Day: March 2, 2012

Imphal, March 2 NNN: As part of the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign, another countrywide protest will be launched on April 6 which is likely to cover more than 50 different places of India, including the national capital with supports from well known NGOs like Narmada Bachao Andolan headed by noted activist Medha Patkar, and Asha Paribar, Mazdoor Kishan Shakti Sangadhan, etc. This was informed by Faishal khan, a Gandhian and leader of National Alliance of People’s Movement here at Sharmila Kanba Lup Complex.
“We believe and the people believe that the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is neither based on humanitarian law and neither it has humanitarian value and that the Act is against the Gandhian value which is against the Preamble of the Constitution that envisaged humanity, democracy and liberty,” said Faishal, who is also an active member of Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign.
On April 6, the day when Gandhiji started Namak Satyagraha Andolan, the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign will launch a nation wide demonstration in support of Sharmila’s struggle for repeal of AFSPA, the activist announced and said the exact banner of the campaign will be decided on March 13 or 14.
On the campaign launching day that is April 6, the supporters will call on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in Delhi and remind the Prime Minister about the Commission report on AFSPA, 1958 like Veerapa Moily Report, Jeevan Reddy Commission Report, Faishal added. He also informed another campaign will be taken place on Irom Chanu Sharmila’s birthday which falls on March 14 during which the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign will meet all the women MPs from different political parties in India.
Sharmila is on fast for the last 11 long years to demand the revocation of AFSPA.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/save-sharmila-campaign/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Mar 2: Discovering the movement of UG cadre in Ward No.9,Moreh of Chandel district, troops of 9 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) launched operation in the area and apprehended one KYKL cadre on 02 Mar. The apprehendee was identified as SS Pvt Biran alias Naba (45), r/o Laipapang, Nambol, Bishenpur. One 9 mm Pistol with magazine and five 9 mm live rounds was recovered from the apprehendee.
Later, the same troops carried out operation in Ward No.7, Moreh, resulted in apprehension of one PREPAK cadre on 02 Mar. The apprehendee was identified as SS Pvt Bishorjeet (26), r/o Ward No.7, Heinuomakhong, Moreh. One M-16 Rifle with magazine and five live live rounds of M-16 was recovered from the apprehendee. Both the apprehendees alongwith recoveries were handed over to Imphal West Police station.
Discovering the transportation of banned drugs along Tegnoupal of Chandel district, troops of 24 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector under HQ IGAR(South) alongwith lady police representative on 01 Mar 12. The apprehendees were identified as Mrs Tina (40), Mr Athin (28), both r/o Tamei. 30 grams of Cocaine was recovered from the apprehendees who alongwith recovery was handed over to Tegnoupal Police station.
In yet another incident, troops of 42 Assam Rifles of 26 sector under HQ IGAR(South) launched operation in Angbreshu of Chandel district and apprehended six peddlers alongwith banned drugs on 01 Mar. The apprehendees were identified as Totong (50), r/o Seneiveng, Moreh, Seichon (36), r/o Moreh, Jamkhongam (19), Moreh, Lilian (40), r/o Seneiveng, Thangboi (35), s/o Ngamkhai, r/o T/Zanuam and Thanjalun (30), r/o Ward No.7, Moreh. Actified Actisun tablets-20,00,000 nos, Mucosun tablets-2,01,600 nos and Actifin tablet-1,68,000 nos were recovered from the apprehendees who alongwith recoveries were handed over to Narcotic Control Bureau, Imphal.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ar-apprehends-two-militants/

Imphal, March 2 NNN : The militant outfit Kuki National front (KNF) allegedly assaulted four persons by clubbing them in Prasain village in Senapati district only for the reason that they “gave votes for the Trinamool Congress” in the recent Manipur polls, leading them to rush to the hospital for treatment of their injuries after the incident, according to some Gorkha organisations..
According to Manipur Gorkha Welfare Union and others, the incident occurred just before midnight of March 1 when armed cadres of KNF— a signatory to Suspension of Operation (SoO) involving both the Central and State Governments—numbering about 10 descended to Prasain village under Senapati police station and thrashed four villagers nearby an open ground after driving them out of their houses, wounding them. One of them sustained serious injuries.
The four villagers were also subjected to torture and serious interrogation by the KNF cadres over allegedly voting for Trinamool Congress instead of Congress in the January 28 Manipur polls and warned them they would be “killed if the Trinamool candidate won in these polls,” according to some villagers.
The injured are Bishnu Prashad Bhrata Rai, 48, his brother Maghanath Bhrata Rai, 40, Dhan Bahadur Gurung, 40 and Ram Bahadur Gurung, 60, the one who got serious injuries. They are now undergoing treatment at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
Meanwhile, Manipur Gurkha Welfare Union, Bharatiya Gurkha Parisanghah Manipur Unit, Manipur Gurkha Students’ Union and Manipur Gurkha Women Association have strongly condemned the incident wherein four persons were beaten up like anything by KNF cadres and termed the act inhuman.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/knf-cadres-assault-villagers/

