Month: January 2015

IMPHAL, 10 January: The Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights, CSCHR, citing deep concern over the recent recovery of human skulls from a construction site inside Tombisana High School, has submitted an urgent appeal to the State Governor and the Chief Minister to authorise a speedy way to find the truth on the discovery, its member Joy Chingakham told media persons today.

Speaking at a press conference held today at the Manipur Press Club, Joy said the appeal has also been made to the deputy Chief Minister, DGP, UN and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and other concerned authorities.

He said the government and the world bodies have been urged to institute a special commission of medico legal archaeological inquiry to be conducted by legal and forensic experts.

CSCHR has also appealed to the Government of India to promptly conform to the International Convention on Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances which the country had already signed on February 6, 2007, he said adding that the appeal also include repealing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in accordance with the recommendations of the UN Committee on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination in 2007, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/cschr-voices-concern-over-human-skulls-recovery-demands-probe-by-experts/

IMPHAL, January 10: The United Revolutionary Front has said that the outfit`™s two leaders killed by State police commandos on January 6 were killed in a fake encounter and not in an actual encounter as was claimed by the police.

A press statement issued by the outfit`™s chairman Lanheiba Meitei has said that on the day of the said encounter, the two leaders namely Home secretary Puyam Ruhini Meitei and assistant chief central finance Keithellakpam Lankhomba Meitei had around Rs 37 lakhs in their possession and weapons which were not reported by the police.

It said the police had killed the two leaders just for the money and the weapon in a fake encounter.

The loss is inconsolable and no actions of revenge will be able to return the two selfless leaders, it said adding that the outfit will never accept the conduct of the Manipur police commandos of killing the two leaders in a fake encounter.

The incident has occurred at a time when the Home secretary was trying to initiate efforts to unite the outfits of both the valley and hills including those under CorCom, KNO and UPF and other Naga brothers to fight the traditional enemy, rendering the outfit broken-hearted, it said.

The loss of the two leaders has also left a void which cannot be filled, it said.

The outfit`™s new motto is unity and to fight the enemy in unison, it said.

Although the outfit cannot replace the two leaders by killing hundreds of enemies, since the Manipur commandos have started the war by killing their own brothers, the outfit and its army cannot remain silent and will retaliate, it said.

Till date, the outfit had always maintain the stance of not attacking our own brothers and sisters other than during self-defence, however, the killing of the two leaders have made the outfit change the stance, it said.

The outfit has also announced a `total attack` stance to attack the Manipur commandos at any place without considering whether they are armed or unarmed, high ranking or low ranking personnel, it said.

The URF/ MA will not overlook any chance to attack the commandos and their families including women and children, it said.

It has also warned that the outfit has resolved to conduct an anti-police/ anti-security drive and attack anyone who is near and dear to the police and the security including women and children.

The URF will soon take revenge by killing 20 commandos.

The outfit has also set a deadline for all non-locals who are not indigenous people of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura to leave Manipur before the end of January.

It has threatened that the non-indigenous people should bear all responsibilities for any violence erupting after the deadline.

The statement has also said that the outfit and its armed wing had observed a two minute silence and gave a gun salute in memory of the two departed leaders.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/urf-denies-police-claim-says-leaders-killed-in-fake-encounter/

IMPHAL, January 10: Volunteers of the Meetei Erol Eyek Loisillol Apunba Lup aided by painters today painted registration numbers of commercial three wheelers in Meitei Mayek at Koirengei renewing the organisation`™s previous drive to ensure all vehicles in the State have their registration numbers in Meitei Mayek. Private vehicles which drove in at the temporary post opened by MEELAL were also entertained along with commercial three wheelers.

The post was opened at the Koirengei auto parking.

The MEELAL volunteers also pulled down several banners and hoardings of shops and set them afire in front of media persons.

The banners and hoardings pulled down were using Meitei Mayek in small fonts MEELAL president Sadokpam Tomba Magang said further warning all establishments to use Meitei Mayek with large fonts in their hoardings and billboards.

Tomba said the directorate of transport has given its nod to have vehicle registration numbers inscribed in Meitei Mayek too.

He said vehicles owners having the High Security Registration Plate should paint their numbers on the body of the vehicle as the HSRP cannot be tampered with.

