Day: August 11, 2014

IMPHAL, August 11: Atleast two persons were injured when a hand grenade exploded at the Moirang residence of parliamentary secretary, Tourism and YAS M Prithiviraj grenade late this evening. 

Official sources informed that the incident took place around 7.40pm at Laishangbam Leikai under Moirang police station, Bishnupur district. 

The injured have been identified as Laishangbam Nungsi Singh, 75, of Moirang Laishangbam Leikai and Moirangthem Shyamkesho Singh, 55, son of M Tomal Singh of Moirang Konjengbam Leikai.

Nungshi sustained splinter injury on his left leg while Shyamkesho was injured on his left thigh.

Nungshi was rushed to Imphal for medical treatment as his injury is said to be serious.

The blast also inflicted damage to a Tata truck and car (I10 grand) parked inside the MLA’s residential premises.

Soon after the incident, a team of police led by Bishnupur SP arrived at the scene to take stock of the situation.

The same sources further informed that the MLA was not present during the time of the attack. 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/two-injured-in-grenade-blast-at-mlas-residence/

IMPHAL, Augsut 11: Several proscribed outfits of the region have jointly announced to boycott the celebration of Indian Independence Day on August 15 in the region. 

A statement of the CorCom signed by its media coordinator H Poirei has said that the Corordination Committee, Hynnewtrep National liberation Council (HNLC), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDBF), National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and United Liberation Front of Asom-I (ULFA-I) have jointly called a general strike on August 15 from 1 am to 5.30pm in the entire region of Western Southeast Asia. 

During these hours, essential services, emergency measures, media and religious activities are exempted from the purview of the general strike, it said. 

The statement said, “The peoples of the Western Southeast Asian Region are facing the catastrophe due the forcible occupation of the region by the Indian oppressive regime.” 

“Having deprived of the right to determine their own future, the people of the region are facing untold miseries. They are facing extinction in their own land due the systematic influx of mainland Indians and indigenous culture of the region is at stake due to rapid Indianisation.” 

It also said even the right to live is threatened by the imposition of many draconian laws. 

The CorCom statement also said that in the name of fighting insurgency, the India government is using every possible methods including violence, Military Civil Action Program and even population invasion – population invention from foreign who are loyal to India as well mainland India – to swamp with and capture the entire region. 

“Champion of the foreigner issue before the recent General Election of India 2014, the present Delhi regime, after the election has made an about turn and instead of keeping their election promises has now softened their policies towards the foreigners who are living in our region,” it said. 

Indian political parties are accusing each other that foreigners are “vote banks” to win elections either in state assemblies or national ones, it said before adding that government are the same; past, present, or even the future Indian regimes will act the same way for sure. 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/ne-outfits-call-joint-boycott-of-i-day-celebration/

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, August 11: In what could be seen as ‘unprecedented’ in recent history of peoples’ movement in the district, thousands of people have on Monday peacefully demonstrated on the main road of Ukhrul town in the heavy presence of State security forces, to show their support for the ongoing peace dialogue between the Government of India (GoI) and NSCN-IM while also seeking to attain a scenario of peace and justice for the people.

Dressed in Tangkhul traditional attire, mammoth crowds of demonstrators — both men and women – from different localities of the township and its environ showed up on the town’s main road at around 10 am today defying prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPc which has been in force in the town since July 13 a day after an ADC Ukhrul member was killed by unidentified miscreants.

The demonstrators put up banners reading “Honour Indo-Naga Or Cease the Ceasefire,” “Stop Militarization,” “We Want immediate honourable solution,” “Make Peace, Not War,”etc. They formed a human-chain at several places along the stretch spanning 6 kms. from Dungrei Junction, Hungpung to Awontang Junction, Hunphun while chanting the peace slogans in unison. As part of the demonstration, the people also sang hyms from the Christian Hymnal and asked in prayer for realization of an honourable settlement of the long-standing Naga political issue.

The crowd, however, stayed put on the road-side and exit points to avert any incidence of confrontation and violence as the State security forces maintained their heavy presence at all strategic locations apart from a large contingent of police personnel in riot gears forming a blockage, especially at the two end points restricting movement of the people.

Meanwhile, in connection with the day’s demonstration the 41 Chandel MLA Victor Nunglung visited the town to show solidarity with the demonstrators espousing the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks. Accompanied by UNC president L. Adani and TNL president Artax A Shimray, MLA Victor Nunglung reached out to the demonstrators by dropping around the town’s different localities where people were holding peaceful demonstrations.

The public demonstration which ended at around 1:30 pm without any untoward occurances was participated by thousands of people from 42 localities within Hungpung and Ukhrul and also from neighbouring villages like Shirui, Langdang, Halang Aze, Halang Ato, Lamlang Sekhor, Pharung Shimtang, Choithar etc. It was organized by the Tangkhul Longnao, a federation of all Tangkhul organizations.

Later, in a brief interaction with pressmen during his two-hour visit here at Ikror Restaurant, Hamleikhong, the MLA said that the purpose of his visit to Ukhrul was to extend his support for the people movement. He also said that was deeply saddened by the unfortunate July 12 incident wherein Ngalangzar Malue, an Ukhrul ADC member was killed by unidentified persons and condemned such act.

