Day: August 3, 2015

Imphal, August 3 (NNN): Manipur Legislative Assembly has today notified that ex-Wangoi MLA O Lukhoi, who was disqualified, will be regarded as an MLA again. It may be mentioned that he along with Thongju MLA Th Bishorjit and Thangmeiband MLA Kh Joykishan were disqualified by the Tribunal Court of the Assembly for their alleged misconduct to their party, Trinamool Congress.

After that, O Lukhoi had filed an appeal to the Manipur High Court showing dissatisfaction over his disqualification. And only few days back, the Manipur High Court had given a `stay`™ to his appeal giving some relief and a ray of hope to him. The next hearing of the case is scheduled on August 19.

Bihsorjit and Joykishan, however did not file such similar appeals.

Today`™s notification was issued in the Assembly Bulletin by the Secretary in-charge of the Assembly, K Meghajit.

With this new relief provided by the Assembly to the disqualified MLA, Lukhoi will re-claim his position as an MLA until further notice. He will take part in all the Assembly proceedings and will enjoy every privilege that is entitled to any MLA. However, he will not be able to exercise his voting rights on important roles such as discussion of Bills and will not be able to vote in MP elections etc.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/manipur-assembly-to-regard-lukhoi-as-mla-again/

IMPHAL, August 3: In pursuance of its demands served to the government and in condemnation of the excesses meted out to students by police today, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) Students`™ Wing has imposed a 48-hour state-wide general strike with effect from 6 pm of August 4.

Declaring the call of the strike during a press meet at the office of Manipur Students`™ Federation (MSF) here today, leader of JCILPS Students`™ Wing O Nandababu strongly condemned the excesses committed by police against the students who were protesting outside the office of Education Minister at New Secretariat today demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The police action against the student protestors came at a time when the State is on boil over the collective demand for implementation of ILPS which is legitimate, he said.

He appealed to clubs, associations and women`™s organizations to extend full support to the proposed general strike.

Meanwhile, the Joint Students`™ Union, a conglomerate of Higher Secondary Schools based in Greater Imphal has decided to boycott government offices, tuition centres and private firms from tomorrow.

Speaking to media persons, Secretary (Games & Sports) of Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School Students`™ Union Ashis Hijam representing the Joint Students`™ Union announced that the union has also decided to boycott Independence Day celebration on August 15.

Students who suffered injuries in police action today were also present while making the announcements by the students`™ body.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/48hr-gen-strike-from-6pm-today-govt-offices-boycotted/

IMPHAL, August 3: Taking strong exception to the government`™s attempt to suppress the ongoing mass movement by using excessive police forces mainly against student protestors who are demanding enforcement of ILPS or similar law, the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has pointed out that the government`™s habit of realising outstanding issues pertaining to the State only after witnessing public outrage is not a new thing.

In a statement issued to the press today, the JCILPS reiterated that the ongoing mass agitation demanding enactment of a new bill to safeguard the indigenous people by passing an acceptable bill is due to the inaction of the government to do so for a long time despite launching different forms of intense agitation by many sections.

The fact that it is the people not the government who are safeguarding the territorial integrity and its identity by launching various movements is clearly evident from the past unforgettable incidents, it asserted.

Alleging that the government is in the mood to suppress the ongoing mass movement by using excessive power and police forces, the statement said education has fallen prey to the hands of the government as closure and re-opening of educational institutions are decided by the government itself.

To order re-opening of all the education institutions which were shut down by the government for a long time, before performing last rites of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in police action in an ILPS agitation and delivering justice to the death is like inviting more untoward incidents, it said.

Instead of passing an acceptable bill which is the collective wishes of the people and letting the last rites of Robinhood to perform after doing so, the government has been engaging in political game and delaying tactics of which the people well understood, the statement said.

