Manipur News

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates has been totally lifted from tomorrow.

The curfew was clamped in the districts in view of the volatile situation arising out of the death of Sapam Robinhood, a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, who was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration on July 8 demanding introduction of Inner Line permit System in the State without further delay.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/imphal-curfew-totally-lifted/

IMPHAL, August 2: BJP Manipur Pradesh President, Th Chaoba bid to deputize four persons as the new vice `“presidents to the political party recentlycame to nought as his initiative has been vetoed by the party`™s higher authority.

Th Chaoba passed an order on July 20 vide number 1/APPT/BJP/MP/2015 which notified four individuals who are incumbent vice-presidents of the organization to be relieved of their status. This was done allegedly without consultation of other office bearing members of the Party and totally at Th Chaoba`™s own interest. Sources mentioned that no proper reason was given also in regard to this action of removing the vice-presidents.

Chaoba had notified that the present office bearers namely Th Jadumani Singh, an MLA aspirant for Khangabok; Kh Bhawananda Singh, H Jayadev Sharma alias Gandhi of Yaiskul, Ex-MLA Danny Shaiza who are holding vice-president posts be removed immediately without tendering any particular reason. He also included veteran BJP member, Robin Blacky who is the Treasurer to be removed also.

In their stead, Chaoba approved the new appointment of Rk Ranjan, former BJP inner MP candidate; AR Khan (retired IAS); former MLAs Adim Panmei and V Hangkhalian as new vice-presidents. He also appointed Ng Robert Singh as the new Treasurer.

But, on July 24, Member of Parliament and BJP in charge of Manipur , Prahlad Singh Patel sent a notification to Th Chaoba Singh. The MP clearly directed the State President that his order should be repealed within a time of 48 hours. It further mentioned that Chaoba has no authorization to cancel the status of the office bearers nor to deput new ones , specially as the time for elections within the BJP is on the verge. He gave clear instructions to nullify Chaoba`™s earlier order and to intimate the BJP office by e-mail at the earliest.

In the regard, there are several complaints and allegations regarding the action perpetrated by Th Chaoba in the State unit. Sources said that the act was a clear case of nepotism within the BJP and that the President is acting on his own whims and profit and grossly ignoring the organizational framework.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/prahlad-patel-vetos-th-chaobas-bid-to-induct-new-vicepresidents-to-state-bjp/

IMPHAL, August 2: The North East Youth Foundation (NEYF) and North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) have jointly organised a one-day Civil Society Consultation on Climate Change and State Action Plan on Climate Change on August 1.

A joint press release from the organizations said participants of the consultation programme thoroughly discussed on the impact of climate change in the state of Assam.

Addressing the gathering, Jadav Payeng popularly known as forest man said, `Education from the grassroots level is the key to conserve the nature and lower down the impact of climate change` adding that the youths are vanguard culminating solutions for protecting the eco system.

Further putting light on the key issues on impact of climate change, Rahul Mahanta, Department of Physics, Cotton College reiterated that the society as a whole must focus on both scientific and traditional measures to reconstruct the dilapidating ecosystem.

For this to become a success everyone needed to rely on data in order to form a concrete action plan, he said.

Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, Nava Thakuria highlighted very simple yet highly effective and goal oriented solution to build a healthy urban ecosystem.

Simple measures like rainwater harvesting, utilisation of solar energy can help us in minimising climate change, he observed.

NEYF and NEDF have appealed to the Government of Assam to look into few important areas before finalising the forthcoming climate plan such as translation of any existing or proposed draft into Assamese, Bodo and other regional languages which are used in the state of Assam so that people can understand about the planning. Other policies like water, forest, agriculture, land etc policy must be prepared before finalising the climate plan or policy to avoid any contradiction.

All existing policies must be respected before finalising climate policy to avoid any further contradiction, Strong relations with all the departments which are associated to avoid any confusion or controversies amongst people must be set up, SAPCC should adopt Free, Prior Informed Consent of the people of Assam before taking up climate adaptation measures like REDD+, water, land, agriculture etc. Human rights and gender issues related to Climate Change action should be the primary focus before implementing the proposed action plan and Climate action Plan should use the `Do No Harm`™ principles while taking up the action plan at all level of implementation, it said.

Discussion was held on the thematic areas which are proposed in different climate plans with more emphasis on areas like water, agriculture and forest. Participants from different parts of the state representing different originations apart from youths and students took part in one day consultation. The consultation was held at Bosco Reach Out in Guwahati and was moderated by Convener of NEYF, Ranjan K Baruah, the release stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/civil-society-consultation-on-state-action-plan-on-climate-change-held/

IMPHAL, August 2: All round despair around marks the state on the morrow of being hit by heavy monsoon rain, mud slides, sinking roads and land sliding tremors. Vehicular traffic on National Highway 2 sector connecting Imphal and Moreh have also stood still since yesterday because of landslides at more than 20 places and sinking road at different places affecting cross border trade severely.