At the same time, MLA Victor disclosed that there has been no cases of violence in the town and that he would request the State government to revoke 144 CrPc as well as withdraw deployment of reinforced State security forces from the district before any untoward happens while exuding hope that in the event of revocation of the prohibitory act, social leaders of the district would be able to rein in the situation.

Meanwhile, speaking to pressmen during a press conference held at TKS office, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long (TNWL) spokesperson TS Zimik said that people want clear cut status of the ceasefire coverage as Manipur government has thrown it into disarray by claiming that there is no ceasefire in Manipur.

TKS general secretary Leiyalan Vashum asserted that holding this demonstration is significant as the Naga public need to consistently show support to the Naga peace process, while exuding confidence in the new Government at the Centre for finding an honourable solution to the Naga issue.

Questioning the GoI’s motive, ANSAM president Seth Satsang has asked as to why it (GoI) always asked for Naga unity before coming to a settlement. “Is it trying to find many solutions when there is only one issue?” he asked.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/people-defy-prohibitory-order-to-show-support-to-indo-im-talk/

IMPHAL, August 11: The Samu Lamlal Tribal Development Block which was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Manipur Rishang Keising in 1988 lies in a deplorable condition after its office was shifted to Churachandpur.

This was informed to the media by Samu Lamlal TD Block Advisor M Lairanjao who also expressed his opposition to the State cabinet’s decision of announcing five new sub-division blocks excluding Samu Lamlal.

Inaugurated by Rishang Keishing on January 24 1988, the block office was shifted to Churachandpur after 3 months in a rented room, he said, adding that the younger generations are facing many problems while collecting their ST certificates, Domicile certificates etc.

Further stating that it takes two to three days to acquire these certificates because the TD Block is located in Churachandpur, Lairanjao said the functions of the Samu Lamlal Block is negligible in delivering official benefits from any Central sponsor schemes and old ages pensions schemes except the MGNREGS scheme to their locality.

All the problems had emerged on account of shifting the Block Office to Churachandpur and none of the villagers received any benefits till date despite their names being in the lists of beneficiaries, he said.

Officials of the Block maintained that they were not able to work from here as it was unsafe, he added.

According to Samu Lamlal Sub-Division Demand Committee general secretary M Rekhupsong, recently the State government has allocated Rs. 7 crores for developing a Block Development Office, Sub Divison Office, Police Station, Bank, Family Quarters and Police Barracks in the block.

The approach road is being black topped for the first time in the area under the initiative of Local MLA TN Haokip, he added.

Calling the Government’s decision of announcing five Sub-Divisions recently which don’t have TD blocks such as Bungpi Chiru of Sadar Hills and Thangthing in Churachandpur as welcome but unfortunate from their point of view, he said their TD block was the oldest but it wasn’t provided such an opportunity even though they have submitted several memoranda for upgrading their block to Sub-Division from the period of the then Chief Minister Nipamacha and recently in 2013 to Okram Ibobi.

Rekhupsong said, “The block fulfils all the criteria of being upgraded to a Sub-division. As per the norms, the block must have 100 villages. Our block covers the two Assembly constituencies of Saikot and Henglep with a population of 40 to 50 thousand.”

The construction of various government infrastructures in the Samu Lamlal block is 80 percent construction. So, we strongly demand the resumption of the functioning of the TD Block office in the area by upgrading it to a sub-division, he said adding that upgrading the block to a sub-division will avail benefits of Central sponsor schemes.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/samu-lamlal-tribal-development-block-still-lagging-behind-in-development/

IMPHAL, August 11: The Pangal Students Organisation, Manipur (PSO) organised a one-day State-level seminar on “Interface on New Concept of Education in Manipur” under the theme “Good Students, Good Society” at the Manipur Press Club today.

Giving the key-note address, PSO general secretary Md Hanif Shah said the main objective of the seminar is to create awareness on the moral character of a good student.

He said the teacher-student relationship at the moment is not good, so the PSO is trying to encourage a better teacher-student relationship.

He also spoke on the need of the students to incorporate morality, discipline and respect for their elders.

The function was attended by PSO president M Abdul Zasir Ahamed, All Manipur United Club’s Organisation and All Manipur Muslim Development Organisation (AMUCO and AMMDO) advisor KT Rahman, Manipur Students Federation chief advisor L Lukhoi Power, AMMDO president advocate Dolaipabam Sayed Ahamed, Manipur Muslims Welfare Organisation president Abdullah Pathan, All Manipur Muslim Women Cultural Organisation (AMMWCO) president Mamtaz Begum and founder advisor PSO Hayatur Rahman Yumkhaibam.

KT Rahman said providing quality education should be the main emphasis for a better tomorrow.

The parents along with a good government have to play important roles in bringing quality education to the students, he said.

The frequent bandhs, strikes and several other disruptions witnessed in the State on a daily basis are quite unfortunate and these are obstacles to bringing quality education in the State, he added.

Family plays an important role in the overall growth of children, said Mamtaz Begum before adding that quality education is the only solution to the numerous issues confronting the State today.

Speaking as a resource person, child psychologist Dr M Nabakumar Meitei spoke on the topic “Child Psychology and Development of Education.”

Associate professor of Physics, DM College of Science Dr Raheijuddin Shekh spoke on “Education, Science and Technology.”
 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/pso-holds-seminar-to-discuss-new-concepts-of-education/