November 29, 1999 – Page 2

Sadar Hills District League

IMPHAL, Sept 20: While the first and second match ended with a walked over JSYC… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 20: While the first and second match ended with a walked over JSYC defeated Kangpokpi Youth Union 3-0 in the third match of Sadar Hills District League played today at Thomas ground Kangpokpi.
Thanggoulen, Thangjahao and Thangcha scored for JSYC and qualified for semi-final. The other semi finalists are Pangjang Youth Club, Muvanlai Athletics and SC.Loagos.

JSYC meet Pangjang Youth Club in the first semi final match on Thursday while Muvanlai Athletics will clash with SC.Loagos in the second match.

The champion of the tournament will directly play in the coming CC Meet tournament while the runner up will play in qualifying tournament for CC Meet or Winner’s Cup.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/sadar-hills-district-league/

Rabi brace helps NISA defeat TRAU 3-2

IMPHAL, September 20: NISA today defeated TRAU by 3-2 in their 6th Manipur State league… more »

IMPHAL, September 20: NISA today defeated TRAU by 3-2 in their 6th Manipur State league Football League play-off at the Mapal Kangjeibung ground.

L Rabi helped NISA earn the full three points from the play off by hitting the net work twice in the 19th and the 70 minute. His fist came in the 19th minute of play, from a square pass off Ratan who was shown the yellow card in the 10th minute of starting play.

However NISA’s lead was shortlived, with L Tiken of TRAU equalizing in the 26th minute of play. The two remained tied at 1-1 till the end of the first half.

In the second half Th Borish hit the back of the net in the 59th minute off a perfect pass from Manimohan enabling NISA to lead 2-1 before Rabi added his second in the 70th minute further taking NISA’s lead to two. However L Tiken scored another for TRAU and took the score to 3-2 in the 85th minute.

NISA is now at the top of the table at 19 points with just two more games at hand for the club while TRAU with just 10 points and two more games at hand shares the second place with MPSC, TRUGPU and NEROCA.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/rabi-brace-helps-nisa-defeat-trau-32/

MPP protest

IMPHAL September 20: The MPP in protest against the apathy of the state government to… more »

IMPHAL September 20: The MPP in protest against the apathy of the state government to the woes of the public will launch agitations from September 22 onwards. A press release by MPP Youth Front secretary Y Langamba has stated that the public has suffered from the imposed economic blockade. The prices of essential commodities have sky rocketed whereas there seems to be stockpiling of edible items and other PDS material. It can be clearly stated that this is a lack of responsible governance of the SPF.

To condemn the attitude of the government, MPP will organize a sit in protest at the office of the party located at Polo Ground on September 22, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/mpp-protest/

Begin Disaster Drills

The earthquake that hit east India with epicentre in Sikkim, the full devastation of which… more »

The earthquake that hit east India with epicentre in Sikkim, the full devastation of which is proving to be much more than what was initially expected, should serve as a warning to all the states of the Northeast of the uneasy truth that the region is sitting on one of the most seismically fragile zones in the entire world. It is not exactly in the “circle of fire” as the most dangerously seismically positioned regions such as Japan are often referred to, but it is still in a high danger zone. The prudent thing for the NE governments is expected to do should come across as obvious. They must prepare their people to face any eventuality if major and destructive earthquakes were to hit them. There is nothing to lose even if no big earthquake ever hits, but the price paid for being prepared for the worst is well worth it. In a way it is like the premium paid for buying insurance policies. It should surprise nobody that a majority of the people who buy these policies do not ever meet the consequences they had insured themselves and paid premium for all through the years until policy maturity, but the sense of security they lived with because of their investment is itself a reward in itself. In the case of the insurance policies, it is a business so those who sell these policies would push hard to sell and once the policies are sold would do everything to ensure their clients do nothing that would entitle them to claim their insured amounts, for if all clients were to begin claiming their insured amounts, the insurance companies would go bankrupt. Contrasted to this scenario, in the case of drilling for disaster preparedness, the sellers as well as the clients are the same and therefore nobody would anything to lose but everything to gain.

