Manipur News

IMPHAL, June 30: The All Tribal Students`™ Union, Manipur, Muan Tombing group has suspended its indefinite blockade and ban on national projects following a marathon talk with the State Chief Minister today.

President of the group, Muan Tombing told media persons at the gate of the Chief Minister`™s Bungalow that the State government invited the student body to talks following which a three-hour long meeting was held this evening. The meeting at the CM`™s bungalow started at 4:30pm and concluded around 4:30pm, he said.

He said the three member ATSUM team attending the meeting with the CM led government representatives included himself, ATSUM advisor Ngachonmi Chamroi, and All Tribal Union Manipur (ATUM) advisor and general secretary Romeo Bungdon.

After holding talks for about three hours, the government has brought an understanding with his group, he said.

He said the government is ready to withdraw the arrest warrant issued against six members of the group following which the union decided to lift the blockade temporarily.

Unfortunately none of the student union`™s demand were discussed or considered during today`™s meeting although both the economic blockade and the ban on national projects would be suspended till July 11, when the next round of talks is fixed, he said.

The next round of talks will be attended by tribe leaders from all hill districts, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/atsum-suspends-indefinite-blockade-following-talks-with-cm/

MOREH, June 30: At least nearly a 100 vehicles are stranded at Moreh town presently owing to the indefinite economic blockade called by All Tribal Students Union, Manipur Maun Tombing group.

The drivers, who have been facing severe hardships due to the long confinement, have urged the State government to help them in reaching Imphal at the earliest.

The blockade has also affected trade between India and Myanmar as the Nanphalon market remains deserted as there are no businessmen coming from Imphal.

The food grains are depleting in the border town and the public are facing enormous hardships.

In this regard, the community leaders are apprehensive and request the government to act at the earliest to prevent any untoward incident arising due to the blockade.

Further, the BSNL towers have been lying defunct for nearly 20 days, which has also added to the communication woes faced by the town residents and businessmen alike.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/blockade-affects-moreh-border-trade/

IMPHAL, June 30: On the third day of the ongoing 11th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today, the House passed six demands amounting to Rs 11,92,38,15,000 during Discussion and Voting on Demands for Grants, 2015-16 with just three Opposition MLAs in attendance.

The demands passed by the House today are Demand no 1 State Legislature amounting to Rs 48,05,16,000; demand no 2 Council of Minister Rs 6,71,66,00; Demand no 3 – Secretariate & GAD Rs 75,62,99,000; Demand no 5 Finance Rs 1016,23,65,000 and Demand no 41 Arts & Culture Rs 29,66,44,000 and Demand no 49 Economics and Statistics Rs 16,08,25,000.

The demands were tabled for discussion by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also the leader of the House.

During discussion of the demand for Council of Ministers, Opposition MLAs L Ibomcha and K Shyam raised motion of Disapproval of Policy Cut on `Lack of supervision and control of bureaucrats, failure to streamline functioning of their duties in the interest of the State and lack of co-operation from the ministers.`™

MLA Ibomcha also raised a motion of Disapproval of Policy Cut during discussion of Demand no 3-Secretariate & GAD on `Failure to control and supervise slow movement of files in Manipur Secretariate, non introduction of system of self attestation of documents for use in the official purpose like- school admission, recruitment etc and failure to supply standard food, fit for human consumption in the two canteens of Manipur Bhawans, New Delhi.`™

The Opposition MLA also raised motion of Disapproval of Policy Cut during discussion of Demand no 5- Finance on `Failure to introduce effective economy measures, inadequate fund has been provided in the State budget for augmentation of potable water supply in urban areas and thereby causing scarcity of drinking water in the urban areas for the last several years, failure of the department to adopt a policy on strengthening of the State Finance Commission, failure to strengthen the policy on resource mobilization and inability to collect sufficient revenue from the border trade at Moreh (Indo-Myanmar Border Trade).`™

MLAs K Shyam and Dr I Ibohalbi Singh raised motion of Disapproval of Policy Cut during discussion of Demand no 41 `“ Arts & Culture on `Non-implementation of Manipur Public Library Act, 1988 and Failure to adopt a cultural policy even though `Cultural University`™ is about to be established.`™