Pledging that the committee will not remain as a mere spectator to the excesses of police with some male personnel beating and kicking girl students who are just demanding ILPS implementation or similar law, the committee in the statement asked the government to shun dictatorship type of rule at once. It then appealed to the people to continue with the civil disobedience movement against the government till a new bill acceptable to the people is passed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/will-not-remain-mere-spectator-to-police-excesses-against-students-jcilps/

IMPHAL, August 3: Although the rains have ceased bringing some respite, Uchiwa Wangmataba remains flooded much to the despair of the residents.

A team of media persons took a boat trip around the locality inspecting the families affected by the flood.

As the water level had risen, many shifted their homes for some safer places. Some moved in with their relatives in other places while many others displaced by the flood are camping on their own at the Uchiwa Punshi Keithel market shed.

People who decided to stay back in their homes have to use rafts to come out till the road.

More than 100 houses have been flooded.

Uchiwa Wangmataba lies under Wabagai constituency and is a low-lying area and as a result attracted water from the Tentha Wangjing River, Sekmaijin River and Imphal River.

The locality is connected to Mayang Imphal by the Litan Suspension Bridge.

A local who identified himself as Nilachandra Ningthoujam said most of the displaced families are taking shelter at the market shed.

Our local MLA Md Fajur Rahim has totally neglected and ignored the area during this tiring time, he continued.

He continued he has a fish farm and now due to the flood he has incurred a huge loss.

He was also joined by other locals in lauding the Works minister Dr Ratan Kumar for the timely repair of the suspension bridge.

The locals also said that they would be happier if the minister could convert the bridge to an RCC one as it is the only connectivity of the area with Mayang Imphal.

A volunteer from across the constituency, Tiken who is also the sports secretary of the All Uchiwa Development Association said he is extending all possible help to the affected people.

He said the area which has around 750 voters has been badly affected by the flood.

Later in the day, sources also informed that the Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar who is the local MLA of Mayang Imphal distributed aid to the affected people of his constituency including at Chirai Chabung Company, Konchak Mamang Leikai, Uchiwa Komlakhong, Phabakchao, Laphupat Tera.

The MLA had also deployed an Excavator and a Tipper and helped the locals to check the flood water.

It is also learnt that Dr Ratan distributed rice, dal, oil, candles and other essential items to affected houses.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/uchiwa-wangmataba-still-in-knee-deep-water/

IMPHAL August 3: The JAC for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People has set up a relief camp at TC Pokpi foothills for the dam affected villages located in the immediate downstream areas as the villagers continue to wait for government to look into their plights.

A media team today visited the displaced downstream population and the dam site.

Residents of at least four villages in the immediate downstream area Tumakhok, Moirangpurel, Itham and Laikhong have evacuated from their villages following the recent reports of the leaks in the dam.

The media team found that relief camps have also been set up at the Meitei Nongdam. Others were found taking shelter in the local primary schools and meira shangs.

The team also found temporary makeshift dwelling camps lining up the higher foothills and line of trucks serving as the sleeping spaces of the displaced families.

All 1614 residents from 266 households of Tumakhok Village have evacuated their village following the reports of the leakages on the dam. They are now bundled in five relief camps set up.

A villager lamented our MLA and some NGOs have visited us with food and other supplies, but neither the concern minister nor the district administration have come to our rescue.

Speaking to the media team at the dam site, the concern superintending engineer Kshetrimayum Pritam insisted the dam is safe and the officials concern are cautiously monitoring and managing the water level of the dam.

Other officials including executive engineer Irom Mohindro and assistant engineer L Tamocharoi made the same observation.

They said they are releasing the dam water via the water conductor system at 14 cubic meter per second and through the pipeline at 5 cubic meter per second.

The officials also claimed that the dam stands at 876 meters at the moment which is just two meters above the spillways which are located at 874 meters.

It is also learnt that both the vertical and the horizontal filters are yet to be installed.

The media team could also observe that about a hundred of labourers were seen filling fresh mud to fill the seepages of the dam.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/mapithel-dam-downstream-villagers-continue-to-live-in-relief-camps/

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates has been totally lifted from tomorrow.

