Day: October 15, 2014

IMPHAL, October 15: The number of medical staff who will be accompanying Irom Chanu Sharmila on her New Delhi trip for court appearances on October 30 and 31 is likely to be cut-down as the Home department has failed to sanction the required funds for the journey.

Sources said only Rs 1,24,000 has been sanctioned this time as against the usual Rs 1,38,700 sanctioned for Sharmila`™s earlier trips to the national capital in connection with a case.

The anti-Armed Forces Special Powers Act crusader is supposed to make physical appearances on October 30 and 31 before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate, Patiala House regarding a case FIR No 222/06 under IPC section 309 (attempt to suicide) filed by the Parliament Street Police Station against her. The case was registered against her holding a hunger strike demanding repeal of AFSPA at Jantar Mantar, in 2006.

However, since, the Home department has sanctioned a lesser amount of fund, the jail authorities submitted a written official missive seeking its permission to cut down the number of medical staff accompanying Sharmila.

Sources said the Jail authority had earlier decided to bear the added expenses and asked for reimbursement from the government later, however, after failing to get an assurance from the government on the reimbursement part, it was decided to instead cut down the number of medical staff.

Sources also informed that the jail authorities are waiting for an approval from the Home department to start preparations for the trip including booking of tickets, medical examination of Sharmila and seeking permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

During her earlier trips to the national capital, Sharmila was attended to by a three-member medical team led by a doctor of the State Health Services. The medical team has to look after the condition of the hunger striker. Her team also includes two policemen including an officer and two jail staff other than the three medical staff.

The entire expenses for the eight-member team including for their stay at Delhi and flight tickets amount to around Rs 1,38,700, informed the source.

The last time she was produced before a court in New Delhi was in May 28, 2014. Source said Rs 1,38,700 was sanctioned for the trip.

Sharmila was supposed to appear before the court on July 17, however after the State Home department failed to sanction the required fund for the journey, it was deferred to October 30-31, sources said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/jail-authorities-waiting-approval-to-downsize-medical-team-escort-for-sharmilas-delhi-trip/

IMPHAL, October 15:The Governor of Manipur has given orders to all the government offices, educational institutions, private sector undertakings and other establishment located within the area of 38-Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency, including all the banks and financial institutions, to remain closed on October 17 (Friday) in order to enable the employees to exercise their right of franchise on the day of bye-election to the assembly constituency, stated a press statement of the order by Secretariat, General Administration Department.

The orders have further stated that government employees, bank employees, employees of private sector undertakings and others, who are electors or voters of 38-Hiyanglam Assembly Constituency but working elsewhere are allowed to avail special casual leave on the day.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/offices-establishments-to-close-down-for-bypoll/

IMPHAL, October 15: Six days have passed since people of Zakhama have barred all the trucks and tankers from Manipur from travelling along the National Highway-2, Imphal-Dimapur Road, after a speeding truck en route to Dimapur from Imphal ran over a 17 year old boy in Zakhama on October 9.

Sources told IFP that people of the area where the incident occurred started a protest soon after the 17 year old boy who was taken to the hospital after the accident succumbed to injuries.

The truck involved in the accident bears the registration number MN-01/A-8747 and is used in transporting rice to Manipur by the Food Corporation of India. It was impounded by the Nagaland Police after the accident and has been kept under its custody ever since.

However, the people of the area have been protesting against the authorities to hand over the truck, its driver and other people involved in the accident so that they could deliver justice under their customary law.

As a result of this ongoing protest, empty trucks from Manipur including Gas Bullets, Oil tankers etc have been denied passage since October 10. However, the protestors have been allowing passenger vehicles and vehicles going to Manipur from Dimapur to travel along the National Highway.

As a norm, Oil tankers and FCI trucks have always been escorted by CRPF personnel but due to the ongoing protest the empty trucks and Oil tankers from Manipur are denied passage through Nagaland despite being escorted by CRPF personnel.

The senior depot manager of Indian Oil Corporation Limited along with members of the All Manipur Petroleum Tankers and Drivers Association, and All Manipur Petroleum Transporters Association met the CAF & PD minister M Okendro at his office to discuss the matter the evening before.

During the meeting, the CAF&PD minister assured that a special arrangement would be made by evening of October 15. However, as no official messages were conveyed until 5 pm this evening, empty trucks and oil tankers were unable to decide whether to leave Imphal or not.

Trucks and Oil tankers which were on their way to Dimapur from Imphal have been stranded at Mao Gate after they were stopped and forced to return from Zakhama. Some trucks have even returned back to Imphal.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/blockade-against-manipur-trucks-and-tankers-at-zakhama-continues/

IMPHAL, October 15: A team of District Police Commando, Imphal West arrested a s/s Captain of NSCN (IM) identified as Phungshok Thanmi, 45, son of (L) Phungshok Phunkhayein of Tora Changtha, Longchong Maiphei, Ukhrul District from Dingku Road, Imphal today.

According to a release of the PRO, incriminating articles were seized from his possession. Investigation also revealed that he was involved in extortion of money from general public, government offices and businessmen for raising fund for NSCN (IM) organisation. A case has been registered at Lamphel Police station and investigation is going on, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/ug-cadre-arrested/