Day: September 12, 2017

IMPHAL | Sept 12

The proscribed United National Liberation Front said that Sapam Manaoton (Inaotomcha) alias Santikumar (44), who was arrested by a team of Imphal East district Commando on September 10 from Kumuda area had retired from the party and is a retired person.

Manaoton, son of (L) S. Mani from Keibi Kumuda Maning Leikai took training under the armed wing of UNLF, Manipur People’s Army, (MPA) in 1997/98 and worked up till the rank of  2nd Lieutenant (2nd Lt.), said a release signed by director, department of publicity, M. Sak-hen.

His service number was 571/13, it said. However, after the sudden demise of his wife, he had retired from UNLF and MPA in August last to look after his family and remaining children, it continued.  Therefore, Manaoton (Inaotomcha) is no longer related with UNLF and MPA in any manner or form, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 12

A man has been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days for allegedly forcibly eloping and raping a 22-year-old woman today by the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal West.

The accused is identified as Thingom Malemnganba alias Macha Meitei (21) son of Th. Tangka Meitei of Liwa Road, Awang Maibam Leikai. He was was arrested on Thursday by Singjamei police.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case submitted before the court that the victim lodged a complaint on September 1, that on July 10 while she was packing up for going to Silchar from Imphal, she was called several times by the accused asking her to come out of her rent house in Imphal. The accused threatened her that he will come to her room if she refuses. 

Due to his threat she came out and she was made to pillion-ride on a scooter forcibly by showing a knife like object and was taken to one house of a friend of the accused located in Imphal and she was raped, added the IO.

The next day she was taken to the accused’s house and the family members of the accused forced her to say that she eloped with her consent, he continued.

The IO said as the victim refused to marry the accused, he beat her every night and also raped her forcibly, and on September 12 she was informed that information of elopement had been given to her family according to traditions and her mother was likely to come sooner for confirming her consent.

She was threatened by the family members that they will not spare anyone who came for asking her. Fearing she did not disclose any words to her mother rather than weeping, added the IO.

Moreover, the accused took away her mobile phone, however after allowing one small conversation with her aunty from Silchar, said the IO.

Later on July 17 the accused took her to D.M. College campus and freed her. He threatened her against disclosing the facts to the police or anyone if she values her and her family member’s life, the IO further submitted.

He added on the next day the she went to her aunty’s house at Silchar to and a civil organisation called “Sanulal”. But the said organisation threatened not to file any case against the accused.

Later again the accused person filed a suit to the civil judge, senior division, Imphal West by making a false allegation that she left the house secretly on the day their family arranged his marriage with her, submitted the IO.

During interrogation the accused person confessed that he had committed the crime and moreover on examining one of the prosecution witnesses, A. Chinglemba Luwang the owner of the scooter used in the alleged elope stated that the victim was against the elopement and tried to run away from the house where she was taken to, continued the IO.

The IO prayed before the court to remand the accused to judicial custody for 15 days as if the accused is released on bail there is possibility of hampering and tempering evidence.

IMPHAL | Sept 12

“The activist in me is still alive. I am joining a national political party doesn’t mean that I will abandon all my activism”, said Ratika Yumnam, newly appointed youth president of National People’s Party (NPP). She was appointed president last week in Shillong.

Speaking to the Imphal Free Press over the phone, Ratika said she take it as an opportunity to be given the responsibility of a president of the youth front of NPP. “I know there will be lots of speculations on my new move particularly among the activists community with whom I have associated with”, she said.

Further Ratika said she is aware of the possible challenges ahead to be working in a political party. “I know things will not be all smooth. There will be differences of viewpoints on issues that matter the Northeast and Manipur in particular. But I am ready to walk the path”, she added.   

Ratika maintained what is important is that by joining a mainstream political party, she would be able to work at the decision making level. “The party has given me the responsibility having recognised my engagements in activism. Whatever I have learnt from the field as an activist, I will try to implement it”, she said.

Earlier speaking to the media in Shillong, after being felicitated on her appointment by the party members of the state, Ratika said, “We will try to design skill development courses according to the needs of the region”. She further said that the main priority is education, which is needed and set for the situation.

“Not education per say but it should be quality education as per our own needs, talents and potentials,” she added.

The National Youth President of the NPP also stated that she joined the party because she felt that it was “a secular, progressive, forward thinking party which is rooted in the northeast.”

Ratika graduated with triple majors in media studies, psychology and literature from Christ University, Bangalore and completed her Masters in South Asian Studies from the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies, University of Oxford, UK in the year 2014.

She has also been working as an indigenous rights activist with the Indigenous Perspectives, which is based in Imphal for the past 4 years.

From Our Correspondent

TAMENGLONG | Sept 12

In protest against the transferred of two doctors from district hospital Tamenglong despite of acute shortage of doctors in district, civil voluntary organisations (CVOs) of Tamenglong today burnt the effigies of minister of Health, Family welfare, Law and legislative, Art and culture, L. Jayanta Kumar and Health director of Manipur.

The civil voluntary organisations also formed a Joint Action Forum (JAF) of Tamenglong today after series of meeting. The forum today organised health awareness programme at main market shed of the district. During the awareness programme all shops and vehicles movement were shut down. It was also announced to close down all government offices in the district headquarters from today midnight.

The CVOs of Tamenglong earlier served ultimatum setting 72 hours to chief minister of Manipur for immediate fulfilment of the charter of demands. However, no response has been made. The joint meeting was held yesterday and decided to organise awareness programme today and launch series of agitation.

The charter of demands included, passing a ‘stay order’ of the transfer of doctors and specialists of Tamenglong District Hospital until a replacement for the same is made, to fulfil the guidelines laid down in the Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) for a District Hospital in which at least 20 doctors, 45 paramedical staff, 12 administrative staff, five staff in Operation Theatre, four staff in Blood Storage Unit and three staff in Post Mortem Unit.

Another demand was for replacement and upgrade of all equipment and infrastructural facilities that are outdated and redundant.

In the meantime, the forum issued a press statement signed by convener of JAF, Atana, in which the forum strongly condemned the transferred of two doctors and stated that the transferred order is insensitive, discriminatory and inhuman.

The present BJP led government have been following the policy of subjugating and suppressing to annihilate the people of Tamenglong by neglecting to address issues of the people especially in health sector, said the statement.

It further stated that the Tamenglong district hospital has been understaffed with only 37 beds and 11 doctors against 20 doctors needed including 13 specialists and seven MOs as per Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS).

Moreover, blood storage unit, post-partum unit and operation unit have practically rendered no service. Practically there is no equipment or facilities to give service on imaging equipment and accessories. Also, there is no practical cardiopulmonary, labour and neo natal, ENT, dental equipment to provide minimal standard of service, it added.

The statement also mentioned that a baby was born still on September 10 as the pregnant mother who was referred to Imphal for delivery had already crossed nine months. The incident happened within 10 days of the issued order of utilisation of Gynae MO to Nungba CHC. There are numerous such incidents that went unreported.

JAF has demanded to provide health care facilities at a standard as per the IPHS ranging from man power to doctors, along with modern equipment and accessories and all the facilities prescribed under the IPHS.

It further stated that the government of Manipur should take sole responsibility and pay adequate compensation for the deceased baby and take swift measures to fulfil the demand. The forum is compelled to launch strong agitation and any untoward incident that might occur will be solely held responsible by the government, it added.