A decade or two ago, when the NE region was first declared officially as a seismically prone area, government publicity departments in practically every one of the seven states went on top gears doing campaigns on how the people must prepare themselves for any possible earthquake disaster. One of the recommendations was for every family to keep some matchsticks, candles, lengths of ropes and torch lights aside for emergency uses. This would be something like the extremely internalised and good practice in most families to keep a medical first-aid box with the most commonly needed drugs and implements to meet health emergencies, the most common of which are injuries and burns. The earthquake preparedness publicity had not been heard of for decades, and the people have also become complacent to the idea of possible future disasters. If a disaster were to strike anytime now, quite predictably, not only would the consequences be much more than what should have been, but the people by and large would not know how to do meet even the smallest challenges thrown up.

The reminder then is, the government must not take the matter lightly or for granted. It can happen, and to be a realist to the extent of being cynical, it would do well not to forget Murphy’s Law which says that if something can go wrong it will go wrong. We are in such a situation as Murphy predicts. Things can go terribly wrong so let us presume that they would go wrong someday sooner than later. Let the government take the attitude that everybody must prepare for the worst although without giving up hopes for the best. It has a full-fledged publicity directorate with a cabinet minister in charge. We suggest this department be briefed to take on this challenge of spreading awareness of ways to prepare for possible future cataclysmic natural events and their immediate aftermaths. We are told that the Northeast region is struck by thousands of small earthquakes each year which may not even come to public cognizance and these small quakes have been releasing the tensions in the earth’s crust beneath the region thus saving it from major tremors so far. We should thank dame luck for this, but let us also be realistic and not come under any impression that this luck can be forever. The government should also regulate the manner in which people build their houses and other constructions. At this moment, this is not happening and everybody builds the way it pleases them in total disregard of their own as well as the safety of their neighbourhoods. It should be a lesson that a relook at the disasters caused by earthquakes in the past few decades all over the world reveals that it is in poor unprepared nations that tragedies have been most severe. While in poor countries casualties can be in lakhs, among prepared populations, in California or Japan for instance, though bad, the casualties suffered have seldom been more than the absolutely unavoidable.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/begin-disaster-drills/

NPO condemned blast inisde the Royal Hotel

IMPHAL, Sept 19: The Naga People’s Organization (NPO) has in the strongest term condemned the… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 19: The Naga People’s Organization (NPO) has in the strongest term condemned the recent Bomb blast at north AOC Royal Hotel injuring three persons with one of them succumbing to injuries.

According to a release, the blast seriously injured a young innocent student K.D Paolei s/o Daihe of Maiba village, Senapati district who was in the capital for TET examination.

The NPO has appealed before the state government to seriously investigate into the matter and extend all possible assistance to those injured innocent person on humanitarian ground. Such act of barbarism and terrorizing the people by targeting innocent lives and student cannot continue to disturb peaceful environment but should be dealt effectively.

While extending the solidarity to those family members of those injured and died in the blast, the NPO demand the State Government to book the culprit at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/npo-condemned-blast-inisde-the-royal-hotel/

Dastardly Crime

The murder of two non local immigrants was dastardly to say the least. Such crimes… more »

The murder of two non local immigrants was dastardly to say the least. Such crimes in the last few years, it is now clear, is not random but falls into a definite pattern. Even as the state is reeling under the impact of the economic blockade, anti-social elements are adding insult to injury by their atrocious and unthinking acts. The crime must be roundly condemned. In any case, xenophobia is no solution to whatever genuine concerns of possible demographic overturning caused by unregulated inflow of immigrants, economic or political. The government must ensure that the vulnerable sections of the society are given adequate protection to their life and property. It is very unfortunate that these ugly incidents have been periodically resurfacing in this beleaguered state. It is also unfortunate that between one massacre and the next, the government has not been able to evolve any farsighted policies to tackle the problem conclusively. All it has been doing is to fire fight, which quite obviously, to use a medical analogy, is merely in the nature of sedative but far from being a cure to the disease. So as in the past, the administration has, as a response to the most recent racial attack, herded non local immigrants to camps it set up and given them police cover. But the question is for how long can this be for? This is especially relevant because those housed in the camps are mostly impoverished daily wage earners and outside their places of work would be deprived of their meagre earnings. Sooner than later, by the compulsions of poverty, they would want to be released so that they can return to their places of work, and that is when the cycle of hate violence would likely be repeated soon as the public and government vigil drop.

