Day: September 21, 2017

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) will be honouring individuals who have rendered commendable contributions towards protection and promotion of child rights in the state.

A release said the jury members took strong consideration upon individuals’ efforts towards responding to child rights violation issues in the society such as child trafficking, child sexual abuse, dealing with juvenile agitators, deprivation of right to education of children and others.

For the extra ordinary efforts, MACR’s Child Rights Award 2017 will be conferred to four persons, comprising of two journalists and two police officers of the state. The persons to receive the award are: senior reporter of Imphal Free Press, Leivon Jimmy Lamkang, reporter of People’s Chronicle, Sagolsem Bigyan, SP of Tengnoupal, Sarangthem Ibomcha Singh and sub-inspector, Yumnam Kheda Singh, said the release.

The award shall be presented by the chief minister of Manipur in a function of 8th State Level Children’s Cultural Meet 2017, organised by MACR in association with Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, on September 29 at Jubilee Hall, RIMS, Lamphelpat.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Coalition for Indigenous’ Rights Campaign Manipur (CIRCA) today recalled the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 and observed ‘National repentance day’ at Sana Konung, Palace Compound.

National repentance day is observed every year in condemnation of the ‘Merger Agreement’ which was signed between Maharaja Bodhachandra of Manipur with the Indian government at Shillong on September 21, 1949.

Advocate Sanasam Sharat while addressing the gathering reminded the ‘Merger Agreement’ was signed between the government of India and Manipur’s Maharaja Bodhchandra on September 21, 1949.

He said that ‘Instrument of Accession’ should be proclaimed in the state so that the mainland government can handle only external affairs of the state and the internal matters be dealt with only by the state government. 

Manipur was associate member of League of Nations 1919, as was also dominant India under British government, and Manipur was also a member of United Nations 1945, this shows that Manipur was a sovereign independent state before even India’s independence, he maintained. 

Convener of CIRCA, Somorendro Thokchom said that present Manipur is facing a lot of issues like ILPS demand, greater Nagaland demand among others, he said. Somorendro further said the pre-Merger Agreement status must be proclaimed so that the ideology nationalism is revived to solve the conflicts.

Ipu Angom Amubi, Angom Ningthou of Sana Konung and Sanasam Sharat, advocate attended the function as presidium members.

National repentance day was also observed at Mayang Imphal Social Welfare Club, Maharabi Youth Club, Yairipok Bamol Leikai Youth Club and Oinam Meira Paibi Apunba Lup.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 21

As an annual observation, “Manipur Kanba Numit” was organised today at Irawat Memorial Park, Chalou (Lamlai) marking the day for Irawat’s outstanding firm stand to save the territorial integrity of Manipur from the hands of the then Nehru led government.   

The event was organised by Irawat Celebration Committee (ICC). On this day, 1948, Irawat and his associated organisations stood like a rock against the then disastrous proposal of forming the “Eastern Province” (Purbanchal Pradesh) propounded by Nehru led interim union government in order to establish an Indian state. 

Secretary of Manipur State Committee, Communist Party of India Moirangthem Nara, speaking to the media at the sidelines of the programme said that Jananeta Irawat safeguarded the integrity of Manipur as an independent princely state from the hands of vested interest groups.

It was on this day that Irawat proved his worth in the eyes of both the Indian government under the leadership of Nehru and the king of the Manipur, Maharaj Kumar PB, he said, adding this was the day that Irawat went totally underground when the movement led by him was banned by the then king. One officer-in-charge was killed in an encounter between the Manipur police and the protestors, he recounted.

Nara continued this is a historic day which later came to be known as Pungdongbam Ghatna. This day is worth commemorating and coming generations should be taught the good deeds done by our revolutionary leader, he maintained. Veteran communist leader, Moirangthem Ibohal, chairman ICC Manipur, Thokchom Tomba, secretariat member MSC-CPI, Langol Iboyaima, deputy secretary of MSC-CPI, Leishangthem Thoirem, among others attended the function as presidium members.

1. Nara led the people in paying floral tributes at the celebration. A march past contingent also gave the observation a grander look with its beats, skills and uniformity.

The observation was also attended by representatives of All India Students’ Federation, All India Youth Federation, and Manipur Women Council of CPI among others.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Members of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) staged a sit-in protest today condemning the killing of journalist, Santanu Bhowmik yesterday evening while covering Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) agitation at Tripura.

According to police reports Santanu who was working at a local television channel was abducted and killed using sharps object while covering the agitation.

AMWJU president, W. Samjai said that such unlawful act of killing a journalist while performing his duty is a challenge to the freedom of press.

In the state from the year 1982 till today six journalists were killed but till today police are still not able to arrest the murderer, he added.

Though press is referred as the 4th estate of the democracy a total of 36 journalists of the state have faced harassment from security personnel and locals while performing their duties, continued the union president.

