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IMPHAL August 8: A person has reportedly remained untraceable since he left for work at Sapao village located in Ukhrul district on April 19. 

The Universal Mothers’ Organization (UMO) called a press conference in this connection at the Manipur press club, today.

Sorojini, president of the organization while addressing the conference stated that Lairenlakpam Shachikanta alias Kanta, 38, s/o (L) L. Thaguchauba Sharma of Iroisemba Manning Leikai along with five others from his own locality on April 19 had left for Sapoa village in Ukhrul.

She further informed that five have been working as wood-cutters under one Illeng of Ukhrul under the behest of one Khumanthem Khoibi from Khamnam leirak Sagolband who used to act as the middleman between them

She said that the five companions Sanatomba, Sanjoy, Dhungo, Buddha and John have already returned however Shishikanta has failed to turned up till date even after several months.

She also added that attempts of the locals to trace his whereabouts have remained futile as there is no information about the missing persons.

Sorojini said that the victim’s mother had narrated that the victim came into contact with Khoibi through his own wife L. (O) Thoibi Devi, 38, who had even taken a sum of Rs. 1000 from Khoibi as advance for the said work.

“Shashikanta had returned to his paternal residence on March 20 along with his five children from his in-laws residence located at Sagolband Khamnam Lierak where he had been staying for the last 10 years. Later, after 7 days, Thoibi came along and joined him at his Iroisemba residence”, Sorojini said while quoting the victim’s mother.

Sensing suspicion of wrongful conduct and to find out the modus operandi on the alleged missing of L. Shashikanta,  an FIR  no.3 (7 of 2011) have been lodged against his wife, Khoibi, Illeng and his five other companions  at Shangsad P.S.

She also added that all the eight have been remanded with the Shangsad PS custody.

Later, Sarojini during the conference demanded that the concerned P.S. to hand over the facts on the whereabout of Shaahikanta to his aggrieved family without delay to avoid democratic forms of agitations to be taken up by UMO in association with the local populace of Iroisemba. She added that the organization furnished a complaint to the state DGP in this connection, she added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/one-missing-since-he-left-for-ukhrul-in-april/

IMPHAL, August 9: The United Naga Council will not accept Bifurcation of Naga Areas without the wishes and consent of the Nagas. The Nagas have been resisting arbitrary encroachment and creation of artificial boundary of their land since colonial period and hence any attempt on the part of the government of Manipur to create SADAR Hills district without consulting the Nagas will be strongly opposed, stated a statement of the United Naga Council.

It has further stated that the Nagas have signed four MOUs with the government of Manipur, wherein the MOU of 1998 stated that “ resolution to the conflict on the issue of SADAR HILLS will be brought about through a concensus of the peoples concerned in the interest of bringing about lasting peace and harmony between the Nagas and Kukis”.  Therefore, the government should not take any hasty decision in this matter.

It has further mentioned that the inept handling of the present crisis and bias attitude demonstrated by the government of Manipur is viewed by the Nagas as an attempt pit one community against the other.

Further according to the statement, all emergency cases including seriously ill persons should be allowed free passage for medical treatment within 24 hours time starting August 8, in the event of failing to make this humanitarian arrangement the Nagas would blame the government of Manipur for any casualties caused due to lack of medical attention.

It has also warned against forcing the Nagas to contribute money to fund the agitation and asking them to organized rallies and dharnas in support of Sadar Hills district against their will should be immediately stopped, henceforth Nagas will not tolerate those elements and the Government would be held responsible any untoward incidents arising out of it, added the release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/unc-charges-state-govt-of-bias-handling-of-sadar-hills-issue/

IMPHAL August 24: The whereabouts of assistant publicity secretary of the proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF), Gurumayum Jiteshwor Sharma alias G.M. Changjou alias Gypsy, 49, s/o (late) Goshai Sharma of Kwai Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak, who was reportedly arrested by some unidentified security personnel from his residence located at Duncan Basti in Dimapur on the evening of August 18 is still unknown despite of complaints filed by his family members.

A formal letter was submitted on August 19 to the DGP of Manipur by G Radha Devi, mother of Jiteshwor, seeking the help of Manipur Police in finding the whereabouts of Jiteshwor.

In her compliant, she mentioned that no information could be ascertained by whom he was arrested and where he is detained nor are there any information of being handed over to any police station in and around Dimapur.

One of the family members of Jiteshwor is also reported to be stationed at Dimapur to find the whereabouts since August 20 and subsequently a formal complain on missing person was also lodged at Dimapur West Police Station in the afternoon on the same day.