The moot point is, while the government must do what it is doing now by making the security cover foolproof, it must also think of evolving longer term strategies to tackle this growing menace of xenophobic hate crimes. While it is a few miscreants who are responsible for these crimes, what is to be remembered is the crimes are the extreme manifestation of a general atmosphere of concern amongst the a good section of the population of the state that immigrants would come to outnumber the indigenous populations sooner than later. It may be recalled that so many powerful and well known civil organisations, have expressed this anxiety in no uncertain terms and indeed there is a parallel increase in the decibel in the demands for the re-introduction of the inner line permit system which would restrict immigration as well as prevent transfer of landed property to immigrants. A longer term solution to the problem would have to address this concern and seek to resolve or moderate it. If such an approach is not taken, the government would be left with no other option than to resort to the same strategy of bolting the stable after the horses have fled. This would be unforgivable for the matter involves lives and any loss of life is nothing to be callous about.

But what manifests as a concern of possible demographic imbalances may have a strong unarticulated component of competition for jobs. As had been written and thrashed so many times even on these same columns, immigrant labour always manages to drag down wages earning the ire of the local labour market. The fact that those the miscreants targeted were impoverished immigrant labourers may in fact be an indicator of this contention. Some years ago, the reason for the attacks in Assam on “Hindi speakers” was openly stated to be an outcome of competition for railway jobs of grade three and two. In Maharashtra the underlying causes for the attacks on non-Maharashtrians were also for the same reason. We are pointing out these possible factors so that the government does not miss them out in evolving its own long term strategy of tackling this ugly and shameful problem. Just to underscore the point, the government cannot afford to let its guards down in the immediate context for there are killers out there bent on creating xenophobic mayhem. They must be kept at bay. However the government should also think of some regulatory mechanism to check the inflow of immigrants. It must be acknowledged that beneath the loathsome xenophobia are some genuine concerns which must be taken care of. As the saying goes, good fences make good neighbours. At this point perhaps introducing such a regulatory mechanism, even if a mild one, is this good fence. It is needless to remind the government that such regulatory mechanisms exist in many other Northeast states.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/dastardly-crime/

Janata Dal (United) Manipur State unit strongly condemn

IMPHAL, Sept 19: Taking serious count of the recent burning down of six trucks including… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 19: Taking serious count of the recent burning down of six trucks including two trucks carrying life saving drugs at Nungkao village by suspected blockade supporters on September 16, Janata Dal (United), Manipur State unit has strongly condemned the incident.

According to a release of the party, the incident is questionable as the incident occurred due to lapse on the side of the security forces in broad daylight. It has further condemned the actions of the blockade supporters in burning down the trucks which were carrying life saving drugs as inhuman.

It has also added that the blockade supporters had knowingly burned down the two trucks as the windshields of th trucks bear the banners ‘Life saving drugs’.

Thadou Students

IMPHAL, Sept 19: The Thadou Students Association Sadar Hills appeal to the state govt.to look… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 19: The Thadou Students Association Sadar Hills appeal to the state govt.to look into the matter regarding the demand of the education volunteers and up gradation of their centres for the absorption as primary teachers as early as possible before things worsens. Further TSA will fully co-operate and stands with the education volunteers demand in any kind of agitation, if the govt. fail to fulfill their genuine demand in the need of time, a release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/thadou-students/

CCpur lifts inter-school soccer cup

IMPHAL, Sept 19: Churachandpur became the winner of U-14 state level inter-school football tournament after… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 19: Churachandpur became the winner of U-14 state level inter-school football tournament after defeating Bishnupur by 3-1 in the final match held at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium.

