Day: July 30, 2014

LAMKA, July 30: A top functionary of the underground outfit, Zomi Revolutionary Front (ZRF/ KNO) was shot dead yesterday around 11.30pm at B Vengnuam, Lamka.

The slained leader of the ZRF, a signatory of the Suspension of Operation with both State and Central governments, has been identified as Defence director Nengzamuan alias Nicholas, 36, son of (L) Khamzaneng.

He was shot dead inside his rented home at B Vengnuam, Lamka CCpur.

Nicholar is survived by his wife, a son and three daughters.

Soon after getting information of the killing, Churachandpur police led by SDPO, Immanuel Fimate rushed to the spot and inspected the site.

Sources said, the team recovered six empty cases of AK 47 cartridges and another of a 9mm pistol from the site and has registered an FIR no 80 (7) 2014 CCP PS u/s 400/302/34 IPC &25 (1-C)Arms Act.

Nicholar bore four bullet injuries on his body and had died instantly, informed a source.

The assailants numbered around five persons and had guns, sources also said.

According to the ZRF leader’s wife Chiching, a bodyguard of her husband, identified as Mangkhum had come in late that night and called her to open the gate.

When she opened the gate, she found five of them with AK 47s coming in and three going directly to the room where her husband was sleeping with their son.

Chiching continued that she was held at gun-point by one, while another stayed at the gate.

Soon she heard gunshots from inside her husband’s room, then the three came out and along with the two others dashed away in a White Maruti Gypsy which was parked outside the gate, she said.

“When I entered the room, I found the lifeless body of my husband lying, and our son shaking in fear,” she said.

ZRF c-i-c Lalpu Hangshing has condemned the killing and expressed shock at the manner his right hand man has been killed.

He said “killing” is not the solution to attain any objective, whether it is for “Zogam” or “Kuki” land.

Killing for revenge must stop, he said before urging all to stop such inhumane action.

He added the outfit will look after the family of the deceased leader.

Around 2pm today, the leader was laid to rest at the B Vengnual Cemetry under the Kuki Baptist Association centre church, after KNO and ZRF cadres gave a befitting respect to the departed leader attended by a large crowd.

Meanwhile, the information secretary of CCpur. District Students’ Union (CDSU) has condemned the killing and stated that Nengmuan’s killing is a blot to the district and should never be allowed to happen again, in the interest of peace and harmony in the district.

The KNO has also condoled the killing and said in statement that Nicholas was gunned down in the presence of his wife and 3 years old son by five cadres of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA).

The void left by his’ death is immense, but his sacrifice for the Kuki nation will not be in vain, said a KNO statement.

His death will serve as a catalyst to fulfill the sacrifices he has made – the entire armed wing of KNO and the Kuki people will leave no stone unturned to fulfill his dream of a fully revived Kuki nation, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/top-zrf-functionary-killed/

UKHRUL, July 30: A heated confrontation between the State security forces and the residents of Ukhrul town occurred in front of the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) office amid mounting tensions as the public sought to hold a peaceful mass prayer program at TNL Ground at noon on Wednesday.

Tensions mounted here today when hundreds of residents of different localities in Ukhrul town who turned out at around 12: 10 pm to hold a peaceful mass prayer meeting under the theme ‘Prayer Just for Peace’ were prevented from entering the TNL Ground by the State security forces under the prohibitory order restricting assembly of five or more people, being clamped in and around the town.

A huge contingent of State security forces strategically blocked the route in front of TNL office leading to TNL Ground with female cops in riot gears chaining themselves across the road and restricted public access to the meeting venue. A heated confrontation between the two sides then ensued for a few moments with both sides pushing and shoving each other and in the process a handful of protestors forced their way through to the venue.

Meanwhile, sources said that on learning of the proposed mass prayer, the security forces has sealed the two main entrance of TNL Ground at northern and western sides and kept guarding since 11 am today morning.

The State security forces including police commandos, Indian Reserved Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Rifles (MR) were led by Ukhrul SP S Selvan.

Thereafter, around 12:30 pm a small congregation numbering about one hundred people gathered inside the TNL Ground and held a peaceful mass prayer while the rest of the town residents were dispersed by the security forces.

The mass prayer meeting was organized by the Tangkhul Frontal Organizations in tandem with the Tangkhul Churches Forum (TCF), Inter Churches Forum (ICF) and other Prayer teams of the district.

The congregation sought in unison divine intervention in the prevailing situation in the district. Prayer for an honorable solution to the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process, for the leaders of the Government of India and for the collective leadership of NSCN-IM, while seeking God’s grace in restoration of peace and normalcy in the town marked the highlights of the one and half hour long meeting which concluded with a mass prayer followed by the Tangkhul national enthem “Ili pharasang kahai ngalei” (My birth place).

Speaking at the gathering TNL president Artax A Shimray decried the action of the State security forces in attempting to thwart the prayer meeting while terming the present tense as creation of the Manipur government with a view to vitiate the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.

Expressing anguish over the indifferent attitude of the State government, he lamented that a total of 17 days has elapsed since the public put up their charter of demands but nothing has been done as yet. He also called upon the public not to get disheartened by such coercive forces but to stay focused on the common objective.

Meanwhile, extending gratitude for public cooperation, Somipem Mungleng, convenor TCF, asserted that there can never be peace without justice.

Referring to the present scenario, he said that we should not give up our hope but continue to cling onto it. “War is being fought and is not lost.” He added.

