Manipur News

IMPHAL, January 2: Suspected underground activists attacked 24 AR personnel exploding two Improvised Explosive Devices, IED consecutively along the inter-village road at Kwatha Khunou under Moreh Police Station, Chandel District on December 31 at around 4.30 pm.

According to sources, the bomb attacks were staged on a patrol party of the 24 AR posted at Kwatha Khunou. There were however no casualties.

Later, a team of Moreh police team inspected the blast site and a case has been registered.

Although, no UG groups have claimed responsibility yet, according to sources, the bomb attacks is likely to have been the handiwork of PLA.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/two-ied-blasts-target-ar-troops-at-chandel/

IMPHAL, January 2: The tourism potential of Andro village will be explored and developed to make it the most attractive tourist spot in the state within 2015. Many new and state of art tourist attractions will be installed at the popular tourist spots and parks in and around the village, assured Thounaojam Shyamkumar MLA Andro.

Shyamkumar was speaking at a simple celebration of his own 48th birthday cum 2015 New Year celebration at Panam Ningthou Garden. The Santhei Natural Park, Palam Nignthou Garden and Palam Ningthou Sanglem have now become well known tourist spots in Andro, he said.

Shyamkumar even hinted at introducing cable car facilities at these spots.

He called upon the Andro people to be honest and extend good hospitality to foreign and domestic tourists visiting Andro.

He also called upon the youth to leave the path of drugs and instead concentrate on their studies. It is the time to leave those abuses and concentrate on career, he said.

He further said road connectivity of Andro Assembly has already begun to be developed befitting of a tourist spots.

He assured that the road in the western side will be completed before ritual Lai Haraoba festival as per schedule. The road will connect Nungyungbi area to Tumukhong Mairangpural via Andro Army will construct before festival and the road from Maringthel till Andro Maning Khul end part will be conducted black topping before the festival of Lai Haraoba.

A new road from which can link direct Andro Army to Moirangpurel will complete earth levelling within the month of April 2015. If the road is completed this will be the shortest route, shorter than the Andro Army to Moirangpurel through Ngairiyan road.

The MLA also expressed warm wishes of 2015 New Year that may bring prosperity and development in educational sector.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/andro-will-be-made-most-attractive-tourist-spot-within-2015-shyamkumar/

By Shyam Waikhom
IMPHAL, January 2: The only road connecting Senapati and Ukhrul Districts has not been repaired since the last 15 years and it has been in a deplorable condition. People of Paomata circle, Sanaramai circle and many and other villages existing along this route are still waiting for repairing of the road.

The road from Tadubi area of National Highway-2 on the eastern part of the Senapati District can reach Ukhrul District after passing various villages like Tungjoy, Liyai, Phuba, Maiba, Purul circle and villages like Saranamai, Khaikho Paomata etc. This road has served as a vital link between the two districts.

This IFP reporter witnessed the terrible condition of the said road during a trip last month, passing through a number of villages up to Saranamai Village. The roads along this stretch are mostly covered with dust with a few stones lying sparsely.

It may be mentioned that the important connecting route between the two districts has been left neglected for a long period of time. Because of the condition of the road, there is hardly any passenger vehicle seen plying on the road. Either people use private vehicles or they have to walk if they want to reach another village.

Villagers have to rely on whatever is grown in their villages as there is no commercial activity taking place because of the bad road condition. The condition of the road is worse during rainy seasons as it is mostly filled with mud and water, said one villager of Saranamei.

Interacting with the IFP, Village Chairman of Khaikho Village of Saranamai circle, V Kho said that they have seen three MLAs winning from Mao A/C but none of them have taken any initiative in repairing of the road.

The sitting MLA, Dekho had provided hope of repairing road under PMGSY scheme (2007-2012), but till today it has still been a dream, he added.

He said rainy seasons have been the most trying time for the villagers. We have to walk 15-16 Km to reach Tadubi Bazar as no vehicles can run on this road. When people fall sick, we have to carry them on make shift stretchers, he said.

He continued that children`™s education have been badly affected because of almost non-existent transport facility. It seems that the government is not all interested in developing the road, he said. He added that 15 years is a too long time to wait.

The locals of Saranamai area, Paomata circle, Tungjoy, Liwa and Phuba have submitted several memorandums to the Mao MLA but no necessary action has been taken up till today, he lamented.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/vital-road-link-between-senapati-and-ukhrul-districts-languish-for-15-years/

IMPHAL, January 2: Over 100 representatives of more than 40 civil voluntary organisations denouncing the State government`™s apathy and insensitivity in the case of the recovery of skulls and bones from the premises of Tombisana School, staged a sit-in protest at Keishampat Lairenbi Community Hall on January 1.

According to a statement, the protest which was taken out from 8 am to 1 pm carried several slogans on placards and banners which read `read our stories from our bones`™ `repeal AFSPA`™, `stop destruction of evidences`™, `declare Tombisana School as crime site`™, `scan all military installations for human remains`™ and `stop militarisation of schools`™ etc.

The protest was taken out under the banner of Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights in Manipur and United Nations, CSCHR, it added.

At the end of the protest, the gathering jointly resolved to call for immediate halt to further digging of the Tombisana School site, immediate constitution of a high level commission of inquiry, headed by a retired Judge, consisting of competent experts in various related fields and to systematically excavate the premise to collect further evidences, the statement said.

Further the release said that resolutions include demand for systematic examination of the skulls and bones, verification with DNA profiling of families, initiation of criminal proceedings if any foul play is found and preserving of the skulls and bones in joint custody with FIDAM and the investigating agency as mark of recognition of `cultural deprivation`™ and continuing trauma of the families.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/civil-organisation-bodies-outraged-by-skeleton-recovery-stage-protest/