Manipur News

Two boys have been missing and a sit-in-protest was held today and the protesters demanded to hand over the two boys to their parents. The missing boys were identified as Soibam Sujakanta alias Angou (12) Yurembam Awang Leikai, Thokchom Birjit alias Babuloo (13) Tharoijam Maning Leikai. Sujakanta, a student of class VIII in Pole Star Public School, Yurembam was found missing when he went to play football at the locality ground on November 28 around 3.30 p.m. The following day a missing report was lodged with Patsoi PS. Birjit who was reading in class VII standard at Pari Imom Sindamsang was found missing since seven a.m. of November 29. Residents of Tharoijam Maning Leikai and Yurembam Awang Leikai staged sit in demanding to release and hand over them to their parents. Birjit had talked on mobile phone with his father on November 31 stating that he was in Burma and asked to receive him from Burma.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-boys-missing/

Maintain Old Cachar Road: ZSUKA
IMPHAL, Dec 13 NNN : The newly revived Zeliangrong Students Union Khoupum Area (ZSUKA) has urged the concerned authority especially the state government of Manipur to look into into deplorable condition of the Imphal-Cachar road, also known as the Old Cachar Road. The ZSUKA then appealed the Cachar Road Educational and Sporting Association (CRESA) to call off its agitation along the road taking into consideration the forthcoming Christmas.
CRESA has been imposing blockade along the road demanding the government to repair the road.
“The historical Imphal-Cachar road which is popularly known as the Old Cachar Road (Tongjei Maril) is severely ravaged and cries for attention for years together,” said ZSUKA.
The road is lying in a pitiable condition with large potholes, puddles and worn culverts throughout from zero point till Rengpang, the ZSUKA pointed out.
The bad road condition faced by the drivers ascribed to the dreadful state of the road which resulted in unreasonable fares hike, price-rise for the movement of villagers who require medical care. The villagers often call the epithel of ‘disco-route’ to this road as the passengers in the vehicles are thrown all about due to bumpy travelling.
“The road was not repaired once till today after it was black topped way back in 1968. It is an unbelievable fact that this road passes through the native village (Khoupum Gaidimjang) of one of the most influential politicians of Manipur, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home and Tribal Affairs and Hills,” said the ZSUKA.
Notably, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while addressing a public gathering at Imphal on December 3, 2011 declared that the Centre had agreed in principle to take up Old Cachar Road. It was a re-assertion of the statement made on December 2, 2006, the Zeliangriong students’ body pointed out.
The Prime Minister of India’s declaration brought respite to weary people but it is yet to be translated into a reality, said the ZSUKA.
The deprived villagers are left with no other option but to block the traffic due to failure of the government to respond positively. The vehicular movement has been halted in the last few days under the intiative of Cachar Road Educational and Sporting Association (CRESA) with support from Chiningkon, Ngarian and other villages residing along the road, stated the ZSUKA.
The far-flung neglected villagers are facing much difficulty as there is no other route to reach the nearby towns to procure their essential commodities.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/maintain-old-cachar-road-zsuka/

The proposed indefinite ‘public blockade’ has been called off today by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) following a written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) intimated to the state government of Manipur as well as to the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the KSDC.
KSDC information secretary George Guite informed this evening taking into confidence, the KSDC has decided to abandon the proposed ‘public blockade’. “But if the Central government is not sincere as the state government had done to us, we may resume our agitation any day,” George Guite said.
Meanwhile, the communique of the KSDC said, “The Kuki State Demand Committee appreciates that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India have written to the Chief Secretary of Manipur (vide 9/7/2004-T, 13 Dec 2012, North Block, New Delhi) that following the Parliament Session an official of suitable seniority from MHA would be arriving at Imphal to work out the modalities for political dialogue with KNO for the formation of Kuki State. Based on the information conveyed to us by LM Khaute, aditional director general of police (ADGP), quoting letter from Devesh Dayal, Jt Secy Home, Govt of Manipur (No 2/8(1)/2010-H/L&O(KSDC)Pt., 13 Dec 2012, Imphal), KSDC would be glad to abandon our plan to blockade the Public Blockade and ASEAN Car Rally, intended to start from 5 pm of December 14, 2012. However, KSDC would hope that the state Govt. of Manipur, henceforth, would co-operate (as KSDC have on this occasion) with the initiative of MHA to begin political dialogue rather than raise hurdles, such as the ‘territorial integrity of Manipur’. In a mature and meaningful dialogue, transparency, plus exploration of all avenues and options, albeit within the Constitution of India must be the premise for dialogue to arrive at an amicable political solution”.
Kuki National Organisation (KNO) spokesman Dr Seilen Haokip informed that since the written assurance to begin a political dialogue has come we are likely to sign for the extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) term within a couple of days’ time in New Delhi. “However, we are yet to decide officially,” added Dr Seilen Haokip.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its letter signed by under secretary M.P Singh adressed to Manipur chief secretary D.S Poonia assured that a senior official from the Ministry will be deputed to Manipur for discussing to begin the political dialogue with the Kuki militant outfits after the ongoing Parliament Session.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters this evening, Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam expressed hope that the KSDC would call off the proposed blockade which was slated to begin from 5 pm of December 14 demanding for the political dialogue between the government and the KSDC and the Kuki militant outfits under SoO agreement.
“I appeal to the KSDC to roll back the proposed blockade in the interest of ther people,” said Gaikhangam. He then expressed hope that the KSDC would do so as the government had done what it demanded–the written assurance to begin a political dialogue.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kuki-blockade-called-off/