Manipur News

IMPHAL, May 30: The Indian Medical Association, Manipur State Branch today observed the World No Tobacco Day 2015 at the association`™s hall under the theme `Stop illicit trade of tobacco products`.

The observation was organised in collaboration with the Medical Directorate, National Health Mission, National Tobacco Control Programme, Voice of Tobacco Victims and Coalition Against Drug and Alcohol.

At the onset of the function, State Health Mission`™s Dr K Komolini flagged off a rally from the State Health Mission which was continued till the IMA office.

Students from various schools participated in the rally holding placards, which read `Buy Tobacco Get Cancer,` `Smoking Tobacco Doesn`™t Make You Cool,` `Quite Tobacco before It Kills You,` `Say no to Tabacco.`

Meanwhile, speaking at the observation, Family Welfare director Dr K Rajo said that most of the middle aged persons consume tobacco.

He said many people have lost their lives due to tobacco use.

Manipur stands top in the use of tobacco among the North Eastern States, he continued.

Women who consume tobacco face certain threats during child delivery, the doctor said.

Dr Rajo also added that smoking a single stick of cigarette shortens one`™s life-span by seven minutes.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/no-tobacco-day-calls-to-tackle-illicit-trade-of-tobacco-products/

LAMKA, May 31: Just one day ahead of the Autonomous District Council election, the preparation for the election was seriously affected when cadres of a UG group allegedly tried to capture ballot boxes and kidnapped polling officials at 4-Chongkhojou ADC constituency of Churachandpur today.

The attempt was however thwarted by the swift action of a joint security team of Churachandpur police and Assam Rifles led by SP Churachanpur.

The polling officials and the ballot boxes were rescued near Chiangpi Village under Henglep sub-division and brought back to CCpur town by a reinforced police team led by addl SP Balram Singh.

The rescued team reached the Churachandpur DC office around 4:30pm.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that in another incident happening yesterday, another election duty bound team heading for their designated booth in Chote Munpi ADC constituency was also waylaid by a UG group at Kholmun Village, who snatched ballot boxes.

However, pressure from the security forces resulted in the UG cadres returning the ballot boxes, according to sources.

It is also learnt that the concerned officials had not reported the incident, however, after the police and the Assam Rifles received information of the incident, they pressurized the concern outfit to return the ballot boxes which reached the DC office around 3pm today.

Meanwhile, a visibly shaken poll official talking to IFP, on condition of anonymity, said that their team is guarded by a 303 rifle welding VDF personeel which is not enough to safeguard them when there is so much violence.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/ugs-capturing-ballot-boxes-in-ccpur-reports/

IMPHAL, May 31: In the wake of the proposed indefinite economic blockade along National Highway-2 (Imphal-Dimapur road) imposed by the Committee for Koziirii and Dziiko (Dzuko) Land Boundary Resolution starting from June 1 midnight against the land encroachment at Dzuko Valley by Nagaland, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has made a special arrangement to bring back loaded oil tankers here in the State before the commencement of the blockade.

The special arrangement is being made considering the daily needs of fuel by the people of the State.

Sources said efforts will be made to bring back loaded oil tankers from the petrol and diesel supply points at Guwahati, Tinsukia and Numaligarh to Imphal safely before 1 pm of tomorrow.

Earlier, empty oil tankers used to leave Imphal at around 10-11 pm with CRPF escort and reach Mao next early morning. CRPF personnel from Nagaland would escort the tankers till they cross the State. After loading fuel from the supply points, CRPF personnel from Imphal would escort the loaded oil tankers up to the State capital.

Under the special arrangement, empty oil tankers will cross the Mao Gate before 1 pm of tomorrow. The number of loaded oil tankers that will be reaching Imphal tomorrow could not be ascertained.

However, it is said that above 50 loaded oil tankers including both petrol and diesel will be reaching here, the sources added.

On the other hand, neither the IOC nor the state government has made any arrangement to make oil tankers travel through National Highway-37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) to load fuel till the time of filing this report.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/loaded-tankers-to-be-brought-in-ahead-of-blockade/

IMPHAL, May 31: The State government is trying to divert the public`™s concern from the various serious issues confronting the State at the moment by victimising us (three MLAs), claimed recently disqualified MLA of Wangoi Assembly Constituency Oinam Lukhoi today.

Soon after joining the BJP, Lukhoi said the Ibobi led Congress government has taken advantage of a family conflict in the Trinamool Congress.

He questioned why the Speaker chose to announce the verdict of their disqualification when the State is burning on the issue of land encroachment at Dzuko Valley from the Nagaland side.

The issue was an inner conflict of the Trinamool Congress regarding the party`™s State president which had already been amicably solved within the party, he said. At the same time following the development, they had already submitted their applications seeking withdrawal of the case, Lukhoi continued.

However, the Speaker announced the verdict which had been reserved for a long time and all these were done under the guidance of Chief Minister Ibobi, he alleged.

He continued why the Speaker is keeping the case of five MSCP MLAs joining the Congress still pending.

It is now much better to fight the bye-election and get elected again instead of taking the Speaker`™s verdict to the court, he continued.

The people of Wangoi are ready to challenge the Congress in fresh election, he said.