Imphal, March 2 (NNN): Just few days are away for counting, the non-Congress political parties on Friday said they would form a broad based political alliance and its name will be announced soon. A meeting of non-Congress parties which started yesterday continued till today at the residential quarter of MLA V. Hangkhanlian here concluded after a marathon discussion on the formation of the next government as well as the non-Congress post-poll alliance.
The meeting decided to forge a broad based political alliance that would be named and announced at the earliest possible, Manipur State CPI secretary, Dr M. Nara told journalists after the meeting. The meeting also appointed Manipur People’s Party president, Dr Nimaichand Luwang and Manipur State Congress party (MSCP) working president, Devabrata as co-convenors and Dr M. Nara as spokesperson for the yet to be formed alliance.
Another sources said the Naga People’s Front (NPF) is not likely to tie up with the alliance but the party is supporting it.
The post-poll alliance will include the PDF, which has five parties, and CPI, MSCP, Trinamool Congress, National Political Party (NPP) and LJS, added the sources.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/non-congress-political-alliance-meeting/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Mar 2: Today, a division bench of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench comprising of Hon’ble Mr. Justice T. Vaiphei and Hon’ble Mr. Justice P.K. Musahary has issued a notice of motion returnable within 4 weeks in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed for issuance of a Writ in the nature of Quo Warranto or any other appropriate writ or order or declaration declaring that the recommendation of the Committee constituted under Section 15(3) of the Right to Information Act, 2005 recommending the name of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh as Information Commissioner as non-est in law and to quash his appointment as Information Commissioner, Manipur Information Commission.
The present PIL was filed jointly by (i) Shri Ayekpam Keshorjit Singh of Haobam Marak Irom Leikai, Imphal West and (ii) Smt. Mutum Maipakpi of Kongpal Mutum Leikai, Imphal East. In the said PIL the Petitioners contended that Shri Ch. Birendra Singh was working as Commissioner (Revenue), Government of Manipur and after retirement from service he was appointed as Information Commissioner, Manipur Information Commission. While he was in service he had appointed 28 LDCs in the Revenue Department, Government of Manipur illegally and as such the State Vigilance Commission has investigated into the matter and recommended for removal/termination of the said 28 LDCs in the year 2008. Thereafter, the High Powered Committee constituted under the Manipur Public Servants Personal Liability Act, 2006 has seized the matter so as to fix responsibility for causing lost of Rs. 2, 97, 87,8647- from the State Exchequer.
Further the Petitioners also contended that the Manipur Information Commission is an integrity institution. This is clear from the scope and ambit of the Right to Information Act, 2005 Act. It is an Institution which is statutorily created under the Right to Information Act, 2005. At present Shri Ch. Birendra Singh is the only surviving Information Commissioner of the Manipur Information Commission inasmuch as the term of the Chief Information Commissioner had already expired on 12th September 2011. Thus, Shri Ch. Birendra Singh is the only person responsible for the Manipur Information Commission. Thus, Shri Ch. Birendra Singh, who was involved in appointment of 28 Lower Division Clerks (LDC) illegally by using corrupt means, would jeopardize the very basic foundation of Manipur Information Commission, an integrity institution. And at the same time it hampers the functioning of the Commission and ultimately affects the information seekers, who approached the Commission for ventilating their grievances. Since most of the information seekers could not approach the Hon’ble High Court for questioning the legality of the recommendation and subsequent appointment of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh, the Petitioners have preferred the present Writ Petition in the form of Public Interest Litigation thereby questioning the legality of the recommendation and appointment based thereon of Shri Ch. Birendra Singh. Shri Laimayum Sevananda Sharma, Advocate has appeared on behalf of the Petitoner and the present PIL is filed at the active initiative of Human Rights Law Network (Manipur).

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hc-issues-notice-regarding-commissioner-rti/

Imphal, March 2 NNN : All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) today said it strongly objects the decision taken by Election Commission of India (ECI) to conduct re-poll on March 4 on the first day of the week, which is a Sunday, “a day of worship.”
“We see that all the areas where re-poll has been scheduled are Christian dominated areas and that Sunday being a day of worship for the Christians, holding re-poll on the day will hamper the worship services of the church,” AMCO said.
It added, a similar case happened in 1999 when polling for Lok Sabha election in hill districts was scheduled on another Sunday (October 3, 1999) following which a case was filed by Rev. Hokey Kaikho, the then general secretary of Manipur Baptist Convention against the judgment and order dated September 17, 1999 of Chief Election Commissioner of India (Writ Appeal No. 168). And then the date for polling was later rescheduled.
AMCO also said it wonders why and how the ECI commits such blunder and act of abomination again, saying it (AMCO) feels it is because the Chief Election Commissioner of India is ignoring the feelings and the rights of the Christians. It also appealed the ECI not to repeat such unpleasant act in the future.
All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) invites views and suggestions from all the Manipur tribal leaders and citizens on various tribal issues.
AMTU general secretary, Romeo Bungdon and secretary public affairs, Wilson Gangmei on Friday said the union seeks views and suggestions from all the Manipur tribal leaders on recognition of tribal hill villages under “Revenue” as per the Confidential and Cabinet Department: vide Notification No. 3/1/77-Con (PI) dated August 10, 1999, socio-economy deviation on Manipur tribal people and catering of 200-point roster superseding 100-point roster for job appointment by the Manipur Government.
AMTU also noted that the above points are to be considered as serious matters “while furnishing your valuable wisdom, of which shall be followed by public consultation within a month for further course”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/amco-disapproves-holding-re-poll-on-sunday/