Day: April 10, 2012

IMPHAL, April 10: Angered by the Indian Oil Corporation’s (Sangakpham) failure to maintain a proper queue of oil tankers while feeding fuel at the depots, drivers of the All Manipur Petroleum Products Transporters union, AMPPTU has decided to cease unloading fuel at the depots immediately.

The drivers were angered by the fact that according to an RR maintained by the IOC and petrol pump owners, 20 tankers owned by petrol pumps were allowed to deposit their fuel without waiting in the queue, while around 160 oil tankers are presently stationed at the Khuman Lampak campus of the 2nd IRB unable to unload their fuel at the IOC depot with some even waiting since the past 10 days.

According to a source, the truckers are made to wait as the Oil depots are reported to be full.

The source has further informed that the IOC is using 480 tankers of the AMPPTU to fill its depot, of which 460 are of the AMPPTU while the remaining 20 belong to petrol pumps.

The disparity maintained by the IOC between the petrol pumps owned tankers and those of the AMPPTU during feeding of fuels into the depot angered the tanker drivers, said a tanker driver.

Meanwhile, the tanker drivers have also decided to cease feeding the depot until the said RR is altered or terminated, added the source from the union said.

Meanwhile, deputy general manager (operation) of IOC, Amalagum arrived in Imphal from Gauhati and held talks with the agitating drivers on Tuesday, but failed to make a breakthrough.

Sources said the talks between the IOC deputy general manager and transporter union is likely to continue tomorrow as Tuesday’s talks were inconclusive and it is expected that both sides will bring an amicable solution.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/drivers-decide-against-feeding-ioc-depot/

IMPHAL, April 10: President of Information and Hill Areas Manipur (ICHAM) has drawn the attention of the visiting defense minister of state, Pallam Raju towards the actual deplorable condition of the National Highway 37.

N Rajendro, president of ICHAM briefed mediapersons that the Border Roads Organization (BRO) has been highlighting fake accounts on development works stated to be taken up along the highway to the Union Ministry.

He stated that the BRO in a work progress notification to the Defense Minister AK Anthony on September 2011 stated that the highway work was carried out in full swing with a total strength of 1300 laborers and numerous machineries, the same was notified to the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

Rajendro alleged that, however on a work site visit carried out jointly be a media team and ICHAM members in September 2011, it was found that hardly 200/ 300 workers were carrying out the highway work and not as stated to the ministry by the BRO.

“Now, the honorable minister will have a first-hand account of the works implemented by the BRO and their work progress done on paper”, he stated that the tell-tale difference will be clearly evident.

Further, according to a meeting held with ICHAM members and commander of 765 Battalion of the BRO, the commandant had stated that the slow work progress was due to lack of stone quarries, non-cooperation from villagers and prevailing law and order conditions.

Rajendro charged that BRO has misled the government with their reports and there is no lack of stone quarries. “BRO pays Rs 5000 for each quarry and gets more than the bargained quantity.

He also added that if there was any lack of security to address the law and order problem, it was never notified to the concerned authorities, “he said.

In this effect, a memorandum was submitted to Palam Raju by ICHAM through MLA I Hemochandra this evening. The memorandum mentioned that the BRO was highlighting their work progress falsely and that the stipulated time of completion, i.e.2013 December will not be possible.

It was appealed to the Minister of State that a committee comprising of concerned ministers of the Union government and the state be formed to monitor the work progress along the highway on a monthly basis.

Further, state security should be deputed along the highway to safeguard the truckers and the general public as on earlier counts it was found that central para-military forces cannot curb the lawlessness perpetrated by certain elements.

It may be mentioned that ICHAM, a non-profit body has been continuously taking stock of the improvement works along the NH 53 (Imphal Jiribam Road).

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/icham-wants-visiting-mos-to-have-first-hand-account-of-bros-work/

IMPHAL, April 10: A skeletal remains of a completely charred body, suspected to be that of a woman who has been reported to be missing since some time was found atop a small hillock known as Kakching Mahadev hill under Kakching Police station, said the police, Wednesday.

A team of the Kakching police station headed by officer-in-charge S Nandababu accompanied by experts from the state Forensic Laboratory rushed to the spot which is about one and an half km south-east of Kakching police station this afternoon.

