Day: August 17, 2017

IMPHAL | Aug 17

A journal called “Beyond the horizon” which is going to be published in a quarterly basis is launched today at Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

The editor of the journal, Malem Ningthouja said that this journal will serve as an alternative which mainstream media is not able to voice out. This journal will cover economic, political and social views and other relevant topics, he added.

He further said name of the journal is tentative and the right title is still on the search. He announced that the targetted readers are mostly English readers so that their voice can be heard even from international level, he added.

Jugindro Akoijam, teacher activist, Sagolsem Saratchandra, proprieter of SS Electronics, Athouba Khuraijam, general secretary of IPSA, Ranjeeta Golmei, member of Manipur State Women Commission and Akhu Chingubam, singer and social activist attended the function as presidium members.

Neelima Kangembam, the publisher of ‘Beyond the horizon’ also attended the launching programme.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 17

The state election commission has today announced that the 5th general panchayat election 2017 of the valley districts will be held on October 7.

The announcement was made by state election commissioner, Th. Kamini Kumar Singh, at the election office within the office complex of deputy commissioner (DC), Imphal West.

While the public notification of the election is to be issued on August 18, the election code of conduct will come into effect with the announcement of the election.

The election commissioner divulged that the term for the 4th panchayat body will expire on October 23.

Altogether 7,16,830 voters including 3,48,139 male and 3,68,691 female voters will exercise their franchise to elect 60 zilla parishad, 161 pradhans and 1,513 ward members. Voting will begin from 8 am and conclude at 4pm.

Kamini Kumar Singh, informed that election will be held at 1,521 polling stations for which a total of 9,126 polling personnel are required including 912 in reserved.

The last date for filing of nomination papers has been scheduled on August 26 followed by scrutiny on August 26 and withdrawal of nomination papers on August 29.

While the counting has been fixed on October 11, the entire process of election is to be completed by October 16.

The 6 deputy commissioners (DCs) of the respective districts will be the district election officers, 14 returning officers and general observers will look into the smooth functioning of the election process.

To ensure free and fair conduct of the election, the commission has asked the concerned DCs to appoint a nodal officer from the police department and for this a joint meeting of the DCs, SPs and the state election commission officials will be arrange shortly, said the state election commissioner.

Ballot papers will be used as per the regulation of the Election Commission as the commission was unable to arrange electronic voting machines.

IMPHAL | Aug 17

The enquiry committee which was constituted to probe the supply of sub-standard belts to Manipur police department has submitted its final report to the chief minister N. Biren Singh today.

The four member committee headed by additional chief secretary Suhel Akhtar along with additional chief secretary (Home) J. Suresh Babu, special secretary R. Sudhan and IGP (Admn) S. Ibocha handed over the probe report to the chief minister.

Mentioned may be made that after chief minister N. Biren Singh received complaints on social networking sites, the state government decided to constitute a committee to probe into the alleged supply of sub-standard police belts on June 7.

The chief minister had also personally visited the central store located in 1st Bn. Manipur Rifles campus and district store located in Imphal West SP’s office complex and conducted verification of the stocks at these stores.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 17

A division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising acting chief justice, N. Kotiswar and justice, Kh. Nobin on Tuesday directed the judicial magistrate 1st class, Jiribam to inspect the road from Makru bridge to Jiribam and submit the report within two weeks.

The division bench along with a team consisting of advocate general and advocates of the court as well as officials inspected the Imphal-Jiribam road last Saturday but the team could go only upto Makru bridge as repairing work of one of the bridges was in progress.

As the road is filled with pot-holes, landslides, and there is lack of proper drainage system at various portions the division bench did not consider the condition of the road as proper.

The counsel of NHIDCL submits to the court that they have taken the task of short term improvement and routine maintenance of Imphal–Jiribam road and the task has been assigned to three contractors.

The counsel submitted that the work will be completed in due course without further delay.

In this regards the petitioner’s counsel, submitted that in order to appreciate whether the work has been properly executed or not, it is necessary to know the original work estimate prepared by NHIDCL which is submitted to the central government.

Regarding the matter the court has directed NHIDCL to furnish the details of the original work estimates submitted to the central government and also to produce the contract agreement made between NHIDCL and the three contractors.

As governemnt advocate has submitted that M/S Bhartia Infra Projects Ltd. was given the contract work for improvement of Koubru Leikha to Mao road, the court directed the contractor and the state authorities to inspect the site on August 21 before executing the work.

The court directed the state government to submit details of the work estimate prepared by PWD and also the agreement made between the state government and M/S Bhartia Infra Projects Ltd.

The court fixed the next hearing on September 4. 

IMPHAL | Aug 17

Advertisement on recruitment of Indian nurses for Kuwait with the employers’ name as ‘ministry of health, Kuwait and Kuwait Oil Company’, circulated in social media using Whatsapp and various private media is a fake.

It is to dupe prospective nurses of the country financially or otherwise sending them to Kuwait via Dubai or Bahrain without involvement of authorized state-run agencies. Embassy of India, Kuwait, informed that the agency mentioned in the advertisement is not registered under Section 10 of Emigration Act, 1983 and hence is not authorized to carry out overseas recruitment business without a valid registration certificate, said a press release issued by under secretary (Home), government of Manipur.