Taking stock of the calamity, Minister Works & Transport Dr Kh Ratan Kumar Singh along with a media team visited Mayang Imphal is own constituency and inspected water leaking areas like Mayang Imphal Chabung Company Mayai Leikai, Chirai Mayai Leikai where the roads have partly sunk making ways for flood water to overflow from the Imphal River.

The furious torrents of Sekmaijin River had also given a sleepless night to the people of Phabakchao Bazar. Suspension bridge constructed on Sekmaijin River during 1973 was also flooded by the over flowing river currents.

Many people in the area were seen camping out on roads fearing of flooding their houses.

The Nambu River in the Mayang Imphal stretch was also swollen creating fear at Upokpi Khunou.

Later the minister drove towards Tengnoupal on the Imphal-Moreh road to take stock of the calamities created by the cloudbursts. The tour was accompanied by Minister IFCD Ngamthang Haokip and Tengnoupal MLA DK Korungthang and other PWD officials.

Tell-tale evidences of mud slides in between Patbung and Chelep of Chandel along Tengnoupal Sangsak Road during the journey.

After taking a long walk along the highway and inspecting the deteriorated road condition, Minister Ratan briefed the media and said that nature has not been kind to the state at the moment. The sliding of mud and cracks on road might have been triggered by a slight earthquake, he said.

He also observed that the natural calamity has forced vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh roadto shut down for the moment. He added excavators are being deployed to tow away the landslides to ensure traffic returns to normal at the soonest. He said that some places have seen worse disasters.

Further down the road, a two feet wide crack which had developed on the road approaching the Mahadev Temple has during the day caved in and portion of the road fell of the hillside. Ratan said that at these areas roads have to be cut and this could take time. He said he will have concerned engineers of his department work to come up with a comprehensive report at the soonest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/minister-works-tours-flood-and-landslide-affected-areas-to-take-stock-of-damages/

IMPHAL, August 2: In the backdrop of washing away of Joumal village under Khangbarol sub-division in Chandel district in a massive landslide on August 1, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) landed at Tulihal Airport last night to support the rescue efforts while Assam Rifles had been trying to send troops through the night at Joumal location, sources said.

The sources informed that as per preliminary recce, the troops could not be sent at night and they started out at 4 am. The NDRF team tried to reach via helicopter at the said village but was not able to reach the village till 2 pm. There was a complete communication loss at the village site due to landslides in the vicinity of the village. The information from the site was filtering at a very slow rate.

Notwithstanding this disruption of lines of communication and damage to their own infrastructure, Assam Rifles troops of Joupi and Sajik Tampak battalions of the 28 Sector Assam Rifles under aegis of the IGAR (S) responded to the situation by launching foot columns into the general area today morning and also carried out aerial efforts at the site.

The AR troops after confirming the site are providing security and assisting the rescue efforts being carried out by the NDRF team, it added.

The AR team was able to rescue three persons at 12 pm after aerial efforts. The rescued persons are identified as chief of Joumal village Robert Hamlet Paite 47 son of Lamkhajong Paite; Shekhow Paite, 37 son of Namthong Paite and Thongmang Paite, 40 son of Sonkhojang Paite.

The village chief said that it has been reported that there were 23 houses and 18 occupants when landslide occurred at 8 am yesterday, but the village has only 10 houses. The total population of the village according to him is 74.

He also said that six others also escaped and search for them is on. As of now, there are six survivors of the landslide including Mangkholet Baite, son of Ngehkang Baite, who reached Aibol Joupi yesterday and Mongpu Paite and Nagmandel Paite who reached Chamol post. The three others were rescued today.

The two who came to Chamol said that ten houses with 18 occupants came under landslide. So a total of ten houses and 18 were missing out of which six are rescued. Four bodies have been recovered by the combined effort of Assam Rifles and NDRF. A total eight people are still missing, the sources said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/rescue-efforts-in-landslide-hit-joumal-village-begin/

CHANDEL, August 2: Three dead bodies believed to be amongst the 20 Joumol villagers in Chandel district, who were feared dead were recovered by Aibol Joupi villagers today.

According to a reliable source, villagers of Aibol Joupi went to the spot of incident after receiving information from the survivors and conducted a search operation during which three dead bodies of women of Joumol villagers including a child were found buried underneath.

The villagers retrieved the bodies and buried them properly in a nearby spot, added the source.

The source also informed that two survivors of the village came to Chahmol village and reported the incident to the Assam Rifle post after which the AR rushed to the spot along with one of the villagers leaving the other at the camp as he was too tired.

The villager who stayed back at the AR camp has been identified as one Lhunkhomang Baite alias Mangpu.

Of of the 20 villagers believed to be buried alive, eight villagers managed to survive and take shelter in a hut throughout the night.

The villagers who survived the tragic incident are identified as Jamlet, Sonpao, Semkhothang, Khamneng, Jamlet, Khanching and Lhunkhomang Baite.

Meanwhile, landslide in other parts of the district washed away houses in another village and a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road.

