Month: August 2017

Four demands passed

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

 A total of Rs 371,831,800 was passed by the House today in four demands for grants. The demands include the public health engineering, minor irrigation, state academy for training and science and technology.

The demands for grants were met with policy cuts from N. Loken, D. Korungthang, K. Meghachandra, Fajur Rahim, Kh. Joykisan, Rk. Imo, K. Arthur and Okram Henry.

The main policy cut motion raised mainly for the PHE was failure to complete water supply schemes in time, lack of water supply in hill areas, failure of effective implementation of existing schemes, lack of administration in the PHE department, failure of the government to complete water supply schemes, no clear cut policy to ensure water for Ukhrul district among others.

PHE minister Loshii Dikho stated that the problems are not created overnight and the new government is just four months old. However, he maintained that inability to provide drinking water is a shame and it is a big issue.

He said that the main problems for water scarcity were caused by rampant deforestation, uncontrolled quarrying and siltation in major rivers. The problem of drinking water will be over in Imphal valley once the Toubal Multipurpose Project is completed.

He said that at least 45 million litres can be supplied from the dam. A plan is also being suggested to source water from the Barak river.

Dikho said that Ukhrul faces water crisis as it is a hill district primarily and village chiefs asks for royalty for the water source from the Shirui hills. He said that focus will be given in implementing rain water harvesting to mitigate the drinking water problems.

He stated that for the Bishnupur district, potable water will be sourced from Sanapat lake. Problems are there for laying pipes due to scarcity of funds. Water will be available at Mantripukri area after completion of the Koirengei water supply scheme in 2018 March. The minister added that all tenders pertaining to the PHE department are conducted through e-tenders only.

Hunt for Senapati rapist on

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

Chief minister N. Biren Singh today informing the House on the serious concern of the government on crimes against women, said police is putting full effort to hunt down the culprits involved in the rape and attempted murder of a minor girl in Senapati district.

The chief minister was replying to a calling attention motion moved by Opposition MLA Ak. Mirabai Devi.

He divulged that the government has sent high ranking police officers including IGP and DIG in the district to expedite investigation of the case.

The police in co-operation with local NGOs and public are putting all efforts to solve the case and book the culprits at the earliest, he added.

Biren claimed that the establishment of separate fast track court women speaks for itself the seriousness of the government on crimes committed against women and children.

Against this backdrop, police are under strong instruction to frame charge-sheet against culprits in crime against women at the earliest, he asserted.

The immediately suspension of four police personnel including two women police in the recent suicide case of a woman inside Andro police station, is another glaring example of the seriousness of the government, Biren further added.

He informed that the more than 90 percent of accused in crimes against women have been arrested.

The chief minister also expressed concerned on the degrading moral of the people and said the State seems to witness an increasing trend in the number of crimes against women cases.

He further informed the House that representatives of the government had visited the victim girl at the hospital where she is presently undergoing treatment and provided assistance to the family.

The government will continue to provide all possible assistance to the girl and her family and even take her outside the state for treatment if the need arises, he assured.

Biren taking seriousness note of the suggestion for separate legislation to protect women from crime, informed the House to explore on the feasibility to do so.

Mirabai moving her motion maintained the crime against women in the state has increased at an alarming rate.

She said 25 rape cases were reported during this year.

Subsequently, Mirabai suggested setting up of fast-track courts in all districts to deal with crimes against women and also separate legislation to protect women.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 4

The Imphal West special judge POCSO today convicted a man under section 8 of POCSO Act for sexual assault of a minor girl. The court fixed Monday for sentence hearing to decide the quantum of punishment.

Under this section a convict can be imprisoned not less than three years which may extend up to five years with fine.

The convict is identified as Chanambam Brojen (42) son of Ch. Bihari of Ngairangbam Makha Leikai. The court today announced the conviction after it was reserved till today after the final argument hearing.

The conviction came one year after the death of the victim girl.

During the final argument hearing of the special POCSO trial case number 4 of 2014 on July 20 the prosecution witness, who is the wife of the convict clearly deposed in her statement that while she along with the victim were sitting together eating pan near the kitichen of her house her husband suddenly embraced the victim from behind.

She also mentioned that her husband tried to pull the victim to the bed. She hit her husband by a vessel and she along with the victim escaped from the house.

The additional public prosecutor stated before the court that after the incident the psychiatric problem of the victim increased so they were not able to examine the victim’s statement properly.

However, the victim gave her statement before the investigation officer and the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal West and the victim expired on July 28 last year when the trial was in progress.

The defence counsel during final argument submitted to the court said the convict’s wife as prosecution witness falsely implicated her husband for not allowing her to go to her parental house and added that that there was no incident of sexual assault.

After hearing both the counsel the court convicted the accused under section 8 of POCSO Act.

It may be mention that the written complaint against the accused was filed by the father of the victim on April 5, 2012 that on April 4, 2012 at around 2.30 pm his daughter was sexually assaulted by the accused when she went to the house of the accused to take money.