The team found a headless skeleton of the burned body whose skull was found down the hill side about 25 ft from the spot where the skeleton was found. It is believed that the skull might have rolled down the hill side because of its roundness after the body was completely charred in what is suspected to be a wild fire.

A finger ring, a half-burnt shoe, red in colour and a piece of cloth were found nearby, the police official said.

According to experts of the Forensic Laboratory, the body might be of a female.

The body has been deposited at JNIMS for autopsy.

The burnt body found at Kakching Mahadev Hill is expected to be of a woman named Keisham Premila from Wabgai who has been found missing since the last over three weeks.

Premila, 44, had left home on March 25 last around 7:30 pm after she received several phone calls from her alleged boy-friend Kshetrimayum Khelendro of Kakching Ningthou Leikai that day. She had remained untraceable since then, sources said, adding that a missing report was also filed at Kakching police station by her family before they went to the house of of Khelendro and enquired her whereabouts.

However, it was found that there is no person by the name Khelendro at Kakching Ningthou Leikai, her family members said.

The family believed the finger ring, shoe and the piece of cloth found at the site are that of Premila’s.

However, the police are waiting for one of Premila’s relative to ascertain the things as belonging to her by coming to the police station, the police said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/charred-remnants-of-a-body-found/

IMPHAL, April 10: Nimaichand Luwang, president of the Manipur People’s Party charged that the Congress party won the recent election with a landslide victory by using money and muscle power.

He further charged that the state officials from top to bottom were in cahoots with the ruling Congress government and such favoritism was one of the main factors for the MPP’s downfall and the Congress’s victory.

Breifing media during a press meet held at the party’s office near pologround today, Nimaichand stated that amongst the various reasons of the regional political party’s failure to deliver in the recent assembly election, one is the MLAs who won seats were not content with the financial status of the party but were rather inclined towards the Congress who had the capability to ‘donate’ huge amounts for each Congress candidate.

“The MLAs were rather inclined to be with the party with deep pockets”, he maintained.

He further charged that some of those who were elected as MPP MLAs in the previous election were too money minded and failed to stick to the true ethos of the regional party and neither were they working for the development of the party.

“The MLAs of the MPP did not take the role of being true opposition members seriously, they were looking forward to joining the fold of the Congress”, Nimaichand alleged.

It may be mentioned that RK Anand of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa and Ng Bijoy of Khurai a/c erstwhile MPP MLAs had defected to the Congress party just before the last election.

Nimaichand further charged that many Congress candidates spent in the tune of crores in violation of the ECI norms.

“We know that amounts upto 10 crores were utilized by Congress candidates in the last elections. The whole election was a debacle and it is clear that the Congress does not have the mandate of the people, but votes have been bought”, he alleged that there were much unaccounted expenditures and the ECI have failed in all counts to take cognizance of the fact.

Mentioning that the police forces, Manipur Rifles including other military forces were in hands with the Congress to further their ends, he charged that families of voters were bribed in the tune of Rs 10,000 for each family.

The ex MLA contended that the upcoming Lok Sabha election will be a straight fight and the MPP joining hands with their allies is confident of winning the election and defeating the Congress”.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/mpp-cries-foul-over-congress-win/

IMPHAL, April 10: The MPP as per resolve of a high level party meeting deliberated on the issue of the ongoing peace talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Centre yesterday.

After the meet, the political party resolved that the creation of an autonomous council of the Nagas with maximum administrative and financial control according to media reports was viewed with grave apprehension and as a threat to the territorial integrity of the state.

The meeting had further resolved to oppose the reported proposal of the Union government for the creation of an autonomous council of the Nagas under one administrative head and further to urge the government not to include any agenda which may affect the territorial boundaries of the state in the ongoing Indo Naga peace talks.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/mpp-declares-to-fight-reported-creation-of-autonomous-council-of-nagas/

IMPHAL, April 10: The strength of judges in the High Court and Subordinate Courts in Manipur has remained stagnant for the last more than 30 years which has made the public litigants reluctant with the state judiciary, stated a senior advocate of the state during a recent function.

Addressing the recently held inauguration ceremony of the functioning of the Imphal Bench of Guahati High Gourt from the new HC complex, N Kumarjit a senior advocate and president of the High Court Bar Association, Manipur had placed several issues faced by the judicial in the state.

