Manipur News

IMPHAL, November 14: Lone crusader and hunger striker Irom Sharmila Chanu was today produced before the court of JMIC Imphal East, Wisdom Kamodang.

Condemning the recent rise in rape cases in the State she said the silence of the State leaders is regretable.

She expressed that the State leaders need to campaign against crimes happening against women and children.

Explaining the recent visit of Desmond Coutinho, writer and activist, she said the man visited her to support with her movement to repeal AFSPA-1958.

From a reliable source it is said that charge sheet against her has been submitted from the Lamphel PS and she will be produced before District and Session Judge Manipur East A Guneshwar Sharma on November 21, at the Cherap Court, Imphal.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/sharmila-flays-rise-in-gender-crimes/

CHANDEL, Nov 14: President of Naga Students’ Union Chandel Sr Joningam was brutally assaulted by two youths last night at Panchai village in Chandel district.

According to the President who spoke to the media at his residence, the incident occurred at around 8 pm when he tried to rescue a minor girl identified as Kl Meena Anal from the hands of two youths, who were forcibly dragging the girl into a dark side of the field closed to the home of the girl.

He said that he (president) along with his friend was in the house of her elder sister in Panchai when a cry of the girl was alerted to him by his sister. He came out of the room to find one youth at the gate. On his enquiry, the youth punched and bit him. Another accomplice of the molester joined in and he was overpowered, pinned to the ground and beaten up severely.

The president was beaten black and blue by the two youth and suffered head injury with several bruise. The two youths have been identified as St Chingringam Anal s/o St. Nunghlung Victor, MLA of 41-Chandel A/C and BD Aaron Anal s/o Hennary Anal, both of them a resident of Panchai village.

Meanwhile, in connection with the incidence, an emergency meeting of the NSUC presidential council was held at the residence of Sr Joningam and later condemned the incidence in the strongest term.

The NSUC and its unit president resolved to boycott MLA of 41 –Chandel A/C St Victor Nunghlung at all levels. It also resolved to submit several resolutions adopted in the meeting to organizations like ANSAM, CNPO, NWUC and NPF Central Committee for kind information and necessary actions.

The Naga Women Union Chandel while condemning the act of molesting a minor girl in the strongest term warned that the Naga women would not tolerate such action in future.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/nsuc-president-brutally-assaulted-by-mlas-son/

IMPHAL, Nov 14: The Highway Truck Owner’s Welfare Organisation, HITWO has drawn the attention of the Prime Minister to the condition of the NH-37 and strengthening of Barak Bridge along the stretch.

The organization submitted a memorandum to the PM on November 13, stating that the Barak Bridge is the backbone of the NH-37.

It continued that the bridge is in a deplorable condition with several of its side bars hanging loose.

Several of the wood decks of the bridge are also missing and have been replaced by logs and tree branches from the nearby hills.

However, the transporters are forced to cross the bridge with heavy loads, mentioned the memorandum.

It also maintained that over and above, the road conditions from Makhru Bridge to Jiribam are in worst condition, which has affected in transportation of goods for the people of the State. Unless the Union government takes up necessary measures to repair the highway and the bridges, the life line will soon be cut off, it added.

It may be mentioned that a few days back, representatives of the HITWO along with a team of media went for inspection of the condition of NH-37 and the said bridges, which were reported widely by the local dailies.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/hitwo-draws-pm-attention-on-nh-37-condition/

IMPHAL, November 14: Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai attending the function as the chief guest today appealed to all parents not to allow children who are below 18 years of age to use mobile phones, internet and drugs during the Children’s Day Celebration cum State Level Painting Competition held at Bal Bhavan, Khuman Lampak here today.

Expressing concern over the increasing cases of crime against women and children in Manipur, Social Welfare Minister assured that she would consult the higher authorities on devising a law to punish such criminals.

She further said that the State Commission for Women has also been working very hard to control such crimes on women and children.

As children are the most treasured love of all, people of not only the State but whole world should protect and care for children in order that hope for a good society in the future never dies.

Speaking as the guest of honour L Nabakishore Singh, IAS, joint secretary (Social Welfare) said that every individual should acknowledge the values and virtues of life. They should also respect parents and teachers.

The function was also graced by SS Chhabra, IFS, officer on Special Duty (Social Welfare) and Dr Rangitabali Waikhom, MCS Director (Social Welfare) as the president and guest of honour.

Prizes were also distributed to the winners and the children participated in the painting competition.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/mirabai-cautions-against-children-owning-mobile-phones/

IMPHAL, November 14: In connection with the recent cases of rape and murder at Thoubal and Tharoijam, the Women Action for Development has claimed that there have been severe lapses in registering criminal cases against the accused by concerned police stations.

According to a statement, WAD has appealed to the State Home department to look into the cases seriously so as to give befitting punishment to the culprits without delay under the rule of law to avoid heinous crimes committed to women and minor girls in the future.

Elaborating the cases, the statement maintained that the alleged rape and murder of a young school girl, by one Thiyam Sureshkumar Singh and the registration of a criminal case against the said accused by the Officer-in-Charge of Thoubal Police Station under FIR No. 359 (11) 2014 Tbl P.S. u/s 376/302 IPC suffers from severe lapses as the officer-in-charge had failed in invoking other relevant penal provisions such as Section 376-A and 376 (f) in accordance with the amendment of the criminal procedure (Amendment) Act, 2013 which came into force from April 2, 2013.

