Month: February 2014

IMPHAL, February 1: “I am just speechless after watching this photo exhibition, this is like going back through time, it mirrors Manipur” Sonia Nepram, a filmmaker said after watching the photo exhibition of Phanjoubam Santosh during the opening day of the exhibition at Lamyanba Sanglen, Palace Compound today.

A thousand and hundred photos captured by senior photo journalist during his thirty years and counting career are displayed under the title – “Manipur Through Ph Santosh’s Lens.”

The exhibition is being organized by Lenz Film.

The inauguration of the exhibition was attended by deputy chief minister Gaikhangam as the chief guest and W Shyamjai, AMWJU president as the functional president.

Gaikhangam said that the solo photo exhibition of Santosh deserves much appreciation and that it has become a history record of Manipur.

“Photojournalism is a risky profession, and capturing different issues on film is a tremendous task,” he appreciated the courage and sprit of photo journalists who risk their life to capture historic moments.

He said this kind of profession is only for the brave and is what her daughter had ever wanted to become.

He further pointed out the importance of photojournalist as pictures that capture are visual evidence.

Recalling on how the photographers of the world war –II had captured the vicious side of war, he said that it was only after looking at the pictures that were taken during the nuclear attack at Nagasaki and Hiroshima that the world became aware of the disastrous impact of the nuclear bomb.

On the sideline of the function, Gaikhangam said that like Pragati Maidan in Delhi, a permanent place for hosting events is to be constructed in the State and the government is trying its best to complete the project at the earliest.

W Shyamjai , president of AMWJU said that the scribe body will organize a photo competition in the near future to promote photojournalism.

He mentioned that a single photo is worth a thousand words and communicates to the viewer directly.

There are times when photojournalist and security personnel tussle during conflict situations and the security personnel need to avoid such situations, he observed.

Recounting Santosh’s passion for photography, he appreciated his dedication towards his profession for the upliftment of photo-journalism in the state.

Senior correspondent of The Statesman, Yambem Laba mentioned of the time when he and Santosh were caught inside Myanmar by the military junta and had a narrow escape.

He said that such events need to be organized in the State for promotion of photography as the lens plays a vital role in communicating to the public.

He recounted the “fake encounter of Sanjit at Khwairamband bazar” and said that it was only through the photo evidence that the brutality of the police force could be witnessed and for later judgment.

Santosh began his career in 1980 and has worked with reputed organizations like North East Sun, Reuters and Press Trust of India and is the first in the state to work with international agency Reuters.

His photos have been published in national papers including Times of India, The Hindu, The Hindustan Times, Telegraph etc and international newspapers like New York Times, The Washington Post. His exhibition will continue till February 5.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/phanjoubam-santoshs-photo-exhibition-kicks-off/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=phanjoubam-santoshs-photo-exhibition-kicks-off

IMPHAL February 1: A 45-year-old woman allegedly hanged herself to death on a tree at the back side of her residence in Langol Tarung on Saturday morning.

According to the daughter of the deceased, identified as Athokpam (N) Sanatombi, the 45-year old woman was living with her step-father, Indrakumar Basnet, at Langol Tarung for some years.

“My mother was found hanging on a scarf in a tree located on the back of her residence this morning by the locals of Langol Tarung Khul. My mother might have been beaten to death as blood was oozing out of her nose and some blood stains were also seen on her cloth. To cover up the whole thing, this drama might have been staged to deflect attention.”

Continuing that the tree on which her mother was found hanging is not tall and her mother’s feet were dragging the ground she added that the locals had also informed her that her step-father partied with some of his friends in their residence the night before.

The dead body has been claimed by the family members after a post-mortem conducted at Regional Institute of Medical Sciences

Meanwhile, the husband of the deceased has surrendered to the Lamphel Police Station.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/woman-hangs-self-daughter-suspects-foul-play/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=woman-hangs-self-daughter-suspects-foul-play

JIRIBAM, February 1: Several quarters of the Jiribam public have expressed concern that even though there is every possibility that the sub-division will be upgraded to a full-fledged district in the near future, the concerned authorities have failed to comply with the wish of the general public for a bank and an ATM booth at the Jiribam Super Market complex which remains only to be inaugurated.

