Day: September 21, 2013

IMPHAL, Sept 21 NNN : The Tangkhu lShanao Long, Delhi (TSLD) said it is saddened to learn about the killing of Jonathan Kashung, who was not just a leader but a father of 4 children, a husband, a son and a brother.
Jonathan Kashung (49), one of the presidential candidates of Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), the apex body of the Tangkhul tribe, was abducted by unidentified armed men from Phungreitang area in Ukhrul town on September 13 at around 9:40 am apparently in connection with the TNL presidential election. Since then he was traceless.His decomposed body was found late September 17 evening at Tolloi Junction, around 4 km north-west of Ukhrul district headquarters.
“We wish to state that there is no rationality in claiming lives of people, no matter what charges and allegations are leveled against the person. We express our hurt and anger against such act of violence,” the TSLD said.
It also said that as women who have been striving to work for peace and justice we strongly condemn this senseless act and “we implore upon our people to help stop such in future so that our families and children can grow in a society free from fears”.
The TSLD then shares the grief of the family and express our deep condolence especially to his wife and children.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/killing-of-jonathan-condemned/

Imphal, Sept 21 MNS/NNN: The first ever Judicial Magistrate First Class/Civil Judge (Junior Division) at Moreh having video conferencing facility was inaugurated by Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre, Chief Justice, High Court of Manipur.
Justice Sapre made a speech during the inaugural function organised by Law and Legislative Affairs Department of Manipur Government. Sapre said the court has become the first of its kind in Manipur that has a video conferencing facility.
Today is a remarkable day in the history of judiciary system of Manipur, he said.
He said plans are afoot to establish such courts in every district of the state soon and hailed the state Government for setting up of an independent High Court.
Thoubal District and Sessions Judge Court was established on July 19 this year after the Manipur High Court was set up on March 23 of the same year, he mentioned, adding that again on September 14, the Bishnupur District Sessions Judge Court was inaugurated.
Now the Government is all set to open such courts for the districts of Senapati and Tamenglong, he informed.
He said the newly established court at the last town of the country Moreh in Chandel district, bordering Myanmar will certainly do good to the people.
The Chief Justice said that in a democratic country like India, maintaining the rule of law is quite necessary and at the same time the support of the general public is highly needed to make it complete.
All are equal in the eyes of law and that peace, harmony and prosperity prevail in a society where there is rule of law, Sapre said, adding establishing such courts in all the districts of the state will build up a peaceful society.
Justice N Kotiswar, Judge, High Court of Manipur, MLA D Korungthang, Chandel district Deputy Commissioner Th Chittaranjan, Autonomous District Council, Chandel, Khaidem Mani, president, All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA) and representatives of Hill Area Committee, Moreh were also present at the ceremony.
Advocate Khaidem Mani said the Judicial Magistrate First Class/Civil Judge (Junior Division), Moreh will deal with both criminal and civil cases.
Opening of this court will end the difficulties that had faced by the people of the Moreh town while approaching the courts at Chandel headquarters and Imphal.
Mani said that the new court at Moreh has been able to set up because of the initiative taken up by Justice Sapre and Chief Minister O Ibobi and appealed to Judges to execute their duties honestly and to make the people understand the real meaning of rule of law.
MLA D Korungthang lauded the state Government for opening the court at Moreh considering the importance of Moreh town.
He called upon the local public of the commercial hub of the state to extend cooperation to all the activities of the new court.
The MLA also urged the residents of the town not to indulge in mob justice but to act as per the established law courts.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/moreh-court-inaugurated/