The curfew was clamped in the districts in view of the volatile situation arising out of the death of Sapam Robinhood, a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, who was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration on July 8 demanding introduction of Inner Line permit System in the State without further delay.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/imphal-curfew-totally-lifted/

IMPHAL, August 2: BJP Manipur Pradesh President, Th Chaoba bid to deputize four persons as the new vice `“presidents to the political party recentlycame to nought as his initiative has been vetoed by the party`™s higher authority.

Th Chaoba passed an order on July 20 vide number 1/APPT/BJP/MP/2015 which notified four individuals who are incumbent vice-presidents of the organization to be relieved of their status. This was done allegedly without consultation of other office bearing members of the Party and totally at Th Chaoba`™s own interest. Sources mentioned that no proper reason was given also in regard to this action of removing the vice-presidents.

Chaoba had notified that the present office bearers namely Th Jadumani Singh, an MLA aspirant for Khangabok; Kh Bhawananda Singh, H Jayadev Sharma alias Gandhi of Yaiskul, Ex-MLA Danny Shaiza who are holding vice-president posts be removed immediately without tendering any particular reason. He also included veteran BJP member, Robin Blacky who is the Treasurer to be removed also.

In their stead, Chaoba approved the new appointment of Rk Ranjan, former BJP inner MP candidate; AR Khan (retired IAS); former MLAs Adim Panmei and V Hangkhalian as new vice-presidents. He also appointed Ng Robert Singh as the new Treasurer.

But, on July 24, Member of Parliament and BJP in charge of Manipur , Prahlad Singh Patel sent a notification to Th Chaoba Singh. The MP clearly directed the State President that his order should be repealed within a time of 48 hours. It further mentioned that Chaoba has no authorization to cancel the status of the office bearers nor to deput new ones , specially as the time for elections within the BJP is on the verge. He gave clear instructions to nullify Chaoba`™s earlier order and to intimate the BJP office by e-mail at the earliest.

In the regard, there are several complaints and allegations regarding the action perpetrated by Th Chaoba in the State unit. Sources said that the act was a clear case of nepotism within the BJP and that the President is acting on his own whims and profit and grossly ignoring the organizational framework.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/prahlad-patel-vetos-th-chaobas-bid-to-induct-new-vicepresidents-to-state-bjp/

IMPHAL, August 2: The North East Youth Foundation (NEYF) and North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) have jointly organised a one-day Civil Society Consultation on Climate Change and State Action Plan on Climate Change on August 1.

A joint press release from the organizations said participants of the consultation programme thoroughly discussed on the impact of climate change in the state of Assam.

Addressing the gathering, Jadav Payeng popularly known as forest man said, `Education from the grassroots level is the key to conserve the nature and lower down the impact of climate change` adding that the youths are vanguard culminating solutions for protecting the eco system.

Further putting light on the key issues on impact of climate change, Rahul Mahanta, Department of Physics, Cotton College reiterated that the society as a whole must focus on both scientific and traditional measures to reconstruct the dilapidating ecosystem.

For this to become a success everyone needed to rely on data in order to form a concrete action plan, he said.

Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, Nava Thakuria highlighted very simple yet highly effective and goal oriented solution to build a healthy urban ecosystem.

Simple measures like rainwater harvesting, utilisation of solar energy can help us in minimising climate change, he observed.

NEYF and NEDF have appealed to the Government of Assam to look into few important areas before finalising the forthcoming climate plan such as translation of any existing or proposed draft into Assamese, Bodo and other regional languages which are used in the state of Assam so that people can understand about the planning. Other policies like water, forest, agriculture, land etc policy must be prepared before finalising the climate plan or policy to avoid any contradiction.

All existing policies must be respected before finalising climate policy to avoid any further contradiction, Strong relations with all the departments which are associated to avoid any confusion or controversies amongst people must be set up, SAPCC should adopt Free, Prior Informed Consent of the people of Assam before taking up climate adaptation measures like REDD+, water, land, agriculture etc. Human rights and gender issues related to Climate Change action should be the primary focus before implementing the proposed action plan and Climate action Plan should use the `Do No Harm`™ principles while taking up the action plan at all level of implementation, it said.

