Day: October 31, 2014

IMPHAL, October 30: Without unity there cannot be any development and all the rich cultures, customs, languages and traditions will all be in vain. One should forgive and forget the bad times to move forward and progress, said former minister RV Minthing.

He was delivering the chief guest’s speech of the XII Indigenous Brothers’ Meet, organised by the League of Fourth World People, Kangleipak here today.

A one-day seminar on ‘Ritual and traditional festivals of all ethnic communities of Kangleipak’ marked the function.

Minthing continued that since time immemorial the people of both the hills and valley have been living together in peace and harmony, so the people should try not to create any differences among the communities and maintain the good relation in all respect.

He said the common language Manipuri should be developed as it is the bridge between all communities of the State.

Manipuri language is the only means to communicate between the different communities, to bring mutual understanding and intimacy among one and all, he added.

Minthing also said that today’s generation should strive for a change to bring a better tomorrow for development and welfare for the people.

A bilingual book of Manipuri grammar written by Ibotombi Khuman was also released by the chief guest, president and the guest of honour during the function.

The function was also attended by Mangpu Karong Kom, president of LFWPK as the functional president and P Dhanakumar Singh, chairman, BOSEM, W Shamjai, president, AMWJU and Mangangcha Keisam Ibomcha, vice president, LFWPK as the guests of honour.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/no-development-without-unity-rv-minthing/

IMPHAL, October 30: A nursing student was allegedly raped in a car by her lover of four months and kept in captivity for three days.

Family members of the student said they were informed by some women who said they were from a certain Tangkhul village and that they had brought the victim to the RIMS hospital on October 29 morning.

The student who is from Bishnupur is presently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

The police have taken her statements whereas the accused is still absconding.

The family also said that they had already registered a missing report of the girl with the Bishnupur police after she went missing.

According to a family member, the accused had identified himself to the girl as Naoba, 26, son of Sunil of Wangjing Wangkhei Leikai.

The two had decided that on October 26 morning Naoba will drive the girl to her hostel at Porompat, Imphal East and had accordingly met at Nambol Bazar with Naoba bringing a car, they said.

However, on the way to Imphal, they stopped at a restaurant in Thangal Bazar and then took a long drive to Nambol around 1:30pm on Naoba’s insistence, the family members said.

While returning from Andro, Naoba stopped the car and said it had broken down and needed repairing, one of the family members said.

“While they were sitting inside the car, Naoba took advantage and raped her.”

Afterwards, he drove on, however, the girl who is a diabetes patient lost consciousness due to the shock and when she regain consciousness she saw the ‘Welcome to Thoubal’ signboard, they said.

Family members also alleged that the man denied all request to inform the girl’s family about her eloping and even threw away her mobile phone.

She again fainted and woke up the next day on October 27 at an unknown hill village, according to family members.

The accused again quarrelled with the girl at the village after he refused to inform her family, however, the next day the village womenfolk told the girl that Naoba was very closed to a sitting MLA and that he is a married man, they said.

That day, after realising that his identity has already been disclosed to the girl, Naoba hurried away from the village, they further claimed.

It is also learnt that the family members were called by the village womenfolk to RIMS only after Naoba failed to return till late that evening.

They were informed by the villagers that her condition was deteriorating and that she was in a very weak state.

The girl’s mother said her daughter was held captive by Naoba who is a married man for three days without even informing her family.

This is an inhumane act and he should be punished for his act, she lamented.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/nursing-student-allegedly-held-captive-and-raped-for-three-days/

IMPHAL, October 30: The Liangmei community celebrated one of its biggest festivals “Chaga Ngee” organised by the State Level Chaga Ngee Celebration Committee (SLCNCC) 2014 at the Tarung Community Hall, Langol here today.

The festival was celebrated under the theme “Promoting Culture in its Purity”.

The celebration was graced by Francis Ngajokpa, minister RD and PR and Economics and statistics, Manipur as the chief guest, TN Haokip, MLA, 59-SAikot Assembly constituentcy of Manipur as the guest of honour and Z Kikhonbou Newmai vice chairman, Hill Area Committee as the president.

Speaking at the function Francis Ngajokpa stated that language development is the need of the hour for the small communities.

He also further asserted that religion and politics should not be the dividing factor for the future society.

Francis Ngajokpa appealed the aspirant’s scholars to give importance to the culture and rich custom of different tribes and to do proper research on it.

TN Haokip said that ethnic identity is preserve by its rich culture.

While delivering keynote address at the function Adibo Newmai, convener (SLCNCC) said that Chaga Ngee or Chaga Gadih is one of the most important function and famous festival of Liangmai Naga tribe. The festival falls in the month of October and is observed every year.

The term Chaga Gadih in simple translation is applied to drawing of lots, luck of fate and also it signifies and shows about love, joy and care with a degree bound by tradition and is originated in its completeness and fulfillment, he added.

He further asserted that during this particular season the Liangmai believes that it is a sin to fight with enemy and to have hatred, jealousy and covetousness, but it is a season of oneness with a bond of love and joy.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/liangmei-community-observes-chaga-ngee-with-pomp-and-gaiety/

IMPHAL, October 30: An Imphal East Police team seized a huge consignment of contraband SP and N-10 tablets from the Imphal Head Post Office today after being informed by officials who came across the tablets in parcels delivered from Delhi and Kolkata to Imphal. The seized consignment could be worth in lakhs of rupees.

