Manipur News

IMPHAL, January 24: The 285th commemoration of Puya Meithaba was held today at Hanjing Meekollok, Heingang with the attendance of students and members of all communities and ethnic groups of Manipur.

In his key note address, Hamom Dhani Meitei, convenor of ICOP, MNF said the incineration of huge numbers of scriptures was a terrifying event in the history. The incident which took place in 1729 during the reign of Meidingu Pamheiba (1709–1748), totally devastated the ancient Manipuri scriptures and records of our culture and history.

It began a new era in the history of Manipuri literature. Most of the early literary works found in Manipuri were in the form of poetry and prose, while some of them were a combination of both, she said.

The Puya books were full of documentation of the rule and guidance of Manipur, Meitei languages, ethics and consisted of seven different set of laws.

After the burning of the Puya the hill and valley people went their separate paths, she added. The language is our mother and the scripts are our father, we lost both and we became orphans, she asserted.

Hills and valley peoples were separated and the sibling relation among us turned into different persons. Hills people became Christians and valley became Hindu and created cast and racism division.

At the instigation of Santidas Gosain, Meetei Puyas (holy books) were consigned to the flames at Kangla Uttra Shanglen on the 23rd day of Wakching of the lunar calendar in 1729.

The resulting of this Meetei Puya consigned to flame in a pyre created the disunity, and separation of hills and valley people.

The titular king of Manipur, Leisemba Sanajaoba said let bygones be bygones, let us forget and forgive what had happened in the past. Everyone knew the consequences of the burning of the holy scriptures and its negative impact on the relationship of different communities of Manipur.

He further mentioned that the place of the commemoration was where our leaders of Manipur discussed the place for the governance and areas for the royalty of Manipur. The place was used to the palace of our ancestor Kings. We should know the importance of this place and we must impart the knowledge and history of this place to the younger generations too, he added.

In today’s observance the Chingmi-tammi Nungshi Leepun Award 2014 was conferred to Thangkholun Haokip from Aishi village of Kamjong sub division, Ukhrul. The award carries a cash prize along with citation. And Maichou Ningshing Mana 2014 was also conferred to Prof Ng Kangjiya Mangang of Tera Khuraijam Leikai of Imphal West.

The commemoration was jointly organised by the International Observation Committee on Puya Meithaba (ICOP), Meitei National Front (MNF), Kangleipak, Manipur State Shumang Leela Council, All Manipur Recognised Private School Welfare Association and Hanjing Marjingkol Pakhangba Laisna Hanba khubam, Heingang.

RV Mingthing chairman ICOP, and members of MNF etc were present.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/285th-commemoration-day-of-puya-meithaba-observed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=285th-commemoration-day-of-puya-meithaba-observed

BISHNUPUR, January 24: A legal aid clinic was inaugurated today at the Bishnupur Court Complex, organised by the Bishnupur District Legal Services Authority.

As part of the inaugural of the clinic, a legal awareness camp was held today, with M Monojkumar, district and session judge, Bishnupur as chief guest; Y Ramananda president District Bar Association, Bishnupur as president; Binny Ngangom CJM, Bishnupur; Lankhanpao Tonsing, JMIC, Bishnupur; Lolindro chairperson Bishnupur Municipal Council and Bishnupur Police OC Ingocha as guests of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, inspector Ingocha said although the good works of the police have been denigrated by a few reprobates present in the department.

He said the public detest the police because of the presence of a few such personnel.

Elaborating further he said that the problem of the public while interacting with a policeman starts when the police personnel on duty openly ask for a few rupees from anyone coming in to file a case with the assurance to solve the case fast.

The OC also lamented the physical appearance of the police personnel.

In today’s modern age, there is a need to build up the public-police relation, he said.

He further expressed his believe that entering public gatherings without weapons will certainly help in showing a more friendly face of the police to the public.

Once the police personnel start respecting the public’s sentiments, the public will automatically start reciprocating the feelings, the police officer observed.

The police is borne out of the public, and it is part of the public, observed inspector Ingocha before appealing to the public to provide suggestions on ways to improve the workings of the police.

Meanwhile, speaking as the president of the program, Y Ramananda said that the legal awareness camp was organised with the main objective of spreading the knowledge of law and awareness on legal aid in the locality.

Meanwhile, a similar legal aid clinic with justice N Kotishor, Judge High Court of Manipur as the chief guest was also conducted at Moirang College.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/bpr-court-host-legal-awareness-camp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bpr-court-host-legal-awareness-camp

IMPHAL, January 24: Chairman of Chandel Autonomous District Council, Lhukhosei Lou has clarified that there is no manipulations in implementation of the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF) for Chandel district.