The demand of the public has been necessitate as the only bank in the sub-division, the United Bank of India has failed to satisfactorily meet the expectations of the public.

Meanwhile, disappointed over the prolonged delay of the government to inaugurate the Jiribam Super Market, Babupara, the Jiribam United Clubs’ Association (AJUCA) general secretary Y Ibomcha Singh opined that the association would overlook the concerned authorities and take the initiative of inaugurating the market if the government fail to materialise the demand of the people at the earliest.

He has further warned that the government must be held responsible for any unwanted consequences arising out of the ‘people’s initiative’.

Speaking at a press conference, AJUCA’s general secretary, Y Ibomcha Singh said that the public of Jiribam have approached the authority concerned several times but till date there has been no positive reply.

Terming the attitude of the authority concerned as ‘indifferent’, he maintained that they would resort to taking things in their own hands in consultation with several CSOs.

Meanwhile, the president of the Jiribam Development Organisations, M Hemanta, drew the attention of the government to upgrade the United Bank of India (UBI) stating that the lone bank in the sub-division is overloaded and unable to handle the ever growing banking needs of the population.

Informing that the top officials of the UBI are working relentlessly to upgrade the bank, he said there has been not much progress, due to the failure of the government to inaugurate the Jiribam Supermarket, he asserted.

Even as the Jiribam Supermarket has been completed it is yet to be handed over officially to the state by the construction company called ‘NBCC’ with the government failing to pay the pending estimated amount.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/jiri-body-stresses-on-peoples-initiative-for-opening-of-supermarket-complex/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jiri-body-stresses-on-peoples-initiative-for-opening-of-supermarket-complex

IMPHAL February 1: In the aftermath incident of the arms and ammunition stolen from arm cote which is double locked at the assigned KNO designated Camp Sinai at Samusong, Saikul, on the last January 2, 2014 at 10 pm, the three defectors of KNO/KLA namely SS Amos-lance corporal, Albert -private and Michael-private have decamped along with the highly sophisticated automatic rifles from the camp, according to a press statement.

After hearing the news incident, an intensive searched operation was swiftly conducted immediately a combine team along with 16 Assam Rifles in an attempt to recover the missing weapons from the designated camp, it added.

The 16 Assam Rifles have contributed and extended maximum efforts to bust the hide out of the perpetrators, the statement said adding that nevertheless, information inputs from undisclosed sources, on the instruction of C-n-C, the Home secretary and Defence secretary along with its cadres (KNO/KLA) and a combined team of Imphal East additional SP and Imphal East Commando OC (Porompat) acted swiftly -discovered the arms and ammunition buried from the foot hills of Twinchin hill range in Saikul area in the evening of January 30. “As such the plot and design for floating a new UG under a new name was foiled. Therefore, KLA (MC) is virtually non-existent and hence the general populace should treat it as non-functional. The conspiracy hatched by the three defector`s/deserter`s and few sympathizers are merely trying to tarnish the image of the well-organised KNO/KLA,” it added.

Therefore, the KNO/KLA will constitute an internal committee and accordingly befitting punishment will be awarded if anyone is found guilty and the master mind for initiating such plot to disorganised KNO/KLA organisation will be dealt with. In near future it is warned that such crime should not be repeated, the note stated.

The statement said the entire operation for retrieving was monitored by ADGP, Manipur. LM Khaute IPS, ADGP Manipur, who is also in-charge of SoO groups have rendered his special attention day in and day out tirelessly to ensure  that the entire efforts are well co-ordinated to find out the main master mind in this unfortunate incident, he stated.

“In appreciation KNO/KLA would like to extend a word of gratitude and thanks to ADGP (Law & Order) Manipur, 16- Assam Riffles, Mizoram Armed Police, Imphal East Addl SP and Imphal East OC Commando and team for their effort in the hunt of the three deserters. They have been apprehended at Lunglei, Mizoram near Millennium Real Life School, Mizoram with the combined team of Mizoram Armed Police, it stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/kla-mc-is-a-nonexistent-group-knokla/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kla-mc-is-a-nonexistent-group-knokla