In Kharou Khullen village under Tengnoupal, two residential houses were swept away by a landslide. However, there is no report of human casualty in the village due to the natural calamity.

After sweeping down a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road in between Chehlep Lamkhai and Phalbung Village, a landslide washed away another portion of the road in between Samukom and Simang village under Machi Block.

Speaking to media persons, John Haokip, president of Kuki Student`s Organization Machi Block said that Tengnoupal-Sangshak road is the only lifeline for the villagers of 22 villages. But the recent landslide cut off the road at many places and hampered vehicular movement along the road, he added.

The student leader also appealed to the concerned department to address plight of the aggrieved villagers of the area and take up prompt action for repairing the said road at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/three-dead-bodies-amongst-20-feared-dead-in-chandel-landslide-recovered/

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The dead body of Sapam Robinhood being kept at the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has become the first unclaimed corpse to be preserved in a mortuary in the State for maximum number of days.

Sapam Robinhood, 16 alias Thoi son of S Romesh Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak but stayed at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration staged on July 8 last demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The dead body of the student is being kept at the JNIMS morgue as the deceased`™s family members and JAC formed in connection with the killing of the student refused to claim the body till those police personnel involved in the killing are suspended by the government.

Other than Robinhood, the unclaimed dead body to be kept in a mortuary for a long time was of Thangjam Manorama Devi of Bamon Kampu under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East.

Manorama was picked by personnel of Assam Rifles from her residence in the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2004. Police recovered her dead body on July 11 morning and subsequently deposited the dead body at RIMS morgue on the same day at around 10.35 am. Post mortem examination of the body was also performed on the same day itself.

Though the dead body was officially indentified, family members of the deceased and JAC formed against the killing declined to claim the body.

After keeping the dead body at RIMS morgue for 13 days, police disposed off the body the next following day on July 24 and performed the last rites at the Public Crematorium at Hatta Minuthong.

On the other hand, the dead body of Robinhood is being preserved at JNIMS morgue for 25 days since July 8.

Coincidentally, the post mortem examinations of both Robinhood and Manorama were performed on July 11.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/robinhoods-body-still-unclaim-in-jnims-morgue/

IMPHAL, August 2: The State government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the people who were killed in floods and landslides taking place in different districts due to the incessant heavy downpour of rain for the last couple of days.

The announcement was made during an emergency meeting of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Council of Ministers convened this evening in the wake of the death of 20 villagers who were buried alive by a massive landslide at Zoumol village, Chandel district on August 1.

The high-level meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary, DGP, Deputy Commissioners and high ranking officials of concerned Departments.

Elaborating about the meeting, Education and CAF & PDF Minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the spokesperson of the government said that the meeting has taken serious note of the devastating landslides, floods and subsequent submergence of many paddy fields due to the heavy shower of rains.

He informed that the concerned Deputy Commissioners had been asked to submit an in-depth report on the loss incurred in the floods and landslides within two weeks.

The meeting minutely discussed about the present flood situation in different parts of the districts and its adverse affects on the lives of people hit by the devastating flood, the Minister said.

Okendro maintained that the government will extend all possible assistance to the affected people on the basis of the report to be submitted by the Deputy Commissioners.

As of now, strict instructions had been given to the DCs to take up necessary measures to avail relief materials for the affected people, he disclosed.

Announcing that Agriculture Department will come up with steps to distribute sowing seeds and pulses for the paddy fields which have been destroyed by the flood water within three months, the Minister made a fervent appeal to the concerned farmers not to worry over the loss incurred in the flood.

The Cabinet meeting also appreciated the valuable help extended by the people in trying to face the devastating floods, he added.

The Minister went on to inform that the meeting also gave approval to total lifting of public curfew clamped in Imphal West and Imphal East district in view of the tense situation in the districts following the death of a student during a protest staged on July 8 demanding enforcement of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

However, the prohibitory order under CrPC 144 which prohibits assembly of more than five persons and carrying weapons that can cause harm to people will remain effective, Okendro said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/govt-announces-rs-5-lakh-exgratia-each-for-families-of-people-killed-in-flood-landslide/

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur has expressed deep condolence on the death of 20 villagers who were buried alive by a massive landslide at Zoumol village in Chandel district on August 1.

A statement signed by Comrade Nonglen Meitei, Secretary Publicity and Propaganda of Maoist Communist Party, Manipur shares the grievances of the family members whose residential houses have been washed away by the strong current of flood water caused due to incessant heavy downpour of rain for the last couple of days.

Saying that the outfit is trying to extend all possible assistance to the villagers affected by the flood, it appealed to the people to help the needy villagers in proving accommodation and basic amenities without waiting assistance from the side of the government.

The heavy shower in rain for the last few days has inundated many houses and paddy fields in the districts including Ukhrul, Thoubal and Imphal. Passage through many important roads has also been disrupted due to landslides. In such a situation, there is an urgent need for help, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/maoist-mourns-death-of-villagers-in-landslide/