Further it said that in the interest of the general public, the invocation of the above-noted sections is highly called for if in case the investigating agency has to proceed in the right direction of investigation.

It also pointed out that Section 376-A and 376 (f) relates to punishment for causing death after the commission of rape or the commission of rape by relative, guardian or teacher of or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the woman.

Therefore, despite having the knowledge of such criminal amendments following the gruesome case of gang rape in Delhi in a moving bus of a student woman, the concerned police official investigating the case of Thoubal have failed to invoke 376-A and 376(f) which is a disappointment, added the statement.

It said, similarly the officer-in-charge of Patsoi police Station in connection with the rape and murder of a minor girl of 8 years need also invoke Section 378-A of the Indian Penal Code despite the First information being registered under FIR No. 90(11)2014 Psi-PS u/s 376/302/34 IPC & 4 POCSO Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/wad-allege-polices-lapses-in-separate-rape-and-murder-cases/

IMPHAL, November 14: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh handed over the newly constructed Kendriya Vidyalaya School at Lamphelpat after its inauguration to the teachers and students.

Speaking as the chief guest, CM Ibobi said the state government constructed the building of the Vidyalaya on its own without waiting for funds from the Centre as education can’t wait and be pursued later when one has money.

The government constructed the building with its own fund so that students don’t have to lose their academic calendar, he added.

Appealing the officials of the Vidyalaya to produce good students who can usher in a peaceful and prosperous society, the Chief Minister gave the promise of upgrading all the roads leading to the school into all weather roads by March next year.

Schools are often comparable to temples, he pointed out, and adding what could one gain by setting ablaze such institutions.

He expressed his wish for those responsible to learn from the incident and never indulge in any evil actions in the future.

Deputy CM Gaikhangam who presided over the function said there are no such thing as Centre and State when it comes to education.

The educational institution is meant for the students of this State, he said, adding that’s the reason why the State government constructed the school anew.

A model school doesn’t mean only the infrastructure of the school as every student in that school must be model students, he stressed.

It must be recalled here that the state government constructed the building of the Vidyalaya anew in no time so that students didn’t have to lose their academic calendar after the earlier Vidyalaya building was set ablaze on the intervening night of May 7 and 8 this year.

During the handing over ceremony of the Vidyalaya building, Education minister M Okendro Singh and RD & PR minister Francis Ngajokpa were also in attendance as guests of honour. Various high ranking officials of the state government and guardians of the students were also present in the occasion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/destroying-schools-is-like-destroying-temples-says-cm-while-opening-kvs/

IMPHAL, November 14: The Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) set December 6 as the deadline for the authorities of UBI to clarify on Rs 2 lakhs which went mission from the account of Ningthoujam Heman of Palace Compound.

Speaking to media persons at a press conference held today at Manipur Press Club organised by Kanglei Indigenous Martial Arts and Cultural Society (KIMACS) its general secretary N Naobi threatened that if the concerned bank authorities are not able to provide appropriate report for the missing money, the bank will locked down from the next day by the organisation.

He further said that a sum of Rs 2 lakh has been withdrawn by somebody from the UBI, Imphal Branch, MG Avenue from the account of N Heman on October 24.

Several complaints were made to the authorities of the concerned bank but the bank authorities refused to give any positive answer and provide the justice.

A written complaint was also made to City Police on November 10.

On October 3, due the said account holder’s health problem, his son N Indrakumar went to withdraw Rs 2 lakh through cheque No 5903 from the UBI, MG Avenue.

Due to the absence of the account holder, a staff demanded Indrakumar to sign at the back side of the cheque.

After signing on the cheque it was passed on to another counter for verification but unlucky the check was rejected for not matching the signature of the account holder and below the cheque it was written with red ink as “sign differ” and they took away the cheque and told him that even if he brought the account holder, the cheque would not be valid.

He however took out Rs 25, 000 from an UBI ATM boot and on the following days withdrew another Rs 20, 000 each time on October 4, 6, 7 and 8.

The total amount withdrawn from the ATM thus was Rs 1,50,000. After his father’s health improved, he himself withdrew another Rs 1 lakh on October 14.

On November 1, a mini balance statement showed that on October 24, an amount of Rs 2 lakh had been withdrawn from the account.

He called upon the bank to make rectification so that it may be able to retain public trust.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/kimacs-charges-fraudulent-withdrawal-of-money-from-ubi/

IMPHAL, Nov 14: Chief Minister of Manipur, O Ibobi Singh has invited the Chief Minister of Chin State of Myanmar to visit Manipur for the Sangai Festival from November 21 to 25 with a composite official, trade, cultural and sports delegations, said a reliable source.

Ibobi has also assured that for all the 38 member delegation, passports of 20 are under preparation, and all have requested visa-on-arrival while crossing the border by road at Moreh for whole delegation.

They had communicated that issuing of visas at Mandalay may not be possible so they said it would be extremely convenient if arrangements were made to issue them visas on arrival at Moreh.

Alternative, they requested for entry into India on the strength of border permits first and then be issued proper visas at Imphal, added the source.

According to the source, the Chin State of Myanmar CM has agree to visit Manipur and asked for smooth entry into Manipur as guest of the state.

It is worth mentioning that in the last edition of Sangai Festival the Chief Ministers of Mandalay and Sagaing divisions of Myanmar, along with many delegations participated.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/chin-state-chief-minister-requests-visa-on-arrival-at-moreh/