Day: October 17, 2015

IMPHAL, Oct 16: Three more witnesses were cross examined by the Commission of Inquiry constituted in the death of Sapam Robinhood Singh, who was killed due to police action during the Inner Line Permit (ILP) movement last July.

The hearing was conducted today at held at the State Guest House, Sanjenthong, Imphal before Justice Mutum Binoy Kumar Singh Commission of Inquiry.

The witnesses are JCILPS co-convenor, Khomdram Ratan, general secretary of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School Students`™ Union and another student of the school.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/three-witnesses-cross-examined-in-robinhood-case/

IMPHAL, October 16: The Manipur Excise Department destroyed around 1556 litres of local liquor seized in six months at its office premise at Lamphel today.

Speaking to media persons Assistant Commissioner, Manipur Excise Department, K Joykumar said the local liquor seized by the police during the period of April 1 to September 30 was handed over to the department.

He said the department is able to collect a revenue of Rs 9,99,400 and took up 833 cases under the Liquor Prohibition Act.

Joykumar also said that the department collected a total of Rs 4, 23, 31 405 as Excise Duty Tax from the Army and Para-military forces during the same period.

The revenue collected by the department has been deposited with the State government, he added.

He further appealed to all civil organisations involved in seizing of liquor not to destroy the items seized without informing the department and to hand over the items to the department.

He said if the seized items are destroyed without informing the department, the department will loss the fines or taxes which should be collected from those responsible.

He further lauded the different organisation undertaking the hardship of fighting against illegal and banned substances.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/state-excise-department-destroys-1556-litres-of-local-liquor/

IMPHAL, October 16: BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba today charged the State government led by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh of being a tainted government reeling under several scams and scandals.

He was speaking at a formal reception function of two newly enrolled members of the BJP Manipur held at the party`™s State office.

The two new members are former vice president of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Wangoi Constituency Naorem Rabei Singh and former general secretary of Manipur Pradesh Trinamool Congress Yaishkul Constituency Khumanthem Jiken Singh.

Speaking at the function, Chaoba condemned the government for remaining silent on the verdict passed by the High Court of Manipur cancelling appointment of around 1400 primary teachers.

Charging the government of maintaining silence on the court verdict, he questioned whether the State government was disrespecting the court.

He further demanded an immediate clarification from the government on its silence on the issue.

Chaoba also lauded the newly joined members of the party and said the increasing number of the party`™s members means it is growing in strength and that people want a change in the society.

Meanwhile, falsifying charges from some sections about the BJP party elections being discontinued midway, the party`™s State unit general secretary L Basanta said the charges were made to show the party in a bad light.

He said the election will continue, but it has been temporary stalled as the verification of the enrolment list is underway as double entry of many members is detected.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/chaoba-rebukes-congress-government-as-tainted-in-scandals/

IMPHAL, October 16: Manipur State Council Communist Party of India general secretary Dr M Nara has said that the Modi wave has failed to woo voters in the ongoing Bihar Assembly Election.

Dr M Nara, who is also a national executive member of the CPI, is currently stationed in Bihar for election campaign of the left party in the State.

Speaking over the phone from Patna, Dr Nara informed that Left Front had fielded candidates in all the 243 constituencies during the first phase of the State assembly election of Bihar which commenced from October 12.

He further elaborated that of the total 243 seats the Left Front`™s ally CPI alone has fielded the fray for 101 seats while the CPM and CPI-ML are contesting in the remaining seats.

Currently the ongoing election is a triangular fight between the JD (U), NDA and left front he continued, and added voting has begun for the second phase from today.

He further claimed that so far the Left Front is apparently dominating the election.

Dr Nara also said that during the initial stage of the first phase, speculation doing the round suggested that the `Modi Wave`™ will sweep across Bihar, however, the speculations have been reduced to a mere hype, held Dr Nara.

The result of the election will speak for itself the credibility of the Left Front, he said adding that he will further take part in the campaign.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/modi-wave-failing-in-bihar-dr-m-nara/

KANGPOKPI, October 16: The Kuki Inpi Manipur today expressed endorsement of the 48 hour hill district bandh called by the JAC formed in connection with the alleged killing of Khupneilal Neihsiel and Robert Hesei Kipgen while strongly condemning the alleged unresponsiveness of the State government over the killing.

The JAC had called 48 hr bandh in the hill districts of Manipur from midnight of October 18 to show discontentment and dissatisfaction over the delay in furnishing the magisterial probe report by the Government.

KIM general secretary Khaimang Chongloi said that failure on the part of the State government who assured to table the magisterial inquiry report over the brutal killing of one innocent civilian and a leader of a SoO group Kuki National Front (KNF) by personnel of 8 AR on January 28, 2015 at Kadangband within the stipulated time has irked the people.

He alleged that the innocent victim Khupneilal Neihsiel, son of (L) Lallam Neihsiel of Kangchup Chingkhong, whose vehicle was taken along with him by the KNF men, had been mercilessly shot dead along with KNF officer even after identifying himself to the AR personnel as a civilian.

He continued that the deceased Khupneilal Neihsiel was the village authority secretary and the vice president of Kuki Inpi Twibul Lhang while Robert Hesei Kipgen on the other hand was the CAO of an armed organization KNF which is under Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the State and Central governments.

In connection with the brutal killing, the government had constituted a magisterial inquiry on January 31 and assured to table the report within three months said Khaimang Chongloi while adding that the State government as well as the concerned authority has doubtfully failed to table the report even after 8 months.

Therefore, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has decided to endorse the JAC 48 hr bandh in hill districts of the state logically and practically, added Khaimang Chongloi.

