Manipur News

LAMKA, July 25: Timothy Changsan, charged of raping several girls staying in a boarding home run by him and who had failed to turn up to a court summon while on bail was arrested by the concern police last night from Tuibuang, according to sources.

Timothy who was charged under POCSO Act was surprisingly managed to get a bail in just 92 days after his first arrest, although the Act provides that an accused cannot be provided bail for 180 days that too only if the police fail to file a chargesheet against him.

However, in this particular case the police had already filed a chargesheet against him five days before his release on bail.

The bail was later stayed by the Manipur High Court and had set July 17 for the accused`™s appearance, which the accused failed to obey.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the police were unable to produce him in court as he was arrested late in the evening and that the accused has been transported to Imphal last night itself.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/absconding-churachandpur-serial-rape-accused-arrested/

IMPHAL, July 25: The North Eastern Council (NEC) Secretariat, Nongrim Hills, Shillong has said that a Regional review meeting on Human Resource Development and Employment was held on July 24 under the Chairmanship of , IES Economic Advisor & i/c Planning Advisor, W.Synrem.

According to a release of the NEC, the meeting was attended by the concerned senior officers of NEC secretariat and the senior officers of Planning and line Departments of NE states.

The meeting discussed the need to formulate a regional plan on Education and Skill development, it said.

The need for establishment of a skill development institute in the region was felt by the member states to fulfill the skilling India mission of the government of India, it said.

The statement continued, concern was expressed by members present that the literacy rate in the region is high but the employability is low due to lack of required skill for employment. Therefore, the focus needs to be given for employment oriented skill training to NE youths, it said.

The issue of migration of NE students to metro and other cities was also discussed. To contain the migration, the participants were of the view that the region needs to have better quality schools and colleges as well as centres of excellence with state of the art facilities for skill development and education, it said.

In order to improve the prospects of more students from the region getting enrolled for technical and professional courses, the need to improve the quality of teachers especially in Mathematics and Science was also emphasised. It was also agreed that a special focus and new thrust on skill development, improvement of quality of education and infrastructure development are urgently required for ensuring a better quality of life for the people of the region.

The action plan to be taken up in the near future for Skill Development, Training and infrastructure development in Education, Social sector and other related issue in the field Human Resource Development & Employment was also discussed during the meeting, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/nec-discusses-human-resource-development/

IMPHAL, July 25: Inaugurating the Komlathabi Primary Health Centre in Chandel district today, State Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing said the PHC will soon be upgraded to open 24×7.

The centre, he said is an important one because it covers villages which are under the jurisdiction of eight different Primary Health sub-Centres.

The Health minister said he will pressurise the State government to provide an ambulance for Komlathabi PHC.

He further added that although the centre is under the jurisdiction of Chandel district, it is located in the valley part of the State.

He further urged its employees to work with dedication and attend office on a regular basis to provide service for the people.

Elaborating on the history of the centre, Phungzathang said it was established in 1979 as a sub-centre and upgraded to a PHC only in 2011 under the guidance and suggestion of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

He continued construction of the PHC building was completed at a cost of Rs 2 crores sanctioned from the State budget in 2011.

The campus also includes Type I, III and staff quarters, he said.

However, due to the financial constrains faced by the State government, only Rs 1 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of the main building.

The minister also assured to soon add child delivery facilities in the PHC soon following a consultation with the Health director.

The government is considerate to the needs of the people and is trying to provide medical facilities for all villages and localities.

Phungzathang also said that all district hospitals have been upgraded to 100 bedded from 50-bedded for which the government has upgraded Rs 2 crores each.

Health director Dr O Ibomcha who is also the director of State Health Mission and NRHM said the government is trying to provide child delivery facilities in all district hospitals so that the congestion in RIMS and JNIMS could somehow be reduced.

There is also a drive to upgade all PHCs in the State to open 24×7 and is currently targeting more fund from the 14th Finance Commission, he continued.

There are now atlest 40 PHCs left to be upgraded out of 85 centres.

The inaugural function was also attended by Tengnoupal MLA D Karungthang, Chandel DC Robert Kshetrimayum, CMO, Chandel Dr Romy Ngoru and Upa R Jindashing village chief of Komlakhong (Kapaam).

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/komlathabi-phc-will-be-upgraded-to-open-24x7-soon-phungzathang/

IMPHAL, July 25: As the level of the artificial water body which is slowly submerging Chadong and other villages continues to rise since the Thoubal River water was blocked in January, education has been hard hit in the area.

A school building which is already constructed under RMSA, but yet to be inaugurated has also been submerged in the water.

Families in Chadong Village who have been refusing to shift or be shifted from their village until the Rehabilitation and Resettlement package of the government is reviewed expressed that the school going children have either been displaced or discontinued going to school.

The United Christian Academy in Riha Village which had more than 700 students when it first opened in 2003 has been left with only 32 students now, according to the villagers.

The school, they recounted was set up by five Chadong Villager to promote education in the surrounding villages.

The number of students began to dwindle after the closure of the river water which led to the rise in water level, they claimed.

Ningkham Kasum a teacher of the school said the whole school building and its compound will be submerged soon and a thin number of students are presently accommodated at a temporary shed higher up in the hills.

He said ever since the dam construction began, there has been much apprehension among the villagers.

`Even though I am a teacher,` he said he can do not much other than wait and watch.