He said official vehicles including those of the police should also have their registration numbers painted in Meitei Mayek.

He said from tomorrow onwards vehicle owners who fail to adhere to have their registration numbers painted in Meitei Mayek will be charged with Rs 100 for painting in similar posts opened by MEELAL. The charge will be doubled by February, he warned.

The MEELAL president also said that religious ritual songs like the sankirtan should be sung in Manipuri rather than in Sanskrit.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/meelal-issues-diktat-for-mayek-registration-number-for-vehicles/

IMPHAL, January 10: The Mapithel Dam Affected Village Organisation (MDAVO) stated that the government should revoke its plan to construct a cofferdam and to resume the construction of the Mapithel dam only after meeting their demands.

Talking to media persons at a press conference today, MDAVO chairman RS Sakadhen said the construction which has been started forcibly must stopped, alleging that the State is devoid of proper governance as the government doesn`™t pay any heed to demands made by the public until there is no violent agitations.

Stressing that the dam shouldn`™t be commissioned until the consent of the affected communities is taken, he said that the piecemeal approach in rehabilitation that divided people should end and the government should conduct detailed impact assessment for rehabilitation and resettlement through the Expert Review Committee of 2008.

The civil body also condemned the ongoing efforts of the government to resume the construction of the dam under the Thoubal Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project from today, including the construction of a cofferdam.

Sakadhen said the purpose of building a cofferdam at the Mapithel dam site over the Thoubal River to complete the dam construction before bringing an amicable solution with affected people will submerge agriculture land and forest areas in the up-stream villages of the project and displace the villagers.

There are plans afoot to resume the dam construction despite the fact that the National Green Tribunal is still studying the matter to decide whether it`™s in violation of Forest Rights under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Forest Right Act 2006, he added.

The construction of the Mapithel dam has violated several laws ever since the project was first approved in 1980. The Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) is being carried out in a piecemeal and divisive approach. Beginning from multiple violations of the 1993Terms of Agreement for Rehabilitation with affected communities, the government has failed to conduct a holistic impact assessment sought by communities.

The construction of Mapithel dam is still fraught with the absence of a detailed impact assessment on communities with their rightful participation, especially impact on forest land and other livelihood sources further down the downstream portion of Thoubal River.

The MDVO chairman said even though various agitations were launched, the government remains silent and hasn`™t compensated the villagers of four affected villages.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/mdavo-demands-govt-to-halt-mapithel-dam-construction/

IMPHAL, January 10: One of two youths who came to allegedly extort money from a contractor`™s house has been apprehended along with a pistol with live bullets by the villagers. The other escaped taking advantage of the darkness.

The incident happened this morning at around 3:30 at Longa Koirang village neighbouring Sangaithel village in Senapati district on NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam road) under the jurisdiction of Gamnon Sapermeina Police Station.

Villagers who had witnessed the whole episode told the media that on January 7 last at around 8:30 pm two youths who identified themselves as cadres of Kuki Revolutionary Front (KRF) came at the residence of contractor W Khelsochong of Longa Koireng village and demanded Rs 2 lakh extortion.

They left after instructing the contractor to hand over the money through their village chief S Sokhel on January 9 at 3 pm, the villagers said.

As per the instruction the contractor along with the village chief and villagers waited for the two youths to come however they did not turn up on that day, the villagers said.

But today early morning at around 3:30am when the sun still has not risen, they showed up at the contactor`™s house and demanded the money. The people present at the house informed them that the contactor was not home and they also do not have the money, the villagers said.

On hearing that the two armed youths started abusing and beating the people present at the house including women and children. They also expressed their anger and started beating the people around saying that the villagers approached the personals of 8 Assam Rifles of Kotlen post to guard the village, the villagers said.

The villagers retaliated and challenged the two youths. One of them fired two rounds in the air and threaten the villagers. They also tried to take the village chief hostage, the villagers said.

But somehow the villagers succeeded in overpowering the two. One was captured along with a 9mm pistol loaded with 10 live bullets but the other escaped taking advantage of the darkness.

The apprehended person has been identified as David Haokip, 23, son of Thangkhopao Haokip, of Leimakhong NC Phai village.

The villagers said that on questioning he revealed that they are KRA cadres and they extort money in the name of KRF.