The goals for Churachandpur team were scored by Sulan (one goal) and Mangminthang (two goals) while Keamrun scored the lone goal for Bishnupur.

Meanwhile, Manipur defeated Kerala by 3-2 in U-17 National School Games Football Tournament held at Srinagar today.

Manipur and Kerala were tied in 2-2 draw till the completion of normal time. However, Manipur scored a goal in the extra-time which led to the victory. Rojen scored all important goals for the state.

The final match will be played between Manipur and Orissa tomorrow.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/ccpur-lifts-interschool-soccer-cup/

KCP cadre held

IMPHAL, September 18: A statement of the SP, Impal East has claimed that a combined… more »

IMPHAL, September 18: A statement of the SP, Impal East has claimed that a combined team of the cdo IE and 23 Assam Rifles has arrested one KCP (City Meitei) cadre identified as Moirangthem Sanajaoba alias Sanjoy Singh, 32, s/o M Budha of Luwangshangbam Mamang Leikai from the locality on September 16 at about 1:30 am. On verification he disclosed to have joined the outfit in the month of June 2011 and has been involved in extortion of money from the general public and government offices and transported arms and ammunitions from one place to another, it added. 20 live rounds of 9mm ammunition were also recovered, claimed the release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/kcp-cadre-held/

FLAM lifts veteran soccer trophy

IMPHAL, Sept 18: FLAM became the champion of 1st Ng Shamu Veteran Football Tournament after… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 18: FLAM became the champion of 1st Ng Shamu Veteran Football Tournament after defeating FWVA by 3-1 in the final match held today at Megha High School, Malom.

The goals of FLAM were scored by Md Azizul, Joy Kabui and W Khogen while Ibotombi scored the solitary goal for FWVA.

The champion FLAM bagged Rs 25, 000 as the cash prize along with donations of Rs 3000 each from Minister Jayenta and MLA Dr Loken.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/flam-lifts-veteran-soccer-trophy/

Social service

IMPHAL September 18: Under the aegis of Dr. Kh. Lokendrajit Singh MLA Sagolband a/c a… more »

IMPHAL September 18: Under the aegis of Dr. Kh. Lokendrajit Singh MLA Sagolband a/c a mass social service campaign in Sagolband a/c was kick started today and will continue till October 16. More than 34 clubs and organizations of Sagolband a/c joined hands and started the cleanliness and hygiene campaign for which a mass social service campaign committee, Sagolband was also formed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/social-service/

NSCN-K refutes

IMPHAL, Sept 18: The NSCN-K/ GPRN, Zeliangrong Region has refuted the claimed made by the… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 18: The NSCN-K/ GPRN, Zeliangrong Region has refuted the claimed made by the Imphal West district police commandos of arresting a cadre of the outfit stating that the individual has nothing to do with the outfit.

A statement issued by the outfit’s region chairman R. Adon, the two individuals identified as Tengkaoranmei Joy s/o TR. Tantong of Taodaijang and Gonsenlung Rongmei alias Agang is in no way related to the outfits civil administration nor in army wing even though the Imphal west police have claimed to arrest them from Bimol hotel as NSCN (K) cadres.

It has further stated that the two are frauds who had been trying to tarnish the image of the outfit. It further asserted that the outfit would not sit silent until the duo clarifies. Moreover it strongly warned (public/civilian) those who are loitering around, using the name of the outfit to mend their ways or face the worst consequences without a warning.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/nscnk-refutes/

Climate change rally

IMPHAL, Sept 18: A rally highlighting the impacts of climate change was jointly organised today… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 18: A rally highlighting the impacts of climate change was jointly organised today at Sagolmang Pukhao by Social Upliftment and Rural Education Manipur and All Pukhao People Development association Pukhao.