The police team seized the contraband tablets at around 1:45 pm and together with personnel of the Narcotics and Affairs of Border counted the SP and N-10 capsules from 2 pm onwards at the Imphal Head Post Office.

The consignment of the contraband tablets in 18 packages was being delivered to different places in the State from New Delhi and Kolkata.

The addresses written in the parcels were discovered as fake when enquired.

Meanwhile, the Newmai News Network reported that the parcel-post consignments were mailed to 10 different persons in Imphal.

The senders’ names were Shankar Prasad Sarai of New Delhi and Bijoy Singh, Bijoy Sharma, Raju Sharma and Shankar Sharma of Kolkata, police said, the NNN report said.

It also said that the police have named the eight consignees as N Rajen Singh c/o PP Store, Keishampat Junction, Sandwip Kumar of Paona bazaar, Th Sushila Devi c/o AT Variety Store, Keishampat Junction, H Somorjit Singh c/o Razani Variety Store, Thangal bazaar, Kh Toni Meitei c/o RP Store, MV Avenue, Thangal bazaar, M Pawan Kumar of Paona bazaar and N Birendra Singh of Thangal bazaar.

The police have registered a case in connection with the seizure of the contraband narcotics and started investigation into it.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/huge-consingment-of-contraband-drugs-seized-at-imphal-post-office/

Prime Minister invited to open festival, response awaited

IMPHAL, October 30: The State government is waiting for an official response from the Prime Minister to open the Manipur Sangai festival, 2014, highly placed sources claimed the Chief Minister to have said at a meeting deliberating on the arrangement of the festival.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh had, this evening, convened an official meeting which was attended by his council of ministers, and other concern officials to discuss the progress of the arrangement.

Sources informed that the meeting started at 4pm and concluded at 6:45 pm. The meeting was also attended by PHED minister I Hemochandra Singh, Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, parliamentary secretary YAS & Tourism M Prithviraj, chief secretary PC Lawmkunga and commissioners, secretaries and directors of various departments.

The Chief Minister had told the meeting that on October 17 his government had sent an official invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open the festival, and an official reply from the Prime Minister’s Office is awaited, sources said.

The meeting had also minutely discussed the various challenges and solutions to create a conducive atmosphere during the 10-days long extravaganza, sources said.

To minimize frustration of the visitors and unnecessary congestion at the venue, due to frisking and checking of visitors by security personnel, it was decided that visitors will now go through metal detectors put up at the entry points.

Five gates each will be open on the eastern sides and southern sides of the festival venue at Hapta Kangjeibung, sources said.

It is also learnt that entry of armed security personnel inside the main venue will be barred and instead security personnel with small side arms will be deployed that too only when necessary.

It was also decided during the meeting to set up separate routes for VIPs and visitors and to allot 60 stalls for the Manipur Tourism Forum to exclusively put up exhibits of national, international awardee artists/ artisans, sources said. World War-II Museum displaying war artefacts, photography exhibitions will also be opened during the festival.

Meanwhile, the during the meeting, the Chief Minister also led a serious discussion on a proposal from the Manipur Pony Association to provide promotional platform for the indigenous Manipur ponies so as to save them from extinction.

As per records, the total population of ponies in the State stood at 1800 in 2003, 700 in 2003 and a minimal 380 this current year.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/high-level-meet-thrashes-out-finer-details-of-sangai-fest-2014/

IMPHAL, October 30: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today inaugurated the Chavang Kut 2014- the post harvest cultural confluence festival of the CHIKIMS at Galngam Lentol, Moreh border town under.

Marking the official opening of the festival, Gaikhangam unfurled the Kut flag. The celebration was held under the theme “Awakening, Discovery and Redemption for Unification”.

In his chief guest speech, Gaikhangam noted that with Moreh border town imminent to be the gateway to southeast-Asia, urbanisation is inevitable.

However, these changes will not infringe upon the rights and powers of the village chiefs or leaders, he said.

Maintaining that Kut is a unique festival of the colourful CHIKIMS tribes, Gaikhangam exhorted the people to live up to the spirit of the festival.

Around 40 tribes of Manipur are recognised so far by the government and still counting he said adding that Manipur being multi ethnic state he calls on the people to take the opportunity to spread the message of peace and oneness.

The celebration was also attended by IFCD minister Ngamthang Haokip as guest of honour and Manga Vaiphei, chairman Manipur Tribal Development Co-operation, as the function president.

Former Member of Parliament, Holkhomang Haokip, Ksh Robert ADC, Moreh also attended the function.

Dignitaries and cultural troupe from Kachin State, Chin State of Myanmar, Chitagong hills tracks of Bangladesh, Karbi-Anlong, Tripura Assam, Nagaland and Barak valley will take part in the three-days long festival.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/urbanisation-inevitable-but-will-not-infringe-upon-rights-of-village-chiefs-gaikhangam-tells-moreh/