Discussion was held on the thematic areas which are proposed in different climate plans with more emphasis on areas like water, agriculture and forest. Participants from different parts of the state representing different originations apart from youths and students took part in one day consultation. The consultation was held at Bosco Reach Out in Guwahati and was moderated by Convener of NEYF, Ranjan K Baruah, the release stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/civil-society-consultation-on-state-action-plan-on-climate-change-held/

IMPHAL, August 2: All round despair around marks the state on the morrow of being hit by heavy monsoon rain, mud slides, sinking roads and land sliding tremors. Vehicular traffic on National Highway 2 sector connecting Imphal and Moreh have also stood still since yesterday because of landslides at more than 20 places and sinking road at different places affecting cross border trade severely.

Taking stock of the calamity, Minister Works & Transport Dr Kh Ratan Kumar Singh along with a media team visited Mayang Imphal is own constituency and inspected water leaking areas like Mayang Imphal Chabung Company Mayai Leikai, Chirai Mayai Leikai where the roads have partly sunk making ways for flood water to overflow from the Imphal River.

The furious torrents of Sekmaijin River had also given a sleepless night to the people of Phabakchao Bazar. Suspension bridge constructed on Sekmaijin River during 1973 was also flooded by the over flowing river currents.

Many people in the area were seen camping out on roads fearing of flooding their houses.

The Nambu River in the Mayang Imphal stretch was also swollen creating fear at Upokpi Khunou.

Later the minister drove towards Tengnoupal on the Imphal-Moreh road to take stock of the calamities created by the cloudbursts. The tour was accompanied by Minister IFCD Ngamthang Haokip and Tengnoupal MLA DK Korungthang and other PWD officials.

Tell-tale evidences of mud slides in between Patbung and Chelep of Chandel along Tengnoupal Sangsak Road during the journey.

After taking a long walk along the highway and inspecting the deteriorated road condition, Minister Ratan briefed the media and said that nature has not been kind to the state at the moment. The sliding of mud and cracks on road might have been triggered by a slight earthquake, he said.

He also observed that the natural calamity has forced vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh roadto shut down for the moment. He added excavators are being deployed to tow away the landslides to ensure traffic returns to normal at the soonest. He said that some places have seen worse disasters.

Further down the road, a two feet wide crack which had developed on the road approaching the Mahadev Temple has during the day caved in and portion of the road fell of the hillside. Ratan said that at these areas roads have to be cut and this could take time. He said he will have concerned engineers of his department work to come up with a comprehensive report at the soonest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/minister-works-tours-flood-and-landslide-affected-areas-to-take-stock-of-damages/

IMPHAL, August 2: In the backdrop of washing away of Joumal village under Khangbarol sub-division in Chandel district in a massive landslide on August 1, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) landed at Tulihal Airport last night to support the rescue efforts while Assam Rifles had been trying to send troops through the night at Joumal location, sources said.

The sources informed that as per preliminary recce, the troops could not be sent at night and they started out at 4 am. The NDRF team tried to reach via helicopter at the said village but was not able to reach the village till 2 pm. There was a complete communication loss at the village site due to landslides in the vicinity of the village. The information from the site was filtering at a very slow rate.

Notwithstanding this disruption of lines of communication and damage to their own infrastructure, Assam Rifles troops of Joupi and Sajik Tampak battalions of the 28 Sector Assam Rifles under aegis of the IGAR (S) responded to the situation by launching foot columns into the general area today morning and also carried out aerial efforts at the site.

The AR troops after confirming the site are providing security and assisting the rescue efforts being carried out by the NDRF team, it added.

The AR team was able to rescue three persons at 12 pm after aerial efforts. The rescued persons are identified as chief of Joumal village Robert Hamlet Paite 47 son of Lamkhajong Paite; Shekhow Paite, 37 son of Namthong Paite and Thongmang Paite, 40 son of Sonkhojang Paite.