Around 500 people including students, local populace of Sagolmang and Pukhao took part in the rally which was held under the theme “To bring nice bridge on the atmosphere”. The Rally was flag-off by Major IJ Singh, post commander 23 AR from Pukhao Iranpham and concluded at Sagolmang bazaar. A public meeting was also organised at Sagolmang bazaar wherein in many experts and resource persons gave speech on the climate change issue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/climate-change-rally/

Elusive Gender Equality

When it comes to gender equality, Manipur is a land of contradiction. In many ways… more »

When it comes to gender equality, Manipur is a land of contradiction. In many ways Manipuri women are much more liberated. Traditionally they have been economically independent and as in any agrarian society, they participated in the same occupations as their men folks. This is except in matters of soldiering, and there are in fact explanations that traditionally women in the state are vitally involved economic activities and in keeping the family hearth burning precisely because at times of wars, able bodied men automatically were conscripted into the state’s fighting forces. Since wars and raids were frequent, it became essential for the women to fill in and do the needful to keep the economy of the place standing. That the tradition of women shouldering the major part of the responsibility of taking care of family needs has hung on even after the advent of the modern economy is a failure of the tradition from growing with the demands of the time thus making itself anachronistic and redundant. What is also true is, while a traditional woman in Manipur would be much more independent and liberated than a traditional woman in most other parts of sub-continental India, the same is hardly true of the modern woman. Manipur, and indeed the entire northeast would fall far behind in this. Just considering the example of women leaders who emerge on the political horizon would be evidence. Again, the power of women in Manipur in the traditional sense is witnessed in the Meira Paibi movement, the most recent climactic demonstration of this power was on July 15, 2004 at the Kangla Gate in the now famous naked protest by 15 women. In many ways Irom Sharmila is another demonstration of this same phenomenon.

It is in the transition of this traditional strength to the modern incarnation of the Manipuri woman that the curtain has fallen. For evidence, look at the Manipur State Legislative Assembly. In the current one, there is only one woman MLA, and this too almost by default. Had the lady not been the wife of the chief minister, Okram Ibobi, it is unlikely she would have made it. In this sense, it can almost be said the lone seat occupied by a lady was won by the chief minister and thus it is his second seat in the Assembly. In other words, there is a woman in the Assembly only in form but in spirit it is a man’s seat, making it not altogether incorrect to say that in actuality there is no independent woman representative in the current Assembly. Compare this with traditionally conservative states like Rajasthan, Bengal, Tamil Nadu etc. These states have seen towering women leaders who even rose to the position of chief ministers. Is such a situation thinkable in Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh or for that matter Meghalaya, where women are supposed to have always occupied an especially powerful place in a matrilineal social structure? Something is just not right and this calls for right advocacy and intervention.

The trouble perhaps is also about a hangover from a patriarchal feudal past and the inability of the modern to overcome it. The values of this patriarchal order are ingrained deep in the society and its proponents incidentally are not always men. Women are equally responsible for its perpetration. This latter point is in two ways. One, in the manner Jean Paul Sartre explains in his introduction to Frantz Fanon’s “Wretched of the Earth” where he says through generations of oppression the oppressed begins to believe in his or her own degradation. She then identifies her own detested self image in others in similar predicament as her. Thus, it is often the mother-in-law and the sister-in-law who are the meanest and cruellest to the daughter-in-law. The other way this social inequality is perpetrated is by an internalised self interest of the feminine gender. This internalisation has become almost an intuition. Evidence of this is seen practically every day whenever a woman thinks it fit to project herself as the weaker sex, and as if by rights guaranteed by this status, insists on jumping long queues outside bank counters and ATM machines. True the patriarchal order is also zealously guarded by men who like to see their women as cultural show pieces, dressed and groomed the way they want, and behaving as helpless dependents they can lord over as chivalrous defenders. All these hypocrisy on the part of the feminine gender and the hegemonic stupidity of the strutting males in Manipur must first change before a radical transformation capable of bringing about a parity of power in the relationship between the two genders can come about.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/elusive-gender-equality/