During discussion of the Demand no 49 `“ Economics & Statistics Dr Ibohalbi raised motion of Disapproval of Policy Cut on `failure to restore the publication of the Pre-Budget Economic Review and failure to prepare district handbooks.`™

However, after the leader of the House Ibobi who also holds the Finance portfolio provided clarifications on the policy cuts, the Opposition MLAs withdrew their motions and the demands were passed by the House.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/only-three-opposition-mlas-in-attendance-as-house-passes-six-demands/

IMPHAL, June 30: The Centre for Organisation Research and Education has expressed extreme concern against the `deteriorating discipline and performance`™ of the Manipur Police as reflected in the consistently frequent reports in the local medias of uniformed personnel belonging to the Police department involved in all sorts of misdemeanors, serious crimes and rights abuses.

A statement of the CORE said in the month of June 2015 alone, there were reports of at least seven separate instances where Manipur Police personnel were involved in violations of the law; four reports of robbery or attempted robbery, one traffic law violation, one assault and manslaughter and another report of unprovoked firing during vehicle checking in the capital city of Imphal.

In May 2015, there were five separate reported cases of Manipur Police personnel involved several different violations including one assault and attempted robbery for refusing bribe demand, one assault, one terrorist activity, and two drug use, it continued.

The reported incidents and events are too numerous to detail, it continued.

The statement continued, particular forces within the Police Department such as the Traffic Police, Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur Village Defence Force (VDF) have been reported as regularly involved in crimes such as extortion, robbery, kidnapping, cyber-crime, murder and militant activities, petty corruption in public, disproportionate use of power, indiscipline, undermining of authority, public arrogance, use of abusive language and open disrespect to the citizens and abuses of human rights including torture, cruel and inhuman or degrading treatment and sexual abuse.

It said there are absolutely no excuses for this form of behaviour by the police of Manipur, and the minister concerned has yet to make a public statement regarding these reports.

Further according to the statement, the association of the police with drug use, drug trafficking and alcoholism, according to frequent reports in the media, is one of the foremost concerns of the public in Manipur today. Such aberrations among the police personnel have profound and negative consequences for society and the force, it said.

The statement further said that providing a secure environment and taking up confidence building measures requires two priorities, first and foremost being the issue of making the police a disciplined force.

`A disciplined police officer is a friendly police officer. After more than three years under the stewardship of the minister, there are still many serious and unaddressed shortcomings in the police recruitment model, training, deployment and supervision of the force by competent, honest and dedicated senior police officers that are to be seriously reviewed and corrected.`

`Secondly, there is widespread and regular interference in the work of police while conducting their duties from politicians and other authorities. Such interference not only hampers police work, but also discourages and undermines their morale, status and role in society,` it said.

Further according to the statement, the third priority is for the government to establish an independent Police Complaints Mechanism.

The government is yet to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court of India for wide police reforms. The VDF recently resorted to strikes and bandhs, disrupting services, to raise their demands for equitable remuneration, it said.

It continued a police force, such as the VDF, which has very poor quality training, and suffers from low morale and self respect, is bound to be undisciplined and vulnerable to influences that pull them towards criminal activities, dereliction of duty and pitiable performance. This has been found to be the case with the VDF.

As a modern police force today, the Manipur police department has begun to recruit women among its police officials of all ranks, it said adding that the women police personnel must be given adequate exposure and training to conduct their challenging duty in the service of the people with the highest discipline.

`Recently, a ranking woman police officer in charge of traffic duties was implicated in a widely reported and condemned incident that reflected misconduct and acting beyond the call of her duties. This sort of reported misconduct has inflicted the department a great and demoralizing blow,` the CORE statement said.

`It has become a regular practice for the police to get involved in mediation exercises between disputing parties, including domestic disputes. Laws specifically preclude police from offering mediation or assisted alternative dispute resolution services to parties. Police should not attempt to improve relations in the family by offering these services or by mediating a dispute. Involvement of the police in mediation opens up many opportunities for corrupt practices and the miscarriage of justice.`

`The minister is responsible for establishing and maintaining a people-friendly police force that is dignified. That was the respected minister`™s commitment. The public does not expect and tolerate a police force that has no dignity or discipline,`™ it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/deteriorating-discipline-among-state-police-a-concern-core/