IMPHAL, Sept 21 NNN : The Southern Tangkhul Students’ Union (TAKL) or Southern Tangkhul Students Union while issuing a strong worded statement against the NSCN-IM on the murder of Jonathan Kashung, has announced today to call 48 hours ‘Tangkhul area’ bandh in condemnation.
TAKL said it it vehemently condemned the brutal killing of former Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) president Mr. Jonathan Kashung s/o late Shanteihui Kashung of Shingkap village after his abduction on September 13 by NSCN –IM.
According to the Tangkhul students’ body, Jonathan was a front-runner presidential candidate of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) election scheduled for September 18.
“The highly decomposed body was traced on the morning of the scheduled election, after repeated assurance by the abductors that he would be released safely. The family and his supporters were compelled to withdrew his candidature even after his dead, despite qualifying the screening. The manner in which he was killed and abandoned in the wilderness to rot by the NSCN(IM) is an extremely inhuman and heinous act. The NSCN (IM) which has been engaging in a peace talks with the government of India for the last 17 years is never expected to commit such a senseless crime against its own people, defeating its purpose of ushering peace and political solution. Killing a veteran public leader like Mr. Jonathan Kashung who has rendered selfless service to the Naga society, without any trial, sends a very terrorizing message to the public,” the TAKL fumed.
It then demands clarification with evidences of the charged allegations that Jonathan Kashung had received Rs 50 lakhs from Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh and that he had served as a Chief Advisor for Manipur Naga Revolutionary Front (MNRF).
TAKL then appeals to the ‘chief election commissioner’, Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) to countermand and re-notify a fresh TNL Election 2013 since the candidature of Lt. Mr. Jonathan Kashung had been duly approved after screening following all required formalities. Lest public sentiments might aggravate to unprecedented outcomes, it cautioned.
“As a mark of public condemnation against such heinous crime, there will be a total bandh in Tangkhul inhabited area on September 24 and 25. TAKL appeals to all the Tangkhuls to extend their support and cooperation in condemning such injustice.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/48-hours-strike-called-to-protest-killing-of-jonathan/

IMPHAL, Sept 21 NNN: Students of Dental College, Lamphel here today organised a sit-in protest at the college campus demanding all to exclude the medical institute from purview of any sort of bandh and strikes.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the demonstration, Prof Th Narendra Babu, vice-president, RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) Teachers’ Association maintained that students of the Dental College will have to get a few classes since the Government allowed them admission very lately.
“Now they cannot miss a single class because chances are high that the syllabus may not be able to complete if bandh and strikes disturb them.”
Meanwhile, Prof Narendra Babu informed that an inquiry committee headed by RIMS Medical Superintendent Ch Arun has been constituted to look into the controversial death of Aheibam Bijeta Devi.
Bijeta, a 25-year-old woman, hailed from Lamshang bazaar Imphal West district, died at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) shortly before she was to deliver her first baby on September 13.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/dental-students-against-bandh/

IMPHAL, Sep 21 NNN : Imphal-Ukhrul passenger bus service has ceased from Saturday after the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) (Tangkhul Naga organization) allegedly issued threat to the bus owners over non-payment of monthly subscription.
Sources in Imphal-Ukhrul Bus Association said that every bus owner had been paying Rs 12,000 to TNL each month however it was stopped by the association sometime back after the Naga organization turned a blind eye over its request to ban service by other passenger vehicles along the route.
TNL had detained six passenger buses belonging to the association over non-payment of subscription on September 19, but luckily the drivers along with the vehicles somehow escaped from their clutches yesterday, they said.
Following the incident TNL has threatened the bus association to send back all the six drivers to their custody warning that no more passenger bus can ply on the road from today, the sources added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/imphal-ukhrul-services-suspended/

IMPHAL, Sept 21 NNN : The Kuki Inpi Saikul Gamkai said it is very much concerned over the frequent transfer of villages from Saikul Sub-Division to another blocks/districts without the knowledge and consent of the responsible social organisation and the public.
“This system of transfer of villages from one district to another district in the sly is the covert decisions of some unscrupulous SDOs and DCs to serve vested interests of few individuals,” alleged the Kuki Inpi, Saikul Gamkai.
In this regard, mention may be made that villages under Saikul Sub-division such as Tamaram, Leihaopokpi (Leihaoram), Horton etc. have been shifted/transferred to Ukhrul district without public knowledge few years back.
According to the Kuki body, the then officers responsible for such transfers are the agents of those elements who are hell bent on distoration of original block/district boundaries in the state.
“On what ground/reason these villages were transferred from saikul Sub-Division, Senapati district?.” the Kuki Inpi asked. It also asked where the transfer of villages can be made without any reasonable ground. .
In the meantime, it is learnt from highly a reliable source that processes are being initiated for transfer of some villages from Saikul Sub-division, said the Kuki Inpi, Saikul Gamkai.
“This cannot be done under any circumstances. The SDOs concerned and the DC may kindly note that no villages shall be allowed to transfer from saikul Sub-Division henceforth. Any officers, elected representatives, leaders of social organisation etc. Who gives deed of consent, whether in verbal or written for village transfer shall be held responsible and shall have to face the consequences by themselves,” it warned.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kuki-inpi-against-frequent-transfer-of-villages/