Social service camp

IMPHAL, Sept 18: Western All Clubs’ Association along with DESAM, AMSU, KSA and Nupi Khunai… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 18: Western All Clubs’ Association along with DESAM, AMSU, KSA and Nupi Khunai is conducting social service camp in connection with the month-long celebration of birth anniversary of Hijam Irabot, stated a release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/social-service-camp/

Candidates left unhappy with TET; demand alternative arrangement

IMPHAL, Sept 16: A number of candidates who had come to appear for the Teachers’… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 16: A number of candidates who had come to appear for the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) today organized by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur under the initiative of the education (s) were deprived of appearing in the test.

Citing incompetency on the part of BOSEM in conducting the test, several candidates numbering around 100 from about 10 centres thronged the BOSEM office at Babupara demanding alternative arrangement for them.

The centres where the candidates were left unhappy include Kongba Meitei Mayek, Tiny Tots, Modern Higher Secondary School, Lamlong Higher Secondary School, Johnstone Higher Secondary, Kingstone Higher Secondary School, Leelasing Khongnangkhong High School.

Talking to media persons a candidate, protesting at the BOSEM office, on conditions of anonymity, disclosed that despite finding their allotted roll numbers in the official advertisement through various local newspapers in the state, the students were unable to find their roll numbers in their allotted exam centres.

“Moreover, it was found that the roll numbers supposed to be for Paper-I was found to be allotted for Paper-II and vice versa creating confusion among the candidates”.

Angered with the confusion, the candidates inquired with the higher authorities of the exam centres, however they were suggested to approach the BOSEM office instead, he said.

The aggrieved candidates later thronged the BOSEM office at around 2:10 pm and gheraoed the office building demanding alternative arrangement for the candidates who were deprived to appear in the test. On receiving the report the commissioner of education (s), Sureshbabu, rushed to the protest site and met the candidates. The commissioner assured the candidates to immediately arrange a separate test as an alternative arrangement for them at Bengali high school at around 3pm.

Following the assurance the protesting candidates agreed to leave the BOSEM office and were soon herded towards Bengali high school by a team of Imphal district West Police.

However, the commissioner stop the arrangement as the question papers of the test has already been distributed to the candidates.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU), Democratice Students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Manipuri Student’s Federation (MSF) and Kangleipak Student’s Association (KSA), demanded the government to take appropriate action against the commissioner education (s) and fellow officers for being incompetent while discharging their duties citing the imbroglio on TET conducted today.

A press meet was held in this connection at MSF office Sega Road.

Briefing media persons Depanjit Ningthoujam, secretary general AMSU, condemned the conduct of the authority concerned.

He urged the authority to declare a separate arrangement for the candidates at the earliest possible who were unable to appear the TET.

Meanwhile, the student bodies have also stated that an alternate test was held for some of the aggrieved candidates at CC higher School starting from 1:30pm to 3 pm. The student representatives have demanded that the test should be declared null and void and a joint test for all aggrieved candidates should be held at the earliest possible.

JDDC suspends its proposed indefinite `eco-blockade` temporarily

IMPHAL, Sept 16: The proposed indefinite economic blockade of the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC)… more »

IMPHAL, Sept 16: The proposed indefinite economic blockade of the Jiribam District Demand Committee (JDDC) scheduled to commence from September 17 midnight has been called off temporarily by the committee citing the prevailing situation in the state and the hardship that the general public has to face.

According to information received by the press, the decision was taken by the JDDC after deliberate discussion during its executive meeting held since yesterday. The said source maintained that the decision to called off the proposed indefinite economic blockade was necessitated in view of the hardship being face by the general public in the wake of the economic blockade of the UNC and SHDDC on both the National Highways of the state.

