Day: December 23, 2014

IMPHAL, Dec 23: The Archbishop of Imphal Archdiocese, Most Reverend Dominic Lumon has extended his Christmas and New Year 2015 wishes praying that the festivals resound the joy and peace of Christ so that 2015 be free from any type of violence and injustice.

In a statement the Archibishop said that `On this occasion of the Birth of Christ, may every person be free from any clutches that holds back oneself and others from experiencing the love and peace of the Prince of Peace`.

Let every individual shun violence and hatred and be reconciled in the love and peace that Christmas brings to one and all, it said.

The President and the Executive of AMCO and TCLF wished different communities of Manipur a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2015.

As we celebrate Christmas, may the Peace of Christ be present in every individual in the State of Manipur, said a statement of the AMCO adding May 2015 be filled with the blessings of the New Born babe, Christ, the Prince of Peace of so that the coming year be free from violence and blessed with the Peace of Christ.

It requested any organisations to refrain from calling any kind of bandh or strike before the and during the Christmas celebration and appealed all the communities to keep away from any form of violence and experience the love, peace and joy of Christmas.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/xmass-greetings-from-the-archbishop-of-imphal/

IMPHAL, December 23: A two-day symposium on `Modern Trends in poetry and fiction in Eastern Regional languages`™ was inaugurated today at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy auditorium.

The symposium is being organised by the Sahitya Akademi.

Speaking at the function, convener of the Manipuri Language Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi H Behari Singh said the Sahitya Akademi is divided into four regional zones with the Eastern regional languages zone being the largest.

He said owing to the efforts of the organisers, literature aficionados and writers from the region have gathered for the programme today.

Among the Eastern regional languages, the Bengali, Odissi, Assamese and Maithili are advanced languages and at the same time the potentials of other languages like the Manipuri, Nepali, Bodo and Santhali also cannot be ignored, he said.

The Sahitya Akademi is the only organisation in India which can highlight the uniqueness and richness of the literature of the languages, he said adding that the symposium is being organised for the same reason.

Behari further expressed hope that the two-day programme will be beneficial to the participants and make people aware of the present trend of writing in the previously mentioned eight languages of Eastern India.

He continued that the programme will help the participants identify the commonness, connectedness and the unique styles of the culture, language and literature of the region, which he said is also a necessity to encourage unity and oneness in a democratic set-up like India.

The function was also attended by convener, Assamese Advisory Board, Sahitya Akademi Karabi Deka Hazarika, eminent Manipuri scholar N Khagendra Singh, Sahitya Akademi, Eastern Region officer in charge Gautam Paul, and conveners of other languages of the region.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/sahitya-akademi-holds-symposium-on-modern-trends-in-eastern-languages-literature/

IMPHAL, December 23: Substance Abuse & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Research Centre (SABTReC) also known as SAVIOUR (Kanbiba) had conducted a free drug detoxification camp from December 2 to 16, said general secretary of the organisation Thangjam Sanjoo today.

Speaking at a press conference held at the organisation`™s Mongjam Chingjin, Heingang premises, he said the camp which was a success had been attended by around 35 drug users who had been already disowned by family members.

SAVIOUR was inaugurated on May 15, 2015 and works as an anti-drug group and also runs a private rehabilitation centre for drug users, he said.

Drug users who cannot control themselves will only end up in three places- jail, premature death or the rehabilitation centres, he said.

Sanjoo also said that more than 1267 drug users mostly juveniles have been rehabilitated at the centre. Successful recovery rate of drug abusers is very low in the State due to the environment, social system, family condition, etc, he added.

He further appealed to the concerned government authorities to visit the centre and provide some help are looking at their activities.

The 30 Assam Rifles E Coy presented the organisation with office equipments including office tables, chairs, water tank, ceiling fans, sports equipments, etc for the conduct of the detox camp, he said while thanking the AR especially commandant Roshan Verma, major Chandan Khoyal for the support.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/drug-detoxification-camp-held/

IMPHAL, December 23: The Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup and the Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Sagatpa Kanglup jointly called a press conference in connection with the non issuance of the vendor licenses today.