He said it is the right time to join the BJP and fight against corruption.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/govt-trying-to-divert-public-attention/

IMPHAL, May 31: A change in near in Manipur, Thongam Bishwajit who joined the BJP today following his disqualification as Thongju MLA asserted.

Speaking at the BJP`™s Nityapat Chuthek where he along with the two other ousted MLAs were welcomed, Bishwajit said it is the right opportunity for the people to step forward and bring a change.

We have some experience of what goes inside the State Assembly during our stint as MLAs and it is clear to us that there is no administration and law in the hill districts.

INC stands for India`™s Naturally Corrupt party, Bishwajit asserted before pledging to fight against the party to bring the much needed change under the BJP.

Bye-polls in the three Assembly Constituencies which have been left vacant after our disqualification would be a fight between the people and the corrupt Congress, he claimed.

Expressing hope that he would be able to open the BJP`™s account in the State Assembly, Bishwajit appealed to the people not to sell their support for money.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/change-is-near-declares-bishwajit/

IMPHAL, May 31: People will decide the fates of their constituencies during the expected bye-elections, disqualified Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan said regarding the seats left vacant following the disqualification of three MLAs including himself.

He was speaking at the BJP Manipur Pradesh office after joining the party.

Joykishan said with the people`™s support, he hopes to retain the seat, but in case the people fail to support him, he would go away from the people of his constituency.

He said soon after hearing of the Speaker`™s verdict against the three MLAs, people told him not to take the case to the court and to fight the bye-election as they were with him.

People told me they were ready for fresh poll and that we will defeat the verdict through election, Joykishan said.

Fresh polls would be a fight between the people and the Congress not between candidates, Joykishan asserted.

The disqualification is directly depriving the people of the three constituencies of development and welfare, he continued.

Joykishan continued although some MLAs had suggested him to take the Speaker`™s verdict to court, he felt it was a good opportunity to challenge and fight the Congress which has deprive the people of any development in the past 13 years or so.

Now it is for the people to decide who their right representative is, he said.

Joykishan said he wanted to join BJP and follow Narendra Modi`™s principle and eradicate corruption from the State.

Today, three `knights`™ have joined the BJP to fight the corrupted Congress, he claimed.

He further appealed to the people to join the BJP and strengthen it. Joykishan also showered support to the BJP candidates for the June 1 ADC election.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/people-still-supporting-us-joykishan/

IMPHAL, May 31: The Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) has regretted that issue of alleged land encroachment at the Dzuko valley has created an unpleasant atmosphere and tension between the Mao and Angami communities in particular and the people of the two States in general.

A press release of the union said that the rightful claim and counter claim on Dzuko valley is supported by many powerful civil societies and prominent leaders of the two States and the union feels that the opinion and views of these powerful organisations and prominent leaders may hamper the age old good relationship of the neighbouring States.

The union has also appealed to the governments of Manipur and Nagaland to bring an amicable solution immediately with the help of the Centre.

It also sincerely appealed to the Mao and Angami brothers to withdraw the imposed drastic actions and also request both to come together with mutual understanding and mutual respect and solve the differences as soon as possible, it said.

The union also suggested that if the Dzuko valley is going to hamper the relationship between the two communities, the union suggests to declare Dzuko Valley as `No Men`™s Land`™ so that everyone can enjoy the unique and beautiful valley, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/zu-amn-calls-for-peace-on-dzuko-valley-issue/

IMPHAL, May 31: The three Trinamool Congress MLAs who were recently disqualified joined the BJP today.

Kh Joykishan of Thangmeiband Assembly Constituency, Thongam Bishwajit of Thongju Assembly Constituency and Oinam Lukhoi of Wangoi Assembly Constituency joined the BJP this evening.

Supporters of the three from their respective constituencies came in full strength and thronged the Nityaipat Chuthek of the BJP from 2pm.

BJP Manipur Pradesh president, Th Chaoba approved their joining in and expressed hope that the three will open the party`™s account in the State Assembly by winning the expected bye-elections.

Speaking at a simple function at the BJP office welcoming the three into his party`™s fold, Chaoba said people, who have realized the true face of the Congress are today coming in droves to the party office with smiles on their face, even though they are supposed to be sad over the disqualification of the three MLAs.

Chaoba claimed the Speaker had taken his decision, while obeying the Chief Minister`™s order.

The Congress is against any MLA from any party working for the development of the State and welfare of the people, he said.

The disqualification of the three is not only an insult to Bishwajit, Lukhoi and Joykishan but to the people of Thongju, Wangoi and Thangmeiband, he continued.

Ibobi didn`™t want these three to be MLAs anymore and so used the Speaker as his puppet to exercise the latter`™s power to do the job without any consideration of its fall-out, Chaoba remarked.

The Speaker is inhuman as is evident from the fact that he considers to remain silent in the SI assault case, the BJP State president continued.

The three wanted to take their case to the court, but since even the judiciary in the State is under the Ibobi led Congress government, they considered it hopeless and decided to fight fresh elections, Chaoba asserted.

He further said that the BJP will pressure the government to hold the by-polls within three months time from today.

Welcoming the three ousted MLAs on behalf of the party`™s national president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national executive member Tapir Gao said the three with their entry into the party will follow the party`™s vision of bringing development and peace in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/disqualified-mlas-join-bjp-chaoba-to-pressure-government-for-early-byepolls/