Justice Altamas Kabir of the Supreme Court of India had inaugurated the functioning of Imphal Bench of Gauhati High Court of the newly constructed High Court Complex at Chingmeirong.

Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and other judges of the Supreme Court of India including Justice AK Patnaik, Justice Gyan Sudha Misra and Justice Jasti Chelameswar were also present at the inauguration.

He further expressed that with only 32 posts in the subordinate judiciary including three administrative posts-Registrar (Judl) and member secretary Legal Service authority, the strength of judges in the High Court and Subordinate courts in the state is very low and inadequate.

There are only 29 courts including two District and Sessions, two Additional District and Sessions, one Tribunal (MACT/Revenue/others), twelve CJMs/ Civil Judge Senior Divisions, nine JMICs/ Civil Judge (Junior Division) and one JMIC (Transport), Kumarjit had said.

He said there are no separate court for CBI/NIA/Electricity and others in Manipur and there are also vacancies at every level and because of these a civil/criminal trial takes more than 20 years in getting disposal owing to which has only made the public litigants reluctant of the judiciary.

The state of Manipur at present needs one district and sessions Court with Additional District and Sessions, and one Civil judge senior Division for each district besides one CJM in the district, Kumarjit said and further added that there should be one JMIC / Civil Judge Junior Division for each sub-divisional area and five more such courts in the capital city Imphal municipal area where 80 per cent of the total population of Manipur is inhabiting.

He had also said that separate courts for CBI /NI*A five MAC Tribunals, four more family courts, four more courts under NDPS Act are required to be established in the state.

It is a fact that the strength of judges population ratio recommended by the Law commission and direction to all authorities to increase judge strength five-fold by the Supreme Court of India in All India Judges Association case (2004) 4 SCC 247 within five years at Para 25 of the Judgement dated March 21, 2003 has not been made known or taken care of by the Law department, government of Manipur, he had stated during his address.

The present strength of judges in the state remains stagnant for the last 30 years, but the population of Manipur and number of litigation have been increasing in multiples and multiples which have resulted in the high increase of pendency of cases in the Subordinate Judiciary, Kumarjit further said, adding that it is expected that authorities concerned shall make all efforts to increase the strength of judicial officers in the state.

He went on saying that for effective administration of justice the Law department is also required to be named by members of judicial service in all grades as done in almost all the other states of India.

It is also worth to mention that to have a separate High Court for Manipur is the long pending demand of the Bar and that there should have been a High Court when Manipur attained statehood on January 21, 1972 enshrined under Article 214 of The Constitution of India, Kumarjit further said.

He also said the Bar be permitted to make a special request to all authorities concerned particularly the state Chief Minister to remind and pressed the Prime Minister to institute a separate High Court for Manipur by passing a Bill in the coming Parliament session.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/senior-advocate-points-out-inadequacy-in-state-judiciary/

IMPHAL, April 10: A NSCN-K suspect was caught by locals of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai while trying to extort money from the house of a Superintending Engineer today. He was later handed over to the police

The incident happened this early morning when three unknown motorcycle borne youths came to the house of Soubam Dhanabir, an SE of Thoubal district at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai and demanded money, resulting in a scuffle between the trio and locals after Dhanabir alarmed his neighbours.

One of them was nabbed by the locals while the other two fled from the scene. He was later handed over to Imphal police station.

The suspected NSCN-K militant has been identified as Langhu Wartungam, 25 son of Dilhring of Lanbung village in Chandel, presently staying at Konung Mamang.

One demand letter of NSCN-K, one Pleasure scooter with registration number DLA 9 S-9620, one mobile phone, four sim cards and one ATM card were recovered from his possession, police said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/suspected-militant-caught-by-locals/

IMPHAL, Apr 10: The Planning Adviser, NEC Secretariat, Shillong J Lhungdim will be visiting Imphal on Wednesday on a five day visit.

According to a source, the NEC Planning Advisor will be arriving at the Imphal airport at 10:35am by an Air India flight.

Soon after his arrival, he will convened a meeting with the commissioner & Secretary (health) Manipur at 11:30am. He will further visit the JN Hospital at 2pm and later visit the Shija Blood Bank and halt the night at Imphal, added the source.