Stating that media persons are serving the public without having any bias in reporting he said it will be very wrong to kill or attack a journalist and appealed not to repeat such action in the future.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Normal life was affected in the Imphal area today due to the 24 hour bandh called by an armed group, National Revolutionary Front, Manipur (NRFM).

The bandh was called as a protest against forcing the then Manipur Maharaja, Gambhir Singh to sign the merger agreement with the Union of Indian on September 21, 1949.

Business establishment, educational institutes, petrol pump, shops and market remained closed however hospitals and medical stores were opened.  But later in the late afternoon some few shops started opening.

Only few private vehicles were seen moving during the day time and later in the late afternoon some passenger auto-rickshaw were seen plying along different pockets of Imphal.

Though government offices remained opened, the attendance turnout was reportedly very low.

However there was no sign of any bandh supporters and protester in the street.

Mention may be made that today’s 24 hour bandh called by NRFM is the first most effective bandh affecting the normal life after the formation of the new BJP led government.

From Our Correspondent

CHURACHANDPUR | Sept 21

Churachandpur district police under the supervision of SP, Rakesh Balwal yesterday arrested a 75 year-old man for selling fake Indian currency notes. In this regard a press briefing was held today at the Sp’s office located at Tuibong.

The arrested person was identified as Ginzakhup alias Akhup Vaiphei (75), son of (Late) Neihao of IB road. Based on specific information of selling fake Indian currency notes, the police seized two fake Rs. 2000 notes which were under the procession of Akhup, who admitted himself of trying to sell one fake Rs. 2000 note for Rs. 800.

In the police custody, Akhup further disclosed the name of one woman who gave him the fake Rs. 2000 note. The woman was identified as Donkhanching Touthang alias Lamneiching (45), wife of Jangthang Touthang of Geljang village, and presently residing at DIET quarters at HQ Veng, Churachandcpur.

The house belonging to Lamneiching was later searched and found that she has been arrested recently by Narcotic and Affairs of Border (NAB) for possessing heroine and presently in judicial custody. The accused Akhup is also undergoing trial in similar case.

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Demanding justice against the suspicious death of Pravish Chanam, activists of North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS), along with civil voluntary groups and student organisations protested outside the U.P. Bhawan in Delhi today.

A release said NEFIS petitioned the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh decrying the failure of the U.P. government and Union ministry of home affairs, government of India to constitute a CBI inquiry into the death of Pravish. At the same time Manipur chief minister, N. Biren deputing an ADGP for collection of information on the ongoing Noida Police’s investigation is inadequate, it said.

NEFIS has in a separate the memorandum submitted to Union home ministry demanded a CBI inquiry into the case should be conducted, since the UP Police’s inquiry is bound to be heavily biased since its own personnel are implicated in the case, the release continued.

 NEFIS also demanded that the inquiry should especially probe the connivance of police personnel with the criminals and hospital authorities, it added.

The release recalled that Pravish had come to Delhi on a visit and had been residing in Safdarjung, Delhi with his friends. On September 8, he went to Knowledge Park in Noida to attend a music concert with his friends and went missing after the concert.

It has been reported that he was taken in an injured condition to Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hopspital around 10:30 pm, where he was given first-aid by a doctor. It is not known that whether after the first-aid he was discharged or forcibly taken away, said the release.

On September 9, at 6:30 am Pravish left the hospital’s emergency ward, the release claimed, adding the following day a call was received by the PCR of an injured person in Sector-31 Market.

The PCR personnel took the injured youth, Pravish to Bhim Rao Ambedkar hospital around 5:30 pm, where he subsequently died, it maintained. His postmortem was done on September 11 and after waiting for 72 hours, the hospital authorities disposed (cremated) the body as there was no one to claim the body, it added.

The release also recalled that a complaint in connection to his disappearance had already been lodged at Knowledge Park Police Station, Gautam Budh Nagar on September 9. The laxity on behalf of the Noida Police and civic authorities is shameful and reeks of conspiracy, it claimed.

Our Bureau

IMPHAL | Sept 21

Community radio serves as powerful tool for community empowerment and social development, especially in regions that are hard to reach, have low levels of development and social parameters. 

This was stated by governor, Najma Heptulla, speaking on the opening day of the first community radio awareness workshop, organised by the ministry of information and broadcasting, government of India in collaboration with SMART (Steering Modern Applications For Real Transformation) at Classic Grande Hotel, Chingmeirong here today.

Governor Najma Heptulla and P.D. Sharma, deputy director of ministry of information and broadcasting, attended the 3- day long workshop as distinguished guests.

Continuing her speech, Heptulla said she first familiarised with the concept of community radio in Australia and Canada which are huge land areas and where physical communication is a big problem.

She assured the participants that she will write to the minister of information and broadcasting, Smriti Irani to promote community radio in a big way in Manipur.

