Day: November 12, 2015

IMPHAL, Nov 12: Parliamentary secretary K Meghachandra Singh has greeted the people on the occasion of Ningol Chakkouba.

His message said `I express my heartfelt greetings of warmth, love and peace on the Celebration of Ningol Chakkouba on Hiyangei Ninipanba to all the Manipuri Ningols settling in every corner of the world.`

`May this Ningol Chakkouba, the biggest social festival of the Manipur People bring the real meaning of love and bond of unity among all the ethnic communities of Manipur and the respect of Manipuri Women by not committing any crime or atrocities against them.`

Meanwhile, Major General VS Sreenivas, VSM**, IG AR (South) and All Ranks of Assam Rifles also extended warm greetings and best wishes to the people of the State on the auspicious occasion of Ningol Chakkouba.

IGAR (South) in a press release issued by its PRO expresses hope that the festival will herald an era of progress and prosperity in the region and promote unity, integrity and peaceful coexistence of all communities in the state.

The festival originally observed by the Meitei community, has now encompassed other communities in Manipur, a testimony to the increasing unity and integration in the state. The age`“old tradition of Manipur will reinforce the unique significance and primacy accorded to women in Manipuri society and encourages them to strive for peace and prosperity in the state, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/ningol-chakkouba-message/

IMPHAL, Nov 12: The United Revolutionary Front (Manipur Army) has resolved to ban the much-talked Sangai Festival to be organized by the State government from November 21 at Hatta Kangjeibung.

Informing this in a statement signed by Lanheiba Meitei, Chairman of URF (MA), the outfit said that the decision to ban the Sangai Festival was taken in strong condemnation of the Central and State government`™s act of misleading Chairman of the outfit Lanheiba Meitei and 145 other cadres after releasing from jail and seizing 50 numbers of weapons including AK Series Rifle, G-3, HK, RPG, Lathod Gun, 9 mm pistol and .32 pistol by signing fraudulent peace agreement with the outfit.

It alleged that the weapons belonging to the outfit were put under Surrendered Seizure List System from Double Locking System in the name of peace agreement.

Reiterating that the act of duping by the governments led the outfit to went back to its earlier path of taking up weapons since September 3, 2014, the URF (MA) in the statement further alleged that its Home secretary Puyam Mungyamba alias Ruhini Meitei alias Biren and assistant Finance secretary Keithellakpam Tiken alias Lankhomba were mercilessly killed by State Police Commando in a fake encounter at Kokta under Moirang Police Station on January 6.

The outfit further claimed that its position and capabilities have been strengthened further by recruiting new energetic cadres to march ahead its revolutionary path.

Meanwhile, Chief of Military Affairs Committee, URF (MA) representing brothers of sisters and married women of the State has greeted the people on the occasion of Ningol Chakouba which falls on November 13.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/urf-ma-resolves-to-ban-sangai-festival/

IMPHAL, November 12: Indeed a good news for the film lovers as the Government of Manipur has consented to hold the Sangai Asian Film Festival beginning this year.

The Sangai Asian Film Festival which will be held from November 22 to 29 as a part of the Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 will consist of best of Asian cinema, significant Manipuri classics, current films and non-features.

The organizing committee is planning to show atleast three films a day at MFDC. The timings will be announced shortly.

Convenor of the organizing committee and general secretary of CATA Khoyumthem Brajesh Kumar, speaking to media persons at MFDC today informed that the films under the `Best of Asian Cinema`™ category will expose the people to the rich cultural heritage and traditions of South East Asia at the onset of `Act East Policy` in particular and the trend of contemporary Asian films in general.

He said a package of Best Asian Films will be on the menu during the festival.

He said films from countries like Myanmar, China, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and India will be exhibited during the festival.

The opening film of the festival will be a Myanmarese film `Let Pan` directed by Wyne.

