Manipur News

SENAPATI, Dec 23 : All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) said the reported incident of the manhandling of actress Momoko by one Livingstone at Chandel on December 18 is very unfortunate and condemnable by one and all. Such acts is an insult to womanhood and should have no place in the civilized world. The law of the land must address it in befitting measure, ANSAM stated
“However, the apprehension that this incident might take on a communal colour has come true on. The reaction is too far from being commensurate with the alleged crime under protest. The scene enacted in Imphal valley on this day December 22, was simply intolerable. That there is an irreparable social divide in the present state of Manipur has again been proved. The communal forces were waiting for an ignition that was provided by the incident. This localized incident has been capitalized and blown out of proportion very obviously to link it up with the impending Indo-Naga settlement. The aberration of one man has been heaped upon the Naga people,” ANSAM stated.
According to ANSAM, Nagas preparing the Churches for Christmas celebration in Imphal areas and were not allowed to continue their works in the church premises. Coffins of dead bodies being taken to villages were disrespectfully banged upon and their free passage disturbed. The State Government remained a mute spectator which implies that the whole drama has been sponsored by it. The State Government and the Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council will be held responsible for any consequences arising out of this situation,” ANSAM warned this evening.
“Nagas are not communal. The guilty must face the hands of justice. But a mole hill has been made a mountain with a communal agenda. What we want the world to know is the communal State Government and the communal forces in the Imphal valley has again proved that the Nagas and the tribals cannot live with them,” the Naga students added.
“The general Naga public is advised stay alert and to be prepared. The Naga civil society organizations are fully engaged with the situation. We will stand together as a people,” ANSAM asserted.
ANSAM then said Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council and Co. who have organized “this mayhem” are requested to call off the bandh immediately. “We hope that they understand the message of “Ching Tam” (Hills and Valley) amity which they have clearly conveyed through their handiwork today. We shall be left with no option but to speak the same type of language if the sincere request is not respected,” ANSAM cautions.The NSCN-IM said the outfit is all the more concern for the NSCN-IM when certain forces have sensationalized the incident giving highly explosive communal color without taking into account what was the source of the spark that set off fire work during the concert. “It is alleged that the actual incident started when actress Momoco made a provocative gesture against the Nagas which infuriated the whole Nagas and Lieutenant Col.Livingstone allegedly slapped the actress in a fit of anger. Nevertheless, NSCN is not taking the matter lightly and if Lieu Col Livingstone is found guilty of crime against the human dignity and morality of the actress the law of NSCN/GPRN will take its own course and befitting punishment given as per the nature of the crime committed,” the NSCN-IM said.”The CAO of Khurmi Region also expresses regret over the incident. He however has requested the higher authority of NSCN to enquire into the incident on urgent basis to pinpoint who is the culprit and who deserved what action,” the NSCN-IM added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ansam-on-momoko-incident/

IMPHAL, Dec 24 MNS NNN UNA: A jounalist was killed while scores of vehicles were burnt and got damaged as the indefinite bandh continued for the second conxecutive day yesterday called by Film Forum Manipur (FFM) supported by various civil society organisations in protest against the assaulting of Manipuri film actress Momoko by an NSCN-IM cadre in Chandel on December 18 evening.
The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari has condoled the death Shri Dhij Mani, a stringer for a private TV News channel, who was killed in police firing in Imphal today, while covering the bandh organized in protest against the molestation of an actress yesterday. Tewari has said that Mani was a very brave journalist and a true professional who covered many difficult assignments.
The Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has urged Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to order a probe into the incident and to give compensation to his family.
At around 1 pm today at Thangmeibandh Sinam Leikai in Imphal West district, a mini truck of the Lamphel police station escorting people from Tamenglong district was stopped and damaged. As the mob size increased, the police personnel fled from the scene leaving the vehicle behind. After the mob had asked the occupants to unboard the vehicle, the mob set the mini truck on fire. While doing so, the security personnel who were nearby opened fire and the bullets hit at Prime News channel correspondent identified Thangjam Dwijamani alias Nanao (36). The journalist was rushed to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) but succumbed to the injuries. One of the bullets that hit Nanao’s chest became fatal.
When a large numbers of bandh supporters tried to stop a police team trying to evacuate some people in one of its vehicles. Police fired several rounds of tear gas shells. When the outnumber protestors marched ahead and caught fire the vehicles, police fired several rounds of real bullets.
Dwijamani who was taking a video clip of the incident was hit by a bullet in his chest. He was immediately rushed to the RIMS hospital for medical treatment. However, he breathed his last after a brief struggle for his life.
When the police picked up a youth who came to handover the video camera used by the scribe which was missing from the spot and allegedly concealed with apparent intention to eliminate the evidences, outraged scribe fraternity led by president of All Manipur Working journalists’ Union (AMWJU) stormed the Lamphel police station.
They demanded production of the video clipping. However, after a brief struggle police successfully quelled the scribes.
Dissatisfied with the attitude of the police, scribes gathered at Manipur Press Club to hold an emergency meeting. With the resolution passed in the meeting, scribes marched a protest rally amidst the curfew towards the chief minister bungalow and submitted a memorandum containing the resolution of the AMWJU.
The memorandum demanded, among others, to conduct an inquiry and dismissed the police personnel involved in the firing that got kill the scribe. Chief minister O Ibobi Singh assured appropriate action against the erring personnel.
An mou was reached during a talk between representative of AMWJU and chief minister O Ibobi Singh in the office chamber of the later this late evening.
As per the agreed point in the memorandum, the state government will place the police personnel involved in the firing incident under suspension, pending enquiry in to the incident.
To conduct an enquiry into the incident by a high power committee chaired by state principal secretary (home) with additional DGP (law and order) LM Khoute and AMWJU president A Mobi as members would inquire into the incident and submit its report within three days, extendable to one week.
The government also agreed to provide reasonable assistance feasible to the family of the deceased and drafting of policy for the welfare of media personnel by the state government was also included in the MoU which was signed by state chief secretary DS Poonia from government side and A Mobi from journalists’ side.
With the signing of the MoU, the scribes have agreed to suspend any kind of agitation.
Meanwhile, a total of five private vehicles were burnt down by bandh supporters in various places in the state capital today.
At around 11:20 am, a Maruti car heading for Tamenglong was set on fire by a mob. At Khurai Lamlong, two vehicles–a Bolero jeep and a Maruti car were burnt down by bandh supporters at around 11 am. At Andro Bus parking, another Maruti car was burnt down by the bandh supporters late this morning.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/stir-over-death-of-scribe/