“Let’s see if we can have a community radio at Raj Bhavan so that the public can share their grievances, happiness and experiences with me,” she said.

In her welcome address, Archana Kapoor, Founder, SMART said, “The presence of governor is an endorsement of her commitment to empower marginalised and vulnerable women. This is the first community radio awareness workshop being organised in Manipur though the government of India.”

The purpose of community radio is to provide access, control and ownership of a media platform that helps them to share, talk and discuss their issues of importance which are largely ignored by mainstream media, she added.

Paying thrust on the role of community radio for community development and bonding, preservation of local culture, and local identity, Archana explained that the main idea behind the workshop is to sensitise the participants about the potential of the community radio.

Concerning the Northeast region, P.D. Sharma said, the total Letter Of Intent (LOI) issued is 35, GOPA signed is 8, the total CR stations that became operational is 4 while new applications in process is 7. Stating that the ministry has recently introduced grants for content creation by CRSs, he hoped that the participants of the workshop would apply for a CR license very soon.

Pinky Chandran of Radio Active-90.4 MHz, Bengaluru, said that community radio stations are increasingly becoming core linked civic institutions by reflecting and engaging with different communities.

Further she said community radio is recognition of the diversity in our country and is a clear reflection of the heterogeneity of communities and the multiplicity of dialects.

Amit Dwivedi, assistant project manager, PMU, ministry of information and broadcasting and Khuswinder Singh Bhatia, manager, Broadcast Engineers Consultants India Ltd (BECIL) gave a detailed presentation on the key areas relating to CR policy guidelines, eligibility criteria and the elements of demystifying the process-application, Lol, SACFA & GoPA as resource persons

Fifty participants from all the different districts of the State took part in the workshop.

From Our Correspondent

UKHRUL | Sept 21

Landslide at various intersections has completely cut off Tusom Christian village and Tusom Khullen village from the rest of the state.

According to former president of Northern Raphei Student’s Union (NRSU), Agar Horam, the landslide occurred on September 15 and has left the two villages completely cut off from the rest of the state.

Villagers are facing intense hardship in transporting basic commodities for day-to-day needs as the landslide are yet to be cleared. He also informed that the local playground has also been carried away by the landslide.

Agar Horam also stated that as the construction of Bailey Bridge on Tusom river has been left behind without completion, the villagers are facing difficulties to commute especially during rainy season.

He added that the NRSU has apprised the minister of rural development, government of Manipur for immediate intervention into the matter, however, till today the bridge is yet to be constructed. The said work was awarded under PMGSY package No. MNO 955, Phase XIII, Part II and the same work order was issued on September 7, 2014, he added.

Tusom Christian village and Tusom Khullen come under Jessami Block and they share international boundary with Myanmar. The villages are situated 120 km from Ukhrul and just 5 km from Indo-Myanmar border passing through Border Pillar No. 130.

From Our Correspondent

CCPUR | Sept 21

A lecture on career guidance and types of entry in arm forces was conducted today by Aina Battalion under 27th Sector Assam Riffle at Parbung Government High School, Parbung, Pherzawl district.

The lecture was delivered by the areas Coy Commander of the Aina Battalion, who spoke about various types of career opportunities in the state as well as central government focusing mainly on different types of entry in the army like National Defence Academy, Combine Defence Service, Assistant Commandant, TES and others.

From Our Correspondent

CCPUR | Sept 21

A lecture on career guidance and types of entry in arm forces was conducted today by Aina Battalion under 27th Sector Assam Riffle at Parbung Government High School, Parbung, Pherzawl district.

The lecture was delivered by the areas Coy Commander of the Aina Battalion, who spoke about various types of career opportunities in the state as well as central government focusing mainly on different types of entry in the army like National Defence Academy, Combine Defence Service, Assistant Commandant, TES and others.

IMPHAL | Sept 21

With the dateline coming to an end for the non-local candidates to withdraw their candidature in the ensuing Panchayat election scheduled to be held next month, KSA has informed that it will impose ban on movement of the former in public places. 

A release said the dateline ends on September 20, and this regard the student body urged all the clubs, organisations, associations and meira paibis to support the ban in their respective areas.

On the other hand, the 71 non-locals have not paid heed to the demands made by KSA to withdraw their candidature and a few have already won the election uncontested, it added.

IMPHAL | Sept 21

With the dateline coming to an end for the non-local candidates to withdraw their candidature in the ensuing Panchayat election scheduled to be held next month, KSA has informed that it will impose ban on movement of the former in public places. 

A release said the dateline ends on September 20, and this regard the student body urged all the clubs, organisations, associations and meira paibis to support the ban in their respective areas.

On the other hand, the 71 non-locals have not paid heed to the demands made by KSA to withdraw their candidature and a few have already won the election uncontested, it added.