`Significant Manipuri Classics` is to showcase the glorious celluloid classics which are milestones of Manipuri Cinema. Celluloid films will also be shown which will be rare opportunity and an event not to be missed by any film lover,` he further said.

Under the `Current films` category different flavours of contemporary Manipuri cinema popularly known as digital films will be exhibited, he added.

Adding glitter to the festival will be the stars themselves in flesh and blood interacting with film lovers, he informed.

In the `Non features` category, like most things in Manipur, the size of the State or its population has nothing to do with the variety of non-features like documentaries, short films and others the State can bring out.

To know Manipur better, watching its non-features section would help much, he said.

Cinegoers can avail two types of passes, a season pass for the entire festival and or single day passes.

Season passes will be limited and available in advance soon, informed the convenor.

He also informed that CATA had proposed to organize a film festival during the Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 but due to the law and order situation prevalent during the run up of Manipur Sangai Festival 2015, a concrete decision for inclusion of a film festival could not be taken well in advance by the government.

However recognizing the wisdom of having a film festival as a part of the Manipur Sangai festival, the Government of Manipur has consented to institute the Sangai Asian Film Festival beginning this year 2015.

An organizing committee have been formed with the secretary MSFDS as the chairperson and other members drawn from the Film Forum Manipur of which CATA is a constituent and playing an important role have been tasked with the successful organization of the festival, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/asian-film-fest-to-debut-at-sangai-fest/

IMPHAL, November 12: During the three terms of Congress rule in the State since 2002, there has been 1600 cases of fake encounter and extra judicial killings reported in the State and hundreds of widows are yet to dry off their tears after their husbands were killed in such fake encounters, BJP Manipur general secretary Moirangthem Asnikumar told media persons today.

Speaking to a select group of media persons in an exclusive meeting Asnikumar said several commissions constituted to investigate extra judicial killings in the State have already acknowledged that extra judicial killings do happen in the State.

Today, the families of the victims are waiting for justice, he added.

Stating that the killing of people in fake encounters by the security forces in the State is a gift of the Congress to the people of the State, Asnikumar said it is unfortunate for the Congress that the Extrajudicial Victim Families Association Manipur and the Human Rights Alert have together moved a PIL before the Supreme Court against 1600 such cases of extrajudicial killings.

As for the Congress claim that it was due to its effort that the Assam Rifles was shifted from the Kangla Fort, the real reason for the shifting of the AR was the nude protest of Manipuri women before the Western Gate of the Kangla Fort against the killing of Th Manorama by SF, he said.

Slamming Congress leaders for using statements like the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had gifted the Kangla Fort on the request of the Congress while campaigning for the two bye elections, he said such action of the Congress leaders is unfortunate.

Further charging the Congress party of siphoning off huge funds meant for development of Kangla for which the Kangla Fort Board was constituted, he said it is still unclear as to how much money have been sanctioned to the board and how much development works have been undertaken inside the fort, and further demanded a white paper on the account statement of the Kangla Fort Board and the details of the contractor involved in the works.

Renovation work at the Kangla pat has been undertaken on a war footing to meet the Sangai Festival deadline, he said demanding a statement of the funds sanctioned and when and how tenders for the same was floated.

He further charged the Congress government of siphoning funds during purchase of the CCTV cameras which are installed in some locations and over recruiting VDF personnel.

The Imphal sewage project is a total failure and incomplete centrally sponsored projects like the City Convention Centre, Khuga Multi-purpose Project, Manipur Assembly Secretariat, High Court of Manipur complex and the MFDC Hall were all inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC president Sonia Gandhi, he claimed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/state-has-witnessed-numerous-cases-of-extrajudicial-killings-during-three-terms-of-congress-rule-asnikumar/

IMPHAL, November 12: On November 10, a team of the District Police Commando, Imphal East launched a counter insurgency operation in and around Khurai Lamlong area and arrested one active cadre of KCP (MTF), namely, Elangbam Kesho alias Priyo, 41, son of E Dijamani Singh of Lamjao Awang Leikai from the south eastern side of Chairen Thong, according to a statement of the PRO Police.