The vendors have set January 15, 2015 for the Imphal Municipal Council to issue the licenses or face agitations.

The press conference was called at the Ima Keithel Set No 1 with Paonam (O) Ebenu, Moirangthem Chandrasakhi and Naorem Chandrakala acting as the spokeswomen of the vendors.

Ebenu said the government had handed over the three Ima Keithels to the women vendors four years back.

She said the Imphal Municipal Council has already collected Rs 150 and passport photos from the vendors for their licence which are yet to be issued.

About two months back, the IMC started collecting a monthly tax of Rs 15 from each vendor, which has been increased to Rs 95 from this month, she said questioning as to what kind of a government policy is this where the vendors who have not received their licences are suppose to pay the tax.

Setting December 15 as the deadline for the IMC to act on the issue, she said the government should bear the responsibility of any untoward incident arising out of the issue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/vendor-groups-set-january-15-deadline-for-imc-to-issue-licenses/

IMPHAL, December 23: The Congress has suffered political defeat at the hands of the BJP in national elections and now the State Congress will be demolished from the State in no time, stated State BJP chief Thounaojam Chaoba.

He was speaking at the inaugural of a mass enrolment drive of the BJP Heingang Mandal at the Achanbingei Lai Haraopham Comunity Hall organised by the pradhan of Kontha Khabam Pradhan Gram Panchayat and supported by the Pradhan of Heingang Gram Panchayat and Upa-Adaksha of Imphal East District today.

The condition of the Congress in India is like a withered tree whose roots have been cut off by the sharp blade of Narendra Modi. In the name of Secularism, the Congress has ruled the country for more than 60 years but Modi`s development oriented politics has captured the hearts and minds of people, he said.

During the last six months, NDA changed the country in a lot of ways in comparison with the previous Manmohan Singh led government. Even Gandhi had asked to do away with the Congress which was used as a means for attaining independence during India`™s freedom struggle. But Nehru capitalised on the Congress party by using secularism as a plank with political motivation to create a vote bank in elections, the State BJP chief opined.

Modi has uprooted the Congress party from the Indian soil. Now, the country is directed towards development for the poor people. The NDA government is stressing on the welfare of women and poor people and intends to strike a balance between poor and rich people. The previous government brought financial woes for the economy.

The mission of opening zero balance accounts will be completed in March 31 next year as per the instructions given to all the banks of India by the Prime Minister. The scheme was taken up with the goal of giving access to a regular bank transaction to poor people, he said.

Alleging that the clarification from MDS was meant to cover its corruption during the construction of the sports complex, he said he was merely asking whether the iron bars were transported in Activa scooters or Auto rickshaws from Dimapur for constructing sport complexes in Kodompokpi and Kakching.

He said that MDS was registered under Manipur Register Society Act and established during a time when he was holding the portfolio of the Industry minister. MDS was primarily established to focus in the fields of Agriculture and Handloom but it now issues tenders of construction works and is a fund deposition pool for the government, he added.

The MDS concentrated only on development of Agriculture but now it is being used for gobbling up agricultural lands for construction, he quipped.

Further mentioning that the enrolment drive of BJP was being carried out to show the real strength and love for the BJP in India, he added that it was being carried out to show that the BJP was the political party having the largest membership in the world. After the launching the enrolment drive all over India, he said the target in the state now has increased to two lakhs because the forms issued from the BJP office for the enrolment has breached two lakhs already. In the hill districts alone, one lakh forms were issued whereas in Muslim dominated areas it has crossed 50 thousand, he added.

The mobile enrolment drive is meant to ascertain the strength of the BJP membership all over the country, the State BJP cheif said, adding that after being enrolled in the BJP, cards will be issued to every BJP members which will be of immense help in providing safety and security to all the members when they moved outside the State and will save them from harassment by security forces if they are not involves in criminal activities.

