need to be continued although in a democratic and non-violent manner till an amicable solution is reached.

He asserted that the JCILPS is hopeful that the time frame set for August 15 to produce the ILP bill in the Manipur Assembly will be fulfilled after the second round of talks is completed.

The government had also assured to provide compensation for those civilians seriously hurt in the agitations, he said.

On being questioned by the media on why the JCILPS has decided to take the body of Robinhood as before it was announced that his body will only be taken back post the ILP Bill produced in the Assembly; convenor Ratan replied that the JAC of Robinhood and his family had given authorization to the JCILPS to decide for the best and hence, the decision was taken to conduct the last rites of Robinhood.

It may be mentioned that there were no representatives of the JAC of late Robinhood in the talks today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/jcilps-meets-govt-consents-to-take-robinhoods-body-home-next-round-of-talk-on-aug-12/

IMPHAL, August 9: A combined team of District Commando Bishnupur along with Women Police and 6th Assam Rifle conducted a search operation at Keibul Thana Leikai area and apprehended a woman cadre of KCP (Lalheiba) group on August 8, according to a statement of the PRO Police.

The arrested cadre has been identified as Arambam Geetabali Devi alias Thoisana 33 daughter of Late A. Ibotombi Singh of Kangabam Leikai.

A case has been registered at Moirang Police Station and investigation is going on, said a press release of PRO, Police Department, Imphal, Manipur.

Meanwhile, sources claimed that Assam Rifles under IGAR (South) along with personnel of Heingang Police Station apprehended two cadres of PREPAK (Pro) during an operation conducted at Khabeisoi today.

Sources identified the arrested cadres as Pt Thongam Nanao, 35 alias Zee Singh son of Late Kuljo Singh of Erohemba Maning Leikai under Lamphal Police Station in Imphal West and Pt Khaithem Naobi Singh, 33 alias Santhosh son of Kh Ibotombi Singh of Singjamei Mayeng Leikai under Singjamei Police Station in Imphal West.

The two cadres revealed that they were involved in extortion activities, according to the source.

They have been handed over to Heingang Police Station, informed the source.

In another operation, a combined team of 22 Assam Rifles under IGAR (South) and Thoubal Police Commando nabbed a cadre of UNLF identified as s/s 2nd Lt S Tompok Singh alias Nanao alias Molomba Henba son of Late Tomba Singh of Kairembikhok from Singtam, Kairembikhok in Thoubal district on August 9.

The apprehended cadre has been handed over to Sugnu Police Station, the sources said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/kcp-lalheiba-cadre-held-police/

IMPHAL, August 10: The Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) said it acknowledges the crucial role of the security forces including the police in maintaining order during the ongoing agitations in which school students including girls are the main protestors, however, it has appealed to all concern authorities not to adopt widespread, systemic and institutionalised physical abuse and create psychological damage among the young people.

A statement said it will leave a long lasting impact in the future of the students.

In his statement, K Maharabi Singh, member MCPCR, said that the commission is of the opinion that the strategy and approach for controlling the young or children protestors must be different from those adopted against adults.

It said as a matter of fact the very interpretation of `Minimum Forces` needs to be redefined and reviewed contextually.

For that matter, lathi charge, tear gas, shells and rubber bullets should not be used arbitrarily and abruptly against the unarmed children, and ordering to use such dangerous and deadly means against the unarmed young children is unwarranted, it said.

If required, the security forces should use other less injurious means such as repeated convincing warning through loud speakers, ensuring adequate barricades, water cannon may be an option as last resort, while encountering the young children, the statement continued.

The proportionate force to their tender age and their probable strength should be taken into consideration before resorting to any violent means it observed, and further added that there should be always arrangements for ambulance and first aid along the side of such confrontations.

The underlying principle is our security forces and police should rather be a child friendly and protective force than a hostile force unleashing devastating impact to right to life and rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly, it said.

Excessive and disproportionate use of force on children and young students is unbecoming in a democratic country like India, a country which ratified the UN Convention on Rights of the Child and where Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 is in force, it said.

The statement also said that a groundbreaking training manual for police and security forces comprising of lessons on child rights, Juvenile Justice, human rights and decent mob control standard must be introduced.

It pointed out that the section 23 (Punishment or the child, assaults, abandons, exposes or Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2000 states that `Whoever, having actual charge of, control over, a juvenile or the child, assaults, abandons, exposes or willfully neglects the juvenile or causes or procures him to be assaulted, abandoned, exposed or neglected in a manner likely to cause such juvenile or the child unnecessary mental or physical suffering shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or fine, or with both.`

Further, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2007 Rules No. 84 (11) also provides that `Any police officer found guilty, after due enquiry, of torturing a child, mentally or physically, shall be liable to be removed from service, besides prosecuted for the offence`.

The commission also appealed all the stake holders to treat educational institutions and education as an essential service and exempt it from `Indefinite or prolong closure` so that children`™s right to education is not infringed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/adopt-softer-approach-while-dealing-with-protesting-students-mcpcr-tells-police/