Addressing a press meet at ADC office, 2nd MR campus today, he said that the charges which are leveled against him from certain quarters that manipulation of funds of the said scheme has been perpetrated is baseless and is an attempt to malign his reputation. Mentioning that the BRGF scheme has been taken up to address the infrastructure deficit in any part of the district, it was stated that the BRGF fund is not handled by the chairman, DRDA alone but done through a committee called District Planning Committee. The said committee consists of the Member of Parliament, Outer, MLAs, DRDA chairman, DC, SDOs/BDOs of the six blocks of the district.

“Hence neither the chairman nor any member can manipulate the allocation according to one’s fancy,” Lhukhosei said. Clarifying on the allocation a demanded by the District Vigilance Committee (DVC), he said that the BRGF annual plan for 2013-2014 was approved after sending it to the state high powered committee. It was done after examining the allocation and proposals which were found deserving. The committee further sent it to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for approval and later sent back to the State for implementation. The Chairman mentioned that as such the process, rectification of the BRGF by the DVC is illogical.

As per the guidelines of BADP, there is a blockwise allocation of funds and this has been strictly adhered to. He added that the DVC and the BJP Chandel mandal instead of joining hands in unreasonable protest and going to Delhi to ban developmental funds of the BRGF, they should appeal for sanction of more funds for the district.

Meanwhile, Chandel District JAC on Beneficiaries of BRGF,2013-14 in a press meet at Hotel Imphal also on similar views said that the BRGF funds have not been manipulated and the vice chairman of Chandel ADC and District Vigilance Committee are making false accusations. Chairman of the JAC, WL Thungam Anal said that an issue has been made needlessly and to block the BRGF funds. Questioning the motive of such a move, the JAC takes strong exception and alleges that the move is a pre-mediated political move.

The JAC will also take action if there is a lapse of funds due to the action of the DVC and appeals to the state government to release the pending funds of BRGF for the year 2013-14 in public interest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/adc-chairman-clarifies-manipulation-charge-of-brgf-funds/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adc-chairman-clarifies-manipulation-charge-of-brgf-funds

IMPHAL, January 24: The education minister M Okendro Singh has today appealed against commercialisation of education by both private or government schools and at the same time urged the public to extend cooperation for the growth of education in the state.

The above statement was made by the minister while speaking at the closing function of the silver jubilee foundation day of the KM Blooming Higher Secondary School, Khangabok in Thoubal district. The school authority has been celebration the silver jubilee since January 21.

The minister further said that human efforts for change and development should get fruit adding that the enterprise for a change in education sector and its related field should reach its desired goal provided it receives the assistances of the government and general public alike. But, a certain amount of sacrifice and sincerity is necessary in accomplishing the desired goal, he added.

Okendro continued that all the government school teachers should be trained within 2015; likewise, it is also mandatory for private schools to do so and fulfilment of guidelines under RTE should also be followed. He further added the state administration will soon be enforcing TET as mandatory criteria for teacher recruitment before adding that government India is planning to enforce RTE to private school across the country in letter and spirit.

The education minister expressed that KM Blooming School is not only becoming prominent in Thoubal district but also in the entire Manipur and urged the school authority to open its branches in other district also so that the government’s plan of self sufficiency in education sector could be achieved.

During the function, Ph Nandakumar Sharma, joint secretary of BOSEM (academic) stated that the purpose of education is to teach the students so that necessary human resource of the society could be produced adding that the education policy should aimed at awakening people from ignorance and make possible for them to understand what is wrong and what is right. He also mentioned the usefulness of introducing dance, song, fine arts, thang ta etc in the school syllabus from the coming academic year.

As part of the function, the Konjengbam Kusumani Devi Memorial Award for position holders in HSLC Exam was presented to N Binita of the school. The award carries cash prize of Rs 10,000 and it was donated by K Shyam of Lamding Charapur, Thoubal.

The founder of the school also distributed gifts to the best teachers, students and pensions to 75 plus old people. Later on, the students of the school displayed various cultural program.

The silver jubilee celebration was also attended by PHED minister I Hemochandra, MLA K Ranjit, the chairman of BOSEM and council, director of the MOBEDS.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/minister-okendro-appeals-against-commercialisation-of-school-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=minister-okendro-appeals-against-commercialisation-of-school-education

IMPHAL, January 24: The Rotary Club of Imphal in collaboration with the Myanmar government will be organizing a free Out-Patient Department camp at Kalay, Myanmar on January 26, 2014.

An official team of the Rotary Health camp was flagged off by parliamentary secretary, M Prithiviraj from the Manipur Press Club.