BJP will become a big family one day after the enrolment drive is completed, he opined.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/chaoba-predicts-the-ultimate-obliteration-of-congress-lashes-out-at-mds/

IMPHAL, December 23: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur, has stated that it is closely monitoring the `colonial policy of the Indian State` in which it causes bomb explosions in public places specially targeting innocent people to defame revolutionaries of Manipur.

It added that the party will take severe punitive actions against those involved in such bomb attacks against people.

The party has began investigating the series of bomb blasts in the last few days which defy any notions of humanity with intentions of defaming the people`™s movement and the revolutionary movement in the State, it said.

It is confirmed beyond doubt that a man suspected of being the `master planner` of a `Black Gang` which is carrying out these acts of `State sponsored terrorism` has went into hiding in some other place along with his whole family after the party started tracking his whereabouts, it said.

`Our cadres of Loktak Pana, who traced the man to Kairenphabi in Bishnupur after suspecting him to be the master planner, have confirmed that the man along with his family have left the place some time ago when they went to Keirenphabi to inquire about him`, it added.

On further inquiry, it was learnt from the villagers of Keirenphabi and Moirangkhunou that the man accompanied the Thanga A/C Congress candidate, now the MLA, while canvassing for votes during the last Assembly elections, it said.

After investigating the relationship between the Thanga A/C MLA and the Black Gang, especially the man suspected of being the master planner, it has been established that the leaders of such gangs and their families are kept under State protection in various places of the State, it further stated.

Under the watch of the Thanga A/C MLA, several Black Gangs are mobilised together to act out surrender dramas and who are made to carry out such activities under the cover of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreements. He is raising at least two such gangs and this is a well known fact among the people of Thanga A/C especially the villagers of Keirenphabi and Moirangkhunou, the press release said.

The party won`™t spare those trying to defame the revolutionary movement in the State whether those responsible are the biggest revolutionary outfit in the State or a small Black Gang, it warned.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/maoists-allege-ied-blasts-aimed-at-discrediting-revolutionaries/

IMPHAL, December 23: The year 2014 could be described as one of the most significant years in the history of Sagol Kangjei (Polo) for it has marked the 150 years of the day when Manipuri Polo went international.

150 years ago, on January 1864, a Manipuri Polo team visited Calcutta (now Kolkata) led by the then British army officer Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, commandant of the Kooky Levy and Civil Employment, to play the first international Polo exhibition match, there on the game spread to England and throughout the world.

Commemorating this remarkable year, the Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association (MHRPA) invited the living descendents of Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer, father of the English polo, to witness the 8th Manipur Polo International tournament played at the oldest polo ground situated in Imphal, the Mapal Kangjeibung.

`It`™s a great honour though at the same we were a bit surprised when we got the invitation from the organisers to come and witness the game of polo here in Manipur`, said Susan Booth the great great grand daughter of Lt. Joseph Ford Sherer speaking to IFP.

Susan came to Manipur along with her cousin Rosemary Pears who is also another great great grand daughter of the father of the English polo. Both the grand daughters who are now in their mid 70s were very excited about the visit.

`My mother would have been more thrilled than we are were she to be alive today`, said Susan.

Susan recalled that her mother, who passed away in 2011, would always be polishing souvenirs, an ink desk set made from two Manipuri pony hoof and silver salver, gifted to her great great grandfather. The family heirloom is now put on display at the English polo club museum.

`The general would be very proud and a little surprised to see the game he love being play all over the world`, assumed Rosemary.

She revealed that the UK team were also equally impressed as they are with the Manipuri pony adding that they would spread the word and experiences when they return to their country. `Now we are the ambassador for Manipur`, said an excited Rosemary.

Expressing her desire to visit Manipur again, Rosemary was overwhelmed by the rich culture of Manipur besides the war cemetery, the game of Polo etc which reminded her of Britain.

She described Manipur a cross road of east and the west and a very unique place when compared to other part of India.