Besides that, the proposed blockade has been called off though temporarily as a gesture of solidarity to the Khundrakpam Rajeshkumar Singh, 28, s/o Kh. Radhakishwor Singh, who has been staging fast unto death demonstration at Jiribam since yesterday and the supporters of the JDDC who has been extending relentless support.

At the same time, the report further clarified that blockade was not called off due to the pressures or appeal from ICHAM or state government.

In the meantime, a medical team led by Dr. AK. Das, MO Jiribam CHC conducted a medical check up on hunger striker, Khundrakpam Rajeshkumar.

The doctor has informed his condition to be normal as of now however asserted that the hunger striker has developed some problems in his urinary track.

AK Das also informed that the lack of medical facilities including man power in the sub-division is causing inconveniences to the staff while discharging their duties.

Drivers hurt in blockade violence; six trucks set ablaze

IMPHAL, September 16: In yet another violence filled day along National Highway 37 (NH 53),… more »

IMPHAL, September 16: In yet another violence filled day along National Highway 37 (NH 53), six trucks including four cement loaded trucks and another two carrying medicines were burned this afternoon at around 1 pm at Nungkao village, which is about 60 kms from Jiribam and falling under Nungba PS.

According to reliable sources, around eight occupants of the six trucks including the drivers have been injured with some of them reported to be serious during the arson committed by suspected blockade supporters numbering around 30 this noon.

Informing IFP through the telephone from about three kms away from the actual incident spot, one of the victims who was lucky enough to have escaped with minor injuries stated that the six trucks were stopped when the assailants suspected to be supporters of the blockade threw rock boulders from the hill tops of both sides of the highway at around 12:45 pm.

He further informed that the assailants further tried to physically attack them after their trucks were made to stop.

“Somehow, they managed to escape leaving their trucks behind. The assailants then turned their ire towards the trucks and after tearing the diesel tanks set them on fire.”

He further lamented that they had to manage on their own for more than one and half hours before the arrival of any escort party to the scene.

“After the arrival of the security personnel including MR, IRB and state police, the mob around the trucks were dispersed by firing several blank shots”.

After finding none of the truckers around the incident site, the security personnel made a brief search around the area and rescued them, he maintained

He further stated that there is a BSF post at Nungkao, who were supposed to be on ROP duty for the passing goods laden trucks, however not a single personnel of the post were seen during and after the arson.

He further informed that his brother owns four of the six burnt trucks.

The trucks carrying cement bear registration numbers MN 01 7365, MN 01 7835, MN 01 8126 and MN 01 7823.

Meanwhile, according to a police source, around 1000 vehicles including goods laden trucks, oil tankers and gas cylinder carriers were escorted by a heavy team of state security forces under a tight security ROP conducted by the CRPF, BSF and AR along the National Highway 37 from Jiribam towards Imphal.

The source further maintained that the six trucks were slowed down by due to certain mechanical snags in some of the trucks. The trucks were attacked before they managed to keep up with the others.

The source also added that more security personnel including cdo teams from all valley districts will be called in to assist the convoy tomorrow.

Among the injured victims Achau Singh, 35, of Singjamei Thongam Leikai and Thoi Singh, 37, of Langathel village have been identified as seriously injured.

Meanwhile according to a team of mediapersons returning from a trip to Jiribam, all trucks and their escort party are presently stranded at Nungkao village.

The team has also informed that the officials of the security escort and the villagers of the area are convening a meeting to discuss the issue.

AMWJU foundation day

IMPHAL, September 16: The All Manipur Working Journalist Union observed its 38th Foundation Day at… more »

IMPHAL, September 16: The All Manipur Working Journalist Union observed its 38th Foundation Day at the Manipur Press Club.

Speaking at the observation, minister N Biren who holds the portfolio for FCS stated that the general public should not panic and stop the habit of lining up in queues in front of petrol pumps since the previous night and further added that people should abstain from hoarding up of petrol at their homes.

The observation was also attended by A Mobi president AMWJU, works minister K Ranjit and health minister L Jayentakumar among others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/amwju-foundation-day/