Speaking at the flagging off function, M Prithiviraj said that road connectivity in Kalay is well develop; however, the medical sector of the area is in a pitiable condition.

Organising such camps will only strengthen the relation between the two neighbouring countries, he said before adding that Mynamr wishes a strong and close relationship with India.

Medical tourism in the state will only help in improving the economy of the state, he said and added that the introduction of the visa on arrival in the state will further help strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Secretary, Dr Nepram Sanjib Singh said that the Rotary Club of Imphal had received an invite from the consulate general of India, Mandalay to organise a Free OPD camp at Kalay with the cooperation of Sagaing Regional Government, Myanmar on January 26.

He further expressed his believe that around 1000 patients will be examined for diabetes, HIV, Hep-C, Hep-B for free.

The club will also be donating an ultra-sound machine with a printer costing around Rs 3 lakh at Kalay, Myanmar.

Medicine of about Rs 8-10 is being arranged to be distributed free during the camp.

The 43-member team which were flagged off include medical doctors, paramedics and rotary volunteers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/free-opd-camp-at-kalay/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-opd-camp-at-kalay

IMPHAL, January 24: The Manipur State Legal Services Authority has opened a legal aid clinic at Sajiwa Central Jail today.    

LK Mohapatra, acting Chief Justice, High Court of Manipur was the chief guest at the opening function. C Doungel, ADGP, (Prison) and N Rajnikanta Singh, Joint Registrar (Judl and Bench), High Court of Manipur were the other main dignitaries in attendance.

C Doungel said that there was no difference between prisoners and people outside in terms of their basic needs and rights. The inmates can now avail themselves of legal advices from the qualified lawyers at the clinic, he stated.

Justice LK Mohapatra agreed that prisoners and have common problems and the latter will now be receiving easy accessibilities to good legal advice. The legal clinic will benefit the inmates and similar clinics will be opened at sub-divisional jails too, he stated.

The legal problems of the inmates can be solved through the voluntary legal aid clinic. He further continued that there will be no need to pay even a single paise for the service they will be acquiring.  

He further said that sub-ordinate courts and High Court will also extend help and other voluntary programmes for improvement of the legal service of the inmates.  

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/legal-aid-for-jail-inmates/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=legal-aid-for-jail-inmates

IMPHAL, January 24:  A 25 year old woman was allegedly raped by one of her detainers as she was detained along with her boyfriend by three miscreants. They were detained while on a date at the foothills of the Major Khating Mahadev Makhong around 1 pm on January 22.

The main accused which was arrested on Thursday morning has been identified as Khuraijam Abung, 38, of Lamlongei Assam Rifle Gate, Khurai. The other two who are still at large are identified as Khamba Khuraijam and Boicha Nongthongbam.

Medical examination of both the alleged victim and the accused has been conducted at the Forensic Science Laboratory of the Regional institute of Medical Sciences in the afternoon on Friday.

Speaking to the media at a press conference, the alleged victim said, “On the evening of 22nd January, she met her boyfriend, Lukham of Noney Bazar, and were talking by sitting near the Major Bob Khating Ching. They were also sharing a song through Bluetooth on the day of the incident.”

“Three persons identifying themselves as officials of a local club accused that we were indulging in immoral activities in the area and snatched our mobile phones. After that I was taken to the foot hills by Abung and Boicha while Lukham was kept under the watch of Khamba.”

She said that after taking her in the foot hills Abung asked her whether they had sex in the area and she replied that they were not indulging in any immoral activity and was just simply sitting in the area.

But Abung insisted on checking her and proceeded to check whether she had sex and asked her to not make any noises and slapped her on the face.

After that the main accused Abung raped her as another accused Boicha touched her in inappropriate places. After detaining her for two hours, she was taken from the foothills and taken near her boyfriend.

The trio demanded money to release them and she was released around 4 pm only after pledging to bring 10 thousand rupees for her boyfriend’s released.

Meanwhile, a local woman of the Major Khating Mahadev Makhong said that the matter come to light only after the victim’s boyfriend was released by the three accused at around 5 p.m. The victim’s boyfriend after reaching home asked his aunt to give him money as he had to give the three persons who identified themselves as the club members.

On yesterday morning, some locals of the area begin searching for the three miscreants and detained Boicha as their suspicions grew and enquired him about the incident during which Boicha revealed that he along with Abung and Khamba had committed the crime, she added.

Thereafter, the victim’s uncle filed a report about the incident at the Heingang Police Station and the police arrested the accused Abung from his locality at around 9 am.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/01/woman-raped-accused-held/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=woman-raped-accused-held