Incriminating articles were seized from his possession, it said

Investigation revealed that, he was involved in extortion of money from the general public, private firms and government offices for raising fund of the said organisation, it said.

A case has been registered at Porompat Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

Further according to the statement, the next day, based on a reliable information, a team of District Police Commando, Imphal West conducted cordon and search operation in and around Khagempali Huidrom Leikai area.

During the operation, one active cadre of UNLF organisation, namely, Huidrom

Ajit Singh alias Langdai, 41, son of H Sarat Singh of Khagempali Huidrom Leikai was arrested from his residence, it said.

Investigation revealed that, he along with his associates were planning to explode IEDs in Imphal area in connection with the forthcoming raising day of UNLF organisation, it said.

A case has been registered at Singjamei Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/kcp-cadre-held-pro-police/

IMPHAL, November 12: The annual `Fish Fair-cum-Fish Crop Competition, 2015`™ of the Fishery department organised in connection with the Ningol Chakouba festival was inaugurated today at the Inter-state Bus-terminus, Khuman Lampak, Imphal.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by commerce and Industries Minister, Govindas Konthoujam, Agriculture and Fishery Minister, Md Abdul Nasir and Nobert Dishinang, Commissioner Fisheries as the chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Delivering his chief guest speech, Govindas Konthoujam noted that organising such an event has helped considerably in the production of fish in the State.

Pointing out the gap between the supply and demand, he said that with the strong initiative of the department, Manipur is able to produce 30,500 MT against the annual requirement of 40,000 MT thus reducing the gap by only 9,500 MT.

Nevertheless, he observed that meeting the requirement is not only the need of the hour.

Anticipating an incursion of Myanmar`™s fish market into the State after the opening of Trans Asian Highway, he suggested that the fishermen should put more effort to make Manipur self-sufficient in order to survive the competition.

It has been informed that setting aside the commonly available fish supplied from other States of the country, the supply of priced fish like Penba, Ngaton comes from Myanmar.

In his speech, Agriculture and Fishery minister, MD Abdul Nasir, said that under RKVI scheme the department has managed to sustain the population of indigenous fish to some extent and further hoped to gradually increase the production.

He further assured that the gap between the supply and demand will soon be erased once the Pan-culture project, which is under the top priority of the department materialises.

According to an official from the fishery department, altogether 96 stalls are opened during the fair.

Varieties of fish including indigenous fish like Penba, Ngaton and Khabak etc are being put up for sale with the price list prepared by the department concerned.

According to the price list prepared by the department, Catla are availed at Rs 230/kg (below 3 kg) to Rs 300/kg (3kg and above), Rohu at Rs 200 (below 1kg) to Rs 250/kg (1 kg and above), Mrigal at Rs 200/kg (below 1kg) to Rs 250/kg (1 kg and above), Common carp at Rs 177/kg (below 1 kg) to Rs 230/kg (1 kg and above), Grass carp at Rs 200/kg (below 3 kg) to Rs 230/kg (3kg and above) and Silver carp at Rs 150/kg (below 3 kg) to Rs 180/kg (3kg and above).

Meanwhile, the indigenous fish like Pengba, Ngaton and Khabak are sold at Rs 650 per kg.

With the objective to encourage fish farmers to produce more fish to meet the high demand of the State, the department is also organising the Fish Crop Competition.

Cash prize of Rs one lakh was awarded to the farmers who produced the highest quantity of fish while Rs 70,000 for the second place and Rs 50,000 for the third place.

In other categories, cash prize of Rs 20,000 was awarded to the farmer who has produced the highest quantity of indigenous variety, Rs 15,000 each for the DFO/CEO of Hill or Valley district producing highest quantity of fish and also 25 consolation prizes with cash prize of Rs 20,000.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/demandsupply-gap-in-fish-production-narrowed-down-claims-govindas/