Addressing media persons today, G Sheitabarta Sharma, younger brother of Jiteshwor stated that two Manipuri speaking unidentified persons in civvies came into the residence located at Dimapur where Jiteshwor was staying along with his family. After brief conversation the duo forced Jiteshwor to come along with them wherein an altercation erupted.

Jiteshwor was bashed up by the duo while resisting when one of them tried to tug a pistol on his back. Later the duo dragged him down and was joined by others also dressed in plain clothes that had been waiting outside. After the sudden commotion, another two individuals   burst in one after the suspected to be security forces in full uniform. At the time of his arrest, a personal laptop, a portable play station and some unaccounted personal gold ornaments belonging to his spouse and children were took along by the said individuals, he narrated.

It may be mentioned that in some local dailies it was reported that he was arrested by two Manipuri speaking personnel in civil dress along with some army personnel purportedly Assam rifles.

Further narrating the account, Sheitabarta, asserted that on the morning August 19 at 10.5 am a SMS was received to a cell phone of one the family member in Imphal. On the same day another SMS was also received later in the day at 3.5 pm. Apprehensive on the development, he reasoned initially no attempt was made to contact through the mobile number as they fear for Jiteshwor life, however after the received of the  second text message they were left dumfounded as the phone was shut off since then.  

Addressing media persons Sheitabarta showed the actual text message sent presumably by his brother to one of his close family member and was reportedly forwarded to his number. One of the text messages was read as “I’m arrested by AR & NSCN”.

In this issue,   an emergency meeting was called jointly by the Kwai Singjubung Leirak women’s welfare association and Singjubung Leirak Youth organization yesterday and unanimously resolved to press the government to find out the whereabouts of Jiteshwor Sharma@ G.M. Changjou who has been missing since his arrest on August18 from Dimapur allegedly by security forces or allegedly by a team of Red shied division, Leimakhong within August 25. The meeting also resolved to take up various democratic actions if the government failed to provide information regarding the location of Jiteshwor within the stipulated time.

In the mean time, a sit-in-protest was held at Kwai Singjubung Leirak machin by the local residents of Singjubung Leirak, today, in protest against the alleged concealing of information regarding the whereabouts of Jiteshwor Sharma purportedly arrested by team of security force. Some of the placards were read as “Are we living in a country where rule of law prevails, Inform the whereabouts of Jiteshwor at the earliest’ how many more hours are require even after 24 hours time scale to handed an arrestee”. The today’s protestation demanded that information be provided immediately and condemned the security forces of sidestepping the guidance of handing over arrestee to nearest police station within 24 hrs. The sit-in-protest will also continue tomorrow at the same location.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/whereabouts-of-rpf-leader-still-unknown/

NEW DELHI, Aug 28 (IANS) The idea of bringing the media within the ambit of the Lokpal is `bad and mischievious`, say experts who argue that the media is `private` and the ombudsman is an institution `for redressal of grievances and to make the government behave`.

`It is a mischievous idea,` said senior journalist Prem Shankar Jha, rejecting Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav`s idea of `bringing media under Lokpal`.

`If everything will be brought under the Lokpal, what will the judiciary do,` Jha asked.

Though experts agreed there were problems in the media like paid news, they felt the media would have to deal with the issue itself.

Siddhartha Varadarajan, editor, The Hindu, told IANS: `In case the media did something wrong, the law of the land would take care of it.`

He said while involvement of a politician in paid news would come under the Election Commission of India norms, in case a newspaper took cash for publishing such news, it would violate the tax laws.

The experts mentioned there are quasi-judicial watchdogs like the Press Council of India to look into the complaints against media.

`Bringing media under the Lokpal would be like dictatorship,` said Dainik Bhaskar editor Shravan Garg.

`There is no Lokpal like idea in UK, even after the News of The World scandal,` he added.

Garg said the government has allowed 26 percent foreign equity in electronic medium and bringing media within the ambit of the Lokpal would give a wrong message to the world.

However, senior journalist Bhaskar Roy had a different take on the issue. `It is a good idea,` he said.

`If you are probing others, you too should be open to scrutiny. Media`s credentials should be above board.`

The Samajwadi Party chief had demanded in the Lok Sabha Aug 25 that media be brought within the ambit of the Lokpal.

Amid thumping of desks by his colleagues, Yadav had said `a section of the media was taking money and releasing news in favour of a particular party`.

`We suffered at the hands of the media during the polls,` he said.

Yadav went on to say that it had become a practice for the electronic media to collect money during polls and air views in support of one party.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/experts-reject-idea-to-bring-media-under-lokpal/