During the second day of his visit, the NEC adviser will leave Imphal by Churachandpur by road.

He will visit the civil hospital, Churachandpur and discussion with the Medical Authorities and engineers and halt the night at the district.

He will return to Imphal on April 14 and leave for Guwahati on April 15 by an Air India flight at 5pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/nec-planning-advisor-to-visit-state/

IMPHAL, April 10: Commandos of Imphal west have arrested two active members of the banned outfit RPF/PLA.

A release of the SP Imphal west has stated that on receiving reliable information of the banned outfit PLA mobilizing and exhorting the public at Lamsang area to come forward and pay floral tributes at Cheiraoching on April 13 to the deceased PLA cadres, teams of CDO, Imphal west rushed to the area and conducted random frisking and checking.

During the frisking and checking a woman was detained for verification. On verification she identified herself as Takhelambam Rajeshwari Devi, 49 wife of T Thoiba of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai, presently staying at Khabam Lamkhai, president of All Manipur Meirapaibi Association, the statement added.

During further verification she disclosed that she was sent to Kangchup/Lamsang area to mobilize to public to come forward and offer floral tribute to the deceased PLA cadres at cheiraoching on April 13 under the direction of one S/S Sgt. Tesu of PLA. She was arrested at the spot and FIR case registered at Lamsang PS and investigated into it, the statement added.

In another incident, acting on a credible information, CDO, Imphal west have arrested an active member of RPF/PLA yesterday at around 10:45 am from the person’s residence.

The person is identified as RK (O) Landhoni Devi, 57, wife of RK Ibomcha Singh of Thangmeiband Lourung Puren Leikai. On spot verification, she disclosed that she is working under one s/s lt Kanan Devi, a woman wing commander of RPF/PLA since a year ago. Further she disclosed that she is a secretary of the Porei Leimarol Meira Paibi Lup, the statement alleged.

She distributed the money to the various women organization of Manipur for the upcoming April 13 (Athouba Numit Celebration) which was handed over to her by an unknown woman through Kanan. Two mobile handsets and Rs 20,000/- were recovered and seized from her possession.       

Meanwhile, commandos of Imphal west have arrested an active member of KCP from near GM Hall Gate at around 3:45 pm yesterday.

The person is identified as Sanasam Bikash Singh alias Bikram, 31, son of Lukhoi Singh of Thoubal Haokha Babu Bazar. On spot verification, he disclosed that he has been sent by one Wanglen of KCP finance section to give demand letters relating, with the collection of toll taxes. A demand letter relating to KCP and one mobile handset were recovered and seized from his possession, a separate statement of the IW SP stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/arrested-militant-identifies-herself-as-meira-paibi-police/

IMPHAL, April 10: A team of Democratic Student’s Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has found L Sanoi College and Ideal Girls College not functioning properly, during an inspection tour made by a team of the student body, today.

A release of the student body stated that the team found the infrastructure of Nambol L Sanoi College in a very bad condition with most of the classroom building very old, no books in the library, no proper toilet, no sport equipment, no drinking water facilities etc. Besides the negligence from the government the teachers and students are also not attending classes properly.

Further it has also stated that the team also found Ideal Girls College in a similar condition with only three students attending classes, no new books since 2009 in the library, 6 non-functioning toilets etc.

However the attendance at GP Women’s College was recorded at 70 percent, it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/desam-inspects-college/

IMPHAL, April 10: Newly elected Sagolband MLA today conducted a tour in his constituency accompanied by officials of PDA and PWD.

The inspection tour started from Kwakeithel Haorukchanbi Leikai inspecting the under construction drainage system which runs upto Nepram Menjor Leikai Sagolband.

The department officials assured to complete the drainage by May end.

The team further inspected the development and beautification works of Waishen Marin which runs through Sagolband and Keishamthong a/c.

EE, PDA Kesho clarified that the developmental works on Waishen Marin has been delayed because of the land demarcation of the nearby areas.

However he expressed that works on the project will be expedited from tomorrow, even though the rainy season has already started.

He further declared that the government has sanctioned Rs 4 crore out of the total Rs 120 crore earmarked for the said project.

He further stated that there are some portions which has been completed without any concrete mixtures, however, the portions will be broken down and constructed again.

The project was started since 2011.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/inspection-tour/