Later the village authority handed him over to Kuki Inpi Manipur (Moltamlang) and KIM handed him over to the 8 Assam Rifles.

A police team led by officer-in-charge of Patsoi Police Station and a team from Gamnon Sapermeina Police Station had also arrived at the scene but they refuse to take the youth into custody, informed the villagers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/villagers-overpower-armed-extortionist-as-another-flee/

From Alex Guite

LAMKA, January 10: Following the district authorities order for regular vaccination of dogs in Churachandpur following deaths due to dog-bites which are suspected to be cases of rabies infection and the subsequent drives conducted by the YPA to enforce the order, dog owners of New Lamka and its adjoining areas are allegedly taking their pets to neighbouring Moirang and other places outside of the district and selling them off.

The dog owners are choosing places which do not come under the purview of the district administration`™s order, sources informed.

Following IFP`™s recent coverage of the dog-bite menace in Churachandpur feared to be a bout of rabies infection by this correspondent, several well-wishers had called informing of the alleged practice.

Sources said the dogs are meant for consumption.

It is also learnt that dog owners of New Lamka are transporting their dogs to other localities where the drive is minimal which is a direct compromise of the district administration`™s order and the effort of the YPA and other organisations to contain the menace.

At the same time many are of the opinion that the DC`™s order was just a routine order.

A concerned local of Hiantam Lamka said she has failed to see any change or effective mechanism in the area to enforce the order.

At the same time if someone gets bitten by a dog they will not call the police but will try to get immediate medical attention, she added before questioning even if the police are called will they arrest the dog or its owners?

Another local of New Lamka who identified himself as Jampu said why should the DC`™s order include all domesticated animals when the problem has risen only due to the dogs?

Meanwhile, chief of Lamka Thangkhosuanmung Guite told this correspondent that he and his villagers will not tolerate any effort to bring in dogs from New Lamka and other areas which had reported the most incidents of dog-bites.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/dog-menace-taking-another-turn-in-ccpur/

By Shyam Waikhom

IMPHAL, January 10: Residents of Saranamai circle under Paomata Block of Tadubi Sub-Division are facing difficulties in getting access to proper health care services as the Primary Health Centre there is too far away and has a limited stock of medicines. They are demanding that a PHC should be opened in Khaikho village which can be easily accessed by people from all the surrounding villages.

The PHC at Paomata is the first port of call for the locals of Saranamai village, Siimai Khaikho village, Maiba village, Phuba village and Liyai village whenever anybody from these villages feels sick. Even if it has been upgraded to a Community Health Centre (CHC), people still have to face problems due to lack of medicines and medical staff.

It was upgraded to a CHC by the efforts of ADC members who are making contributions in the building construction. Another alternative Health Centre is located at the Tungjoi village. As per official records, the Tadubi sub-division has four Health Centres with the PHC at Paomata being among the four. Paomata block is located around 99 km away from Imphal and is about 53 Km away from the Senapati district headquarters. Saranamai is about 14 Km away from the Tadubi sub-division whereas Khaikho is about 17 km away.

`Whenever anybody needs medical treatment, he has to travel 7 Kms to reach the PHC which lacks medical facility and doctors. If the situation of the patient is serious, a proper medical treatment can be availed only at the Senapati District Hospital. But in worst case scenarios, patients have to go all the way to Imphal for a proper treatment. They have to spend lots of money, sometimes even selling off their property as most of the people at the circle are farmers. Sometimes due to a lack of immediate attention at the PHC, people die on their way to a better medical facility`, said V Kho, chairman of Khaikho village at the Sanaramai circle.

He further said it is during the rainy seasons that people suffer the most as pregnant women have to be carried in improvised Sagais till Paomata PHC by foot on the muddy road. The deplorable condition of the road makes it impossible for vehicles to travel during the rainy season, he added.

The dispensary at Tungjoy is ill equipped to provide treatment to victims of even small accidents. Recently, those who got injured in a truck accident succumbed on their way to the district hospital because proper medication couldn`™t be provided in the PHC and other health centres, he narrated.

People settled in the Saranamai circle have drawn the attention of the State health director to establish an additional Health Centre at Khaikho with sufficient medicines and where the doctors are available round the clock.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/saranamai-people-plea-for-additional-health-centre-for-saranamai-circle/