KIM secretary further alleged such inattentiveness and sloppiness on part of the State government is account for countless hurdles and baffling issues in the state.

KIM also holds the State government responsible for any problematic situations arising out of the 48 hours bandh.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/kim-endorses-48-hour-hill-districts-bandh/

NEW DELHI September 16 (MIC): Pradip Phanjoubam`™s book -The North East Question: Conflicts and Frontiers will hit book stands in UK and USA on December 15 as the book is scheduled to be released by Routledge UK and Routledge USA simultaneously.

The 226-page book explores the idea, psychology and political geography of Northeast India as forged by two interrelated but autonomous meta-narratives. First, the politics of conflict inherent in, and therefore predetermined by physical geography, and second, the larger geopolitics that was unfolding during the colonial period.

Unraveling the history behind the turmoil engulfing Northeast India, the study contends that certain geographies – most pertinently fertile river valleys and surrounding mountains which feed the rivers -are integral to nature and any effort to disrupt this cohesion will result in conflict.

It comprehensively traces the geopolitics of the region since colonial era – in particular the Great Game; the politics that went into the making of the McMahon Line, the Radcliffe Line and the Pemberton Line; the region`™s relations with its international neighbours -China, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal; as well as the issue of many formerly non-state-bearing populations awakening to the reality of the modern state.

`Lucid and analytical, this book will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of Northeast India, modern Indian history, international relations, defence and strategic studies, and political science`, says the publisher Routledge India.

On making announcement by Routledge on his book; Pradip Phanjoubam, the author of the book expressed, `My two years research work at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla during 2012-2014 will see light of day as a book published simultaneously by Routledge UK and Routledge US in December. The book will cost 160 dollars in the US and 95 pounds in the UK. But don`™t run away. In 6 to 8 weeks (approximately February) there will be an Indian edition with special Indian price. Don`™t ask me the logic for this pricing`. He was concerned about the readers of India who mostly could not afford to buy the book in dollars or pounds.

The book contains seven chapters `“ 1: The Geography of Conflict in Northeast:Rivers, Valleys, Mountains as Integral Region 2: History of Militarisation of the Northeast: Search for a Liberal Response to Radical Civil Unrests 3: Eastern Frontier of the Northeast India: State and Non-State 4: Inner Line as Outer Line-I: The Making of the McMahon Line 5: Inner Line as Outer Line `“ II: Empire and its Colony 6: Linguistic Nationalism versus Religious Nationalism: Partition Trauma and the Northeast 7: Conclusion.

Pradip Phanjoubam is the Editor of Imphal Free Press and is based in Imphal, Manipur, India.

He began his career as a journalist in 1986 as a sub-editor at The Economic Times, New Delhi. He has written extensively on affairs of the Northeast for many reputed publications both in the mainstream media as well as academic journals. He was a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2012`“14) at the time of writing the book.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/ifp-editor-pradip-phanjoubams-book-to-hit-the-stands-in-uk-and-usa-on-dec-15/

IMPHAL, October 16: Only good quality education can bring peace and unity among the various communities, as schools and other educational institutions play a vital role in enlightening the young students said Model English School, SanaKeithel Ukhrul principal V Khamrang.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the four day long Annual Children Camp cum Sport Meet of the school, Khamrang said students are the future pillar of the nation.

However, without the support and proper guidance of the teachers and parents, the students would be unable to choose the right path, he added.

The main aim of organising the annual camp cum sports meet is to encourage good discipline, building of moral character and competitive spirit among the students, he said.

This will also help in creating a beautiful environment in the area which is inhabited by several communities, he added. We want to be part of the peace building effort, he said.

Peace and communal harmony will exist where quality education has been provided, he observed.

Khamrang also expressed that his school targets to produce good and ideal persons who will bring pride and glory to the village.

If the efforts are maintained along the right path, we can soon produce IAS officers and academicians from amidst us, he said.

The school has classes from pre-nursery to class X and has students from all communities including Meiteis, Napalis, Kukis and Nagas.

SK Oil Imphal proprietor Koijam Jiten who attended the function as the chief guest said extra-curricular activities like camping and sports is very important for the growth of a student.

Education is not only to make one an IAS officer or a bureaucrat, but it is to ensure a meaningful life, he added.

Without education, one will face hurdles and hindrances in every step, he said.

He further assured to donate Rs 15000 for the students who would excel in the school coming final exams and to provide any help possible from his side.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/quality-education-will-usher-peace-in-state/

SENAPATI, October 16: The Senapati District Students Association, SDSA the apex student body of the district has expressed grievances over the dilapidated condition of the NH 2 that stretches between Senapati to Mao and strongly urged the concerned department of the State government to improve the same.

It is reported that potholes keep increasing day by day due to the rain and lack of maintenance so much so that one side of the two-lane highway remains unused in most part of the stretch.

Leaders of the apex student body of the district said during their inspection tour, they found so many spots almost un-motorable along the stretch.

According to the student body`™s general secretary Shakpa Sebastian `The NH 2 being the main lifeline of the State has a number of schools and other important infrastructures built along the sides of the road.`

He said `not only the vehicles, the pathetic condition of the highway has been affecting even the pedestrian especially school going children who use the road to reach their respective schools.`

`Both the dry and rainy seasons equally affect the school children.`

He also added that lack of bitumen which has been totally worn off made the highway too dusty during the dry season and too muddy during the rainy season.

The minimal maintenance of the highway has also not been upto the mark, he said.

The SDSA strongly appeals to the concerned department to take serious action on the matter at the earliest. If not any form of democratic agitation will be launched, it said

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/sdsa-decries-pathetic-condition-of-nh2/