Meanwhile, Retired IAS officer, Senjam Budhachandra, who is also the president of the MHRPA, revealed that the association has been propagating that `the present day polo originated from Manipur, the traditional polo-Sagol Kangjei` by organising Manipur International Polo tournament in the state since 1991.

Claiming that the tournament is one of its kinds played on Manipuri ponies, which is the symbol of Sagol Kangjei (Polo), he divulged that it was funded by the state Governments, business houses and nationalise banks.

Since its inception 1977 the MHRPA has been striving to popularise the game at its birth place Manipur by promoting polo tourism and also campaigning to save the Manipuri pony, which is on the verge of extinction, continued the MHRPA president.

Today the MHRPA has not only been able to garner the supports from polo enthusiasts but also live up to its objective of popularising the game at its `Birth place`.

Each year new polo playing nations take part in the tournament. This year`™s 8th edition of the polo tournament saw an overwhelming response from several polo loving nation. In all seven nations took part in the tournament including France, Mongolia, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, UK and USA besides the two Indian Teams (India-A nominated by Indian Polo Association) and India-B `“nominated by our MHRPA).

The tournament has also become a part of the annual Manipur Sangai Festival the largest tourism festival of the state.

`It`™s a great opportunity and great feeling to play polo at its birth place and at the oldest ground` exclaimed Pawel Olbryca, a player of team Poland.

Poland is one of the new teams that joined the Manipur International Polo Tournament besides Thailand, South Africa and Mongolia.

Pawel divulged that even as Polo is a new game to Poland, there are about 50 professional Polo players in Poland.

He observed that Polo has a lot of potential adding that in order to give a boost to the endeavour of the organisers they must come up with `New projects, new places especially new ponies, a finer breed`.

Pawel exhorted the organisers to keep pushing forward their endeavour to promote the game and save the animal.

Although the popularity of Polo and its origin gaining an overwhelming response, the indigenous Manipuri Pony which is the symbol of the game (Sagol Kangjei) are facing a threat of extinction.

According to MHRPA president, there are approximately 500 Manipuri polo ponies in the valley areas and below 1000 in the entire state.

The magnificent horse breed which is also known for its firm footing, were widely used by the British military during World War-II besides Polo.

Disappearance of grazing grounds, lack of investments to conserve ponies etc are some of the factors that largely contributed for the decline of ponies, claimed Budhachandra.

The MHRPA president further said that the Government must come up with a concrete and immediate measure in order to save the ponies.

The report of decline in numbers of ponies comes in the wake of the Government`™s proposed plan to establish a pony conservation site at Marjing Pony Sanctuary at Heingang, Imphal East district.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/descendants-of-modern-polo-founder-makes-pilgrimage-to-polos-original-home/

IMPHAL, December 23: Security forces reportedly apprehended two militants cadres during separate counter insurgency operation conducted in the state.

A statement issued by the PRO, Manipur Police, S Gautam Singh, on December 21 a combined team of Imphal West and Thoubal district police commandos arrested a cadre of the PREPAK while conducting frisking and checking during at Kakching Lamkhai.

The arrested militant has been identified as on Huidrom Deben Singh alias Eyamba, 45, son of H Ibotombi Singh of Wangoi Top Upokpi at present staying at Kakching Lamkhai.

It said that during investigation Deben revealed his involvement in extortion of money from general public and businessman for raising fund for the outfit.

Incriminating articles were also reportedly ceased from his possession, it said, adding that a case has been registered at the Kakching police station.

In another incident, a combined team of Bishnupur district police commandos and 12 Bihar Regiment arrested a self-styled Lieutenant division secretary of division No XX of the proscribed PLA/RPF identified as Warepam Jamson Singh alias Babu alias Lukhoi, 35, son of W Tomba Singh of Haobam Marak Ngangom Leikai at present staying at Langpok Makha Leikai, it said.

He was arrested during a search operation conducted at Langpok village and a 9mm pistol along with eight live ammunitions and one Chinese made hand grenade were seized from his possession, it said adding that a case has been registered at the Nambol police station.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/police-commandos-arrest-militant-cadres-during-ci-ops/