The release further said that parents should not encourage their sons/daughters possessing nursing degree/diploma to apply for the above private illegal agencies in the name of working at higher salary at Kuwait or any Gulf countries. There is no authenticity in the matter and the advertisement is a fake.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 17

Condemning the denial of burial of late Ritah Haorei of Leingangching on the ground that she was a Catholic, a mass rally was taken out today by Christians from Don Bosco school, Chingmeirong. It was organised by the joint action committee which was formed by Catholics from different districts.

All the catholic schools in the state are shut down as to protest and condemn the “inhuman act” of the Leingangching villagers. A similar rally was taken out yesterday at Ukhrul.

Family of late Ritah Haorei wife of Yangmei Haorei of Leingangching along with four other families of Leingangching were driven out from their village on May 3, 2010 as they converted from baptist to catholic in 2009 and are living as refugees at Litan.

Ritah passed away on August 7, but the Leingangching villagers denied her burial at her home yard at Leingangching on the ground that she is a catholic. So her dead body is lying for the past eight days.

On the other hand the Leingangching villagers claimed that they denied her burial as there is some land issue and it is not related with any religious matter. 

Speaking to media persons the JAC’s, co-convenor, father T.S. Dominic said that “one village, one denomination” is an inhuman rule and it violates the right to freedom of religion of the Indian Constitution.

Denying the burial of late Ritah is the result of an inhuman village constitution (Riyan) enacted by Sharkaphung (Leingangching S. Laho) village on January 3, 1973, he added.

Five families of Leingngaching including late Ritah’s family were chased out from the village as they changed their religion from baptist to catholic on the ground that they violates the village law, “one village, one denomination” , said Dominic.

The co-convenor continued that the houses and properties of the five families were destroyed and they were also not allowed to enter their cultivation land hence the five families have been suffering till today at Litan, where they are taking shelter.

The rule and action of the village have snatched away all the rights of the five families for changing their religion, which is the fundamental rights given by the Indian Constitution, he added.

“Leingangching villagers’ claim that the issue is about is totally false. They are trying to twist the issue as they know that they are not going to win in this matter,” said Dominic.

Later a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister, N. Biren Singh by the JAC seeking full security protection for the burial and abolition of the “one village, one denomination” law as it is unjust.

The memorandum demanded that the government should allow the “persecuted victims” to return and resettle in their legal village, compensation to rebuild their destroyed houses and punishment of the human rights violators.

The JAC warned agitation if the government fails to fulfill their demands within 48 hours.

IMPHAL | Aug 17

The State Cabinet decided to constitute a state level committee for effective implementation of Act East Policy in the State.

The chief minister will be the chairman of the committee and the principal secretary (Planning) will be the member secretary. The committee will also have a vice-chairman and nine other members.

The decision was taken in the State cabinet meeting held with chief minister N. Biren Singh in the chair at CM’s Secretariat today.

 The Cabinet also decided to pay Rs. 32, 42,300 as compensation to 10 victims for properties damaged during the violent incidents which occurred at Nungei on April 11, 2016.

The State cabinet also approved the revision of Land Revenue Rate and Policy Reforms. As per the revised rate, the increase in land revenue is to be limited to five times of the existing rate.

 It also endorsed the Draft Amendment to Section 64 of Imphal Municipal Council Building Bye-Laws, 2013.

According to the amendment, it will be mandatory to have a Grid Interactive Rooftop SPV Power Plant of capacity ranging from 1 KWp to 500 KWp in all the new buildings with a roof area of more than 100 sq.m. and in all plots with an area of more than 1000 sq.m. The only exception to these Bye-Laws will be in those cases where it is not technically viable.

The State Cabinet also gave its nod to extension of retirement age for Manipur Health Service (MHS) doctors (Allopathic and Dental cadres) to 65 years of age from the current retirement age of 62 years.

This rule will be however applicable only to specialist and super specialists doctors.

After a thorough discussion, the Cabinet also approved the terms and conditions of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be entered between the State government and Manipur Tourism Forum for the construction of Imphal War Museum and memorial complex at Maibam Lokpa Ching.

IMPHAL | Aug 17

Ashok Kumar Singh, Inspector CBI anti-corruption branch (ACB) Imphal has been conferred with the prestigious President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service on the occasion of Independence Day, 2017.

Altogether 28 officers and officials of the CBI have been awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service by the President of India on the occasion of Independence Day, 2017.

Ashok Kumar Singh was amongst the 6 officers awarded with President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service. Altogether 22 CBI officials were awarded with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.

Ashok Kumar Singh, son of (late) W. Duhar Singh of Nongmeibung Ayangpali, joined the Manipur police in 1981 as an ASI and later promoted to Inspector in 2009.

He joined the CBI as an Inspector in 2007 on deputation from Manipur Police for five years then extended for 5 years (2+3).

During the tenure of deputation in CBI, ACB Shillong and Imphal branches he finalized 15 cases including 3 cases relating to the forcible breaking of Central Jail, Dimapur, Nagaland and subsequent lynching of the person who was accused for the rape of a Naga girl.