The village chief said that it has been reported that there were 23 houses and 18 occupants when landslide occurred at 8 am yesterday, but the village has only 10 houses. The total population of the village according to him is 74.

He also said that six others also escaped and search for them is on. As of now, there are six survivors of the landslide including Mangkholet Baite, son of Ngehkang Baite, who reached Aibol Joupi yesterday and Mongpu Paite and Nagmandel Paite who reached Chamol post. The three others were rescued today.

The two who came to Chamol said that ten houses with 18 occupants came under landslide. So a total of ten houses and 18 were missing out of which six are rescued. Four bodies have been recovered by the combined effort of Assam Rifles and NDRF. A total eight people are still missing, the sources said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/rescue-efforts-in-landslide-hit-joumal-village-begin/

CHANDEL, August 2: Three dead bodies believed to be amongst the 20 Joumol villagers in Chandel district, who were feared dead were recovered by Aibol Joupi villagers today.

According to a reliable source, villagers of Aibol Joupi went to the spot of incident after receiving information from the survivors and conducted a search operation during which three dead bodies of women of Joumol villagers including a child were found buried underneath.

The villagers retrieved the bodies and buried them properly in a nearby spot, added the source.

The source also informed that two survivors of the village came to Chahmol village and reported the incident to the Assam Rifle post after which the AR rushed to the spot along with one of the villagers leaving the other at the camp as he was too tired.

The villager who stayed back at the AR camp has been identified as one Lhunkhomang Baite alias Mangpu.

Of of the 20 villagers believed to be buried alive, eight villagers managed to survive and take shelter in a hut throughout the night.

The villagers who survived the tragic incident are identified as Jamlet, Sonpao, Semkhothang, Khamneng, Jamlet, Khanching and Lhunkhomang Baite.

Meanwhile, landslide in other parts of the district washed away houses in another village and a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road.

In Kharou Khullen village under Tengnoupal, two residential houses were swept away by a landslide. However, there is no report of human casualty in the village due to the natural calamity.

After sweeping down a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road in between Chehlep Lamkhai and Phalbung Village, a landslide washed away another portion of the road in between Samukom and Simang village under Machi Block.

Speaking to media persons, John Haokip, president of Kuki Student`s Organization Machi Block said that Tengnoupal-Sangshak road is the only lifeline for the villagers of 22 villages. But the recent landslide cut off the road at many places and hampered vehicular movement along the road, he added.

The student leader also appealed to the concerned department to address plight of the aggrieved villagers of the area and take up prompt action for repairing the said road at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/three-dead-bodies-amongst-20-feared-dead-in-chandel-landslide-recovered/

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The dead body of Sapam Robinhood being kept at the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has become the first unclaimed corpse to be preserved in a mortuary in the State for maximum number of days.

Sapam Robinhood, 16 alias Thoi son of S Romesh Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak but stayed at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration staged on July 8 last demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The dead body of the student is being kept at the JNIMS morgue as the deceased`™s family members and JAC formed in connection with the killing of the student refused to claim the body till those police personnel involved in the killing are suspended by the government.

Other than Robinhood, the unclaimed dead body to be kept in a mortuary for a long time was of Thangjam Manorama Devi of Bamon Kampu under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East.

Manorama was picked by personnel of Assam Rifles from her residence in the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2004. Police recovered her dead body on July 11 morning and subsequently deposited the dead body at RIMS morgue on the same day at around 10.35 am. Post mortem examination of the body was also performed on the same day itself.

Though the dead body was officially indentified, family members of the deceased and JAC formed against the killing declined to claim the body.

After keeping the dead body at RIMS morgue for 13 days, police disposed off the body the next following day on July 24 and performed the last rites at the Public Crematorium at Hatta Minuthong.

On the other hand, the dead body of Robinhood is being preserved at JNIMS morgue for 25 days since July 8.

Coincidentally, the post mortem examinations of both Robinhood and Manorama were performed on July 11.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/robinhoods-body-still-unclaim-in-jnims-morgue/