Month: September 2014

By R Lester Makang

UKHRUL, Sept 4: Normal traffic including private vehicles, bus and taxi passengers services along the National Highway -150 in Ukhrul district has been severely disrupted on the first day of the indefinite bandh called by the United Naga Council (UNC) here today.

Even though paramilitary and state security forces are deployed at all strategic points to ensure safe passage of vehicles along the national highway, the Imphal-Ukhrul road wore deserted appearance as all vehicles stayed off the road on Thursday in response to bandh call of the apex Naga council, sources said.

Consequently, both the bus and taxi passenger services plying along the Ukhrul-Imphal route came to a grinding halt even as inter-village and village-town passenger services in the district remained stalled.

Although the highway blockade did not affect normal life in Ukhrul town with most businesses and town taxi service remained functioning, fewer number of vehicular traffics could be seen plying on the main road.

The apex Naga council has accordingly resolved to continue its strictures until the Centre intervene in the Nagas’ situation in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/nh-150-traffic-disrupted/

IMPHAL, September 4: The Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today welcomed the decision of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to pay monetary relief of Rs 5 lakh each to the relatives of two victims of fake encounter killings by the 20th Assam Rifles in Chandel district of Manipur on June 1, 2009.

It may be mentioned that on June 19, 2009, ACHR had filed a complaint with the NHRC against the extrajudicial executions of Laishram Kishorjit and Soram Priyokumar by the 20th Assam Rifles led by Major Abishek Bharti at Maipi Angbrasu track in Chandel district of Manipur on the night of June 1, 2009.

Meanwhile, ACHR director Suhas Chakma while terming the NHRC decision as “a step in the right direction” has said in a press release that the NHRC while justifying its order for compensation, had stated after examining the report of the SDPO, Moreh, “According to it, the troops of 20th Assam Rifles led by major Abishek Bharti laid an ambush at Maipi and Angbrashu track on June 1, 2009 at night after receiving information about the movement of some armed valley based UG cadres in that area. The troops saw two persons moving in a suspicious manner on the said track which leads from Maipi and Angbrashu.”

It said the NHRC had continued, “On being challenged by the troops to stop, the two unidentified suspects brought down heavy volumes of automatic weapons fired upon the troops. The troops also retaliated in self defense. The encounter lasted for about 35 minutes and both the suspects were eliminated.”

After the encounter, during a search of the encounter site and the adjoining area one G-3 assault rifle with one live round in the chamber, two magazines of G-3 assault rifle, 19 rounds of G-3 assault rifle, one lathode with one live bomb in the chamber and one live bomb of lathode were recovered near the slain bodies, the NHRC had continued according to the ACHR statement.

Further according to the ACHR, NHRC continued, “It is further revealed by the report that the seized arms and ammunition were sent to FSL Pangei for chemical examination and the ballistic expert, who examined the same, opined that the seized arm i.e. 7.62 mm calibre G-3 rifle is not serviceable due to defective return spring and non-alignment of bolt extension and housing. It was also opined that the seized lathode gun is a 40mm calibre grenade launcher and its firing mechanism was working properly. It is further mentioned in the report that frantic efforts were made to establish involvement of the two deceased in U.G. activities but no specific information could be gathered in that regard.”

“The report forwarded by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India completely negates the possibility of an encounter. It is not the case of anyone that the lathode i.e. grenade launcher was used by any of the two deceased persons. As regards the 7.62 mm calibre G-3 rifle, the ballistic expert has opined that it was not in serviceable condition. If the grenade launcher was not used and the 7.62mm rifle was not serviceable, how the Assam Rifle personnel can claim that they were fired at by the deceased persons or that there was imminent danger to their life. Thus, we (NHRC) find that the Assam Rifle personnel were not fired at by any of the two deceased persons,” the NHRC had stated.

“We (NHRC) also find no evidence to even faintly suggest that the deceased persons were involved in underground activity. It appears that the two persons were spotted at a desolate track and they were shot dead on the basis of unfounded suspicion. It appears to be a case of extra judicial killing.”

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/monetary-compensation-for-fake-encounter-victims-families-achr/

THOUBAL, September 4: “Economic blockade will not affect only one particular community alone. It will affect every community living together in the State and lead us to economic deformation. So, it is time to raise our collective voice against blockades and bandhs.”

This was stated by Commerce & Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam while laying the foundation stone of the District Industrial Estate of Thoubal district at Kuraopokpi Village today.

The foundation stone laying ceremony of the Industrial Estate constructed under Micro-Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) scheme of Ministry of MSME, Government of India was organised by the department of Commerce and Industries, government of Manipur.

While the Commerce & Industries, Vety. & Animal Husbandary, Sericulture minister attended the ceremony as the chief guest, Kakching MLA Y Surchandra Singhattended as the functional president while Sugnu MLA K Ranjit, Wangjing Tentha MLA Paonam Brojen and Wabagai Md. Fajur Rahim were present as the guests of honour.

Govindas said the Micro Small Enterprises sector is the largest employment providing avenue next to the agricultural sector in the country, however, even after such a long time since Manipur attained statehood, there is only one industrial estate in the State located at Takyel.

After much effort of the present government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, there is now provision of setting up of industrial estates in every districts under the Micro-Small Enterprises – Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP), said the Minister.

He added that setting up of industrial estates will bring economic growth as it will provide employment which in turn will raise the living standard of the people, and it is the local populace who will be getting the maximum benefits from the industrial estates, he added.

The people of Thoubal and Pallel are the first to get maximum benefits from India’s signing of the Free Trade Agreement with other Asian countries and setting up of Multi Logistic Hub at Pallel, as the two lie at the corridor of the Asian Highway, he said.

This will also boost and improve the economy of the State and bring economic development, he added.

The minister however questioned as to how all this growth and development are to be achieved if blockades and bandhs continue unabated halting all economic activities in the State.

The economic blockade is never heard of in other parts of the world except in Gaza, he said and added that in Manipur it has become the only option for some vested interested persons.

Now is the time for the people of Manipur to raise their voice in unison against economic blockades an bandhs in the State, he said.

L Lakher, principal secretary of Commerce & Industries, Tlangtinkhuma, director of Commerce & Industries, Ksh Subadani Devi, chairperson Kakching Municipality also attended the foundation stone laying ceremony besides others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/time-to-raise-collective-voice-against-economic-blockade-govindas/