Later, around 2:30 pm the situation returned to semblance of normality gradually as all contingent of security forces melted away from the scene following the conclusion of the mass prayer meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/ukhrul-holds-mass-prayer-amid-strict-restrictions/

IMPHAL, July 30: The Vigilance Commission has started an investigation on the allegation of irregularities in the conduct of DPC for filling up 41 vacant posts of grade-III Veterinary Animal Officer in the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department.

According to information received by the IFP, the probe was set in motion following the intervention of State Governor, VK Duggal, who reportedly, on July 4, instructed the chief secretary to examine the case and initiate appropriate action against erring officials.

Subsequently, the chief secretary of Manipur who is also the commissioner of the Vigilance department had entrusted the concerned SP to conduct a probe in connection with the case on July 5, 2014.

Reliable sources informed that the department has its own service rules, 1994 for the officers in short called as recruitment rules which commenced from October 17, 1994.

However, it has remained impractical for more than 18 years, owing to several court cases in connection with the seniority positions amongst the appointment/ absorption of grade III officers.

However, since the commencement of the rules, the total authorised strength of grade IV veterinary officers is 111. Prior to this, 89 assistant surgeons were designated as veterinary officers under the RR.

At the same time, after the commencement of this rule the State Government published a final seniority list of 113 numbers of veterinary officers (order no.2/11/ 2002-Vety (A)Pt dated 8/9/2008.) including 32 veterinary officers appointed, bringing the total to 121 surpassing the authorised strength of 111.

Following the development, the State government sent a requisition to the Manipur Public Service Commission for filling up 41 vacant posts of grade-III deputy director/specialist from amongst the veterinary officers (as per the notification of October 23, 2013) during which another seniority list comprising of 98 veterinary officers was enclosed, as per the document available with IFP.

The document further revealed the State government in association with MPSC conducted the DPC on February 14, 2014 at 11 am and on February 18, 2014 for the vacant posts from amongst the 98 veterinary officers.

On February 18, 2014 (the second day of DPC) the additional secretary MPSC submitted a recommendation letter of the selection of 40 grade officers to the commissioner (veterinary and A&H GOM) as per the recommendation made by the DPC members.

On the contrary, the document revealed that MPSC submitted the said concurrence letter (dated 18/2/2014) along with the proceedings to the directorate, taking the signature of the director on the office copy, clearly indicating negligence of duty and misuse of power.

The same day, the State government also issued appointments by promotion of 40 grade-III officers with inclusion of un-recommended persons on the basis of the concurrence letter.

Following detection of irregularities during the promotion, the MPSC conducted a review DPC on April 2, 2014. But, surprisingly the minute proceedings of the review DPC along with the concurrence letter was reportedly received by a candidate in the list of the DPC identified as Dr Ch Chandrakishor, instead of the concerned commissioner.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/vety-animal-husbandry-under-vigilance-scanner/

IMPHAL, July 30: Maram in Senapati district is not a safe place for students as there have been numerous cases of physical assault on the students.

The latest incident has been the case of one Ringsanbou Newmai of Langmei village near Tamei, Tamenglong district.

Fumed by the incident, the Zeliangrong Students’ Union, Manipur (ZSUM) and Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF-Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) strongly condemned the physical assault meted out to one Ringsanbou Newmai, a Bachelor of Arts (History Hon) 5th semester student studying in Don Bosco Maram on July 28 at around 7:30 pm. Both the Zeliangrong organisations said the victim suffered severe internal injury damage liver, damage intestine apart from multiple injuries such as broken jaw on left side, head injury and bleeding due to hard blow by objects, cut marks on entire body because of beating by iron bars after hands were tied which is amount to murder attempt.

Recalling the past cases, ZSUM and ZYF said there had been instances where Don Bosco College Maram students belonging to Zeliangrong community were beaten severely. Citing the cases, ZSUM and ZYF said Mr. Joshua Pamei, a B.Com students, Mr. Elvis Kamei, a class-XII Arts students, Mr. Martin Gangmei, a B.A student and Mr. Widowbou Newmai, a student of 2nd semester Commerce were thrashed very badly at Maram. There were many students belonging to other communities who also faced similar treatment in the past, both the Zeliangrong organisations stated.

Meanwhile, on the July 28 incident, ZSUM and ZYF said the incident reportedly occurred when the victim due to influence of alcohol lost way and accidentally drop into a girls hostel namely ‘Josephine Girls Hostel’, a private run hostel accommodating about 20 to 30 students. Realising the wrong place the victim apologised to the warden for his mistake.

“However, the warden in turn contacted some unknown person suspected to be underground cadres over his mobile thereby four persons immediately arrived and started attacking the victim,” ZSUM and ZYF said. The Zeliangrong students who are studying in the Don Bosco College, Maram search for his where about following the victim not returned to his rented room for the night. However, on the next day the victim was found kept under captive for one night with hands and feet tied with iron chain, blind folded etc. The victim was subjected to various form of physical torture which are evident from cut marks on his entire body, ZSUM and ZYF alleged. The captors even demanded rupees ten thousand from the victim for his release, they further alleged. The victim was at last released following negotiation settled for a sum of rupees five thousand after the amount was contributed from the students belonging to the Zeliangrong community. “The victim could have been died instantly had the Zeliangrong students not rescue him.

The victim condition is very serious and now admitted in JNIMS hospital, Imphal for operation and further medical treatment,” ZSUM and ZYF added.

The Zeliangrong Students’ Union and Zeliangrong Youth Front then said they noted the incidents in the most serious manner. Such kind of persons involved in the incidents does not qualify to be a human beings in this modern era. The institution and hostel where the security and safety of a student cannot be provided or guaranteed is equally responsible for the incident, the ZSUM and ZYF stated.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/07/zeliangrong-bodies-condemn-student-assualt-at-senapati/