On the other hand visitors from Ukhrul and other parts of the valley districts continue to roam as if visiting a tourist spot.

The surrounding villagers had recently banned people from thronging the area as tourists.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/education-in-chadong-hit-hard-as-water-level-rises/

IMPHAL, July 27: State Platform of Disable People Organisation (SPDPO) has warned of launching intense agitation in case the government fails to implement various schemes for differently abled persons of the state at the earliest.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club today, president of SPDPO Dr Sapam Jasobanta said that the government spoke well for the welfare of differently abled persons in newspapers and functions but their assurances remained only in words.

He lamented that the government has been neglecting differently abled persons of the state by depriving various schemes meant for them.

He pointed out that the State Disability Commissioner Office is lying defunct even though it was established long time back solely for the welfare of differently abled persons of the state.

The government has not taken up any necessary action regarding the alleged raped of a minor differently abled girl by her neighbour identified as Chongtham Rohit alias Ronal on July 1. The inaction of the government in the case is a clear indication that differently abled persons are being neglected by the government, the president of SPDPO said.

He also expressed discontentment over the incident in which LW Gainson, a differently abled person who works as a newspaper hawker suffered injuries after he was hit by stone allegedly pelted by ILP agitators at Lamlai Chalou while returning home from Imphal on his tri-cycle on July 20.

Saying that no one came to ask the health condition of Gaison following the unfortunate incident, he reminded that differently abled persons have been actively taking part in important state issues including ILPS .

Vice-president of SPDPO Th Jonshon who was also present at the meet demanded the government to release money for the beneficiaries of Marriage Incentive Awards of 2013, Financial Assistance 2014, and other schemes meant for disabled people of the state failing which the organization will launch intense agitation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/spdpo-warns-stir/

IMPHAL, July 25: Endorsing the ongoing mass agitation demanding enforcement of Inner Line Permit System in the state, Joint Administrative Council for Auto Societies Association (JACASN), Imphal City will stage sit-in-protest and form auto chain at various auto parking on July 27 from 6 am to 6 pm.

Announcing this in a press meet at Manipur Press Club here today, convener of JACASN L Somorendro Singh declared that the association will launch different forms of democratic agitation till an acceptable bill to check the alarming influx of non-locals into the State is passed by the government and stringent action is taken up against those police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood.

He informed that passenger auto-rickshaws will stay off the road on July 27 and appealed to other passenger service associations to halt their services on the day in solidarity to the ongoing mass movement spearheaded by JCILPS.

He also requested clubs, women folk and students`™ associations to extend support to the proposed agitation of the association.

Any individual found defying the call of the association on the day should take the sole responsibility if any untoward incidents happens thereof, he cautioned.

Meanwhile, agitations demanding the ILPS in the State continued at several localities.

Sit in protests were organised in connection to the movement at Lourembam, Tera Keithel, Uripok, while Aripat Meira paibis demonstrated at Pechi Chingolak by forming a human chain.

The Dingku Road block imposed by the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood also continued.

During the protest demonstrations, the agitators raised slogans demanding implementation of the ILPS or a similar law in the State and punishment for the police personnel involved in the death of the class XI student Sapam Robinhood.

Meanwhile, the Manipur Students` Association Delhi has informed that it will be organising a mass rally in Delhi from Mandi House to Jantar Mantar on July 27 to express `resistance against the State policy of Demographic Invasion, and to protest the brutality of State Force in suppressing Democratic Movement in Manipur.`

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/autorickshaws-to-stay-off-roads-on-july-27-in-support-of-ilps-movement/

IMPHAL, July 25: The Governor has appointed a Commission of Inquiry consisting of a single Member namely Justice Mutum Binoykumar Singh, former Judge of Gauhati High Court to inquire into the death of Sapam Robinhood who died after sustaining injury during police action on July 8 last.

According to an order issued by the joint secretary (Home), the terms of reference of the commission will be to enquire into the causes and circumstances leading to the death of Sapam Robinhood; to enquire whether there are any excesses or lapses on the part of security personnel on duty and identify such lapses or excesses and to recommend corrective measures and remedies to prevent recurrence of such incident in future.

The Commission will complete its inquiry and submit its report within three months from the date of issue of the notification.

The Governor in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 5 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952 also directed that all the provisions of sub-section (2), (3), (4) and (5) of Section 5 of the said Act shall apply to the Commission, the order said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/gov-orders-inquiry-into-robinhoods-death/

IMPHAL July 25: The Manipur Government has been delaying formation of Autonomous District Councils in the six ADCs till date without any reasonable explanation, alleged the chairman designate of Ukhrul Autonomous District Council, Dr Yaronsho Ngalung during a press meet at the Manipur Press Club today.

He appealed to the government to positively respond and invite the parties to form the councils in the respective ADCs without further delay.

`In the interest of the hill people I urge the government to show some support in reestablishing the ADCs again and translate all the pre election promises into action` he appealed.

It might be mentioned that despite declaring the ADC election results on June 10, the oath taking ceremony was delayed till July 13.

Further even after the oath taking for the members who were absent during the original oath taking ceremony was held in Imphal yesterday instead of their respective ADCs, the government is yet to announce further course and the newly elected ADC members are still left defunct without any further directive from the government.

In this connection, Naga Peoples Front has also issued an ultimatum to the State government to facilitate the formation of ADC in the six ADC by 25 of July.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/govt-has-been-delaying-adc-formation/