Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 5: The All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen`™s Union Manipur, ALLAFUM has expressed appreciation to the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, IRCT and its 17 Asia Regional Centres from 11 countries for holding their regional meeting at Thanga area this week.

According to a release, during the meeting the international delegates had interacted with the fisher folks of Lokat Lake and had assured assistance to them.

It recalled that the former IRTC Asia regional coordinator Dr Marion Staunton had earlier visited the LoktaK Lake at Langolsabi Village on February 26, 2014, and had interacted with the fishers.

During her visit, Dr Marion had assured that she will come again with other IRCT members, it said.

Further it said during the interaction, fisher folks had shared their story of alleged torture and other human rights violation committed by State agencies since 2011.

Human rights violation including torture, manhandling of women fisher folks at Ithing and Thanga areas during peace rallies, arson, destruction of phumdis, fishing gears and other properties belonging to the fisher folks by the State forces under the provision of Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006 and MLLPR, 2008, were succinctly reported, it added.

It continued that the delegates assured that torture cases will be put up at the international to ensure justice towards the fisher folks. At the same time, ALLAFUM exuded confidence that the IRCT will surely disseminate the torture accounts to the international network.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/intl-body-hears-out-loktak-fisher-folks-grievances-assures-justice/

IMPHAL, December 5: Other than the many pending cases in the High Court of Manipur, the delivery of justice has taken more than 20 years in some cases. In such a scenario, it is necessary to appoint the required judges to ensure speedy delivery of justice, said High Court Bar Association of Manipur senior executive member senior advocate N Kumarjit today.

He was appealing to the concerned authorities to appoint the needed judges during a press conference held at the HCBAM conference hall inside the High Court of Manipur compound.

He said since Manipur achieved Statehood on January 21, 1972, it was requisite for the State to have a separate High Court under the provisions of the Constitution of India which was not fulfilled for long. A separate High Court of the State was set up only in 2013 which was inaugurated on March 25, 2013, he said.

Since the setting up of the High Court of Manipur, demands have been made to appoint at least five out of the minimum seven judges necessary he continued.

The senior advocate said the Chief Minister had supported the demand of the HCBAM and had even accompanied a delegation to place the demand before the previous Union Law Minister during which the Centre had assured three judges for the High Court of Manipur.

However, after much cajoling from the State government and the HCBAM, the Centre had decided that the number of judges for the court would be five and to appoint four judges first and appoint the fifth after some six months, he said lamenting that the assurance is yet to be turned into action.

On November 26, 2014, the number of judges of the High Court was increased to three from just two and now it is time for the government to appoint the remaining judges as was assured earlier he said.

At the same time, there are only around 30 courts in the State, whereas Nagaland and Mizoam have more than 100 courts, although Manipur has a higher population than the two States, the senior advocate continued.

He said the association had also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister during his recent visit to the State capital for the closing function of Sangai Festival to appoint the needed judges and set up more subordinate courts in the sub-divisions.

Today`™s press meet was also attended by HCBAM president L Shyamkishwor Singh and other members.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/hcbam-seeks-appointment-of-more-judges-to-expedite-justice-delivery-system/

IMPHAL, Dec 5: The Thadou Students`™ Association (TSA), Chandel District strongly objected the statement of the Naga Peoples Front (NPF), Chandel Divisional Unit published in local dailies on December 4 regarding the site for construction of 2500 MT FCI Godown.

In a press statement signed by Thangboi Mate, secretary Information and Publicity of TSA Chandel, the student body said that the concerned authority has approved the site for construction of 5000 Matric Tonnes FCI Godown at Molnoi Village, Tengnoupal Sub-Division, Chandel District in 2010 which has been reconfirmed by the present CAF & PD minister and his team on April 19, 2013.

Accordingly, the concerned department also recommended for constructing the said 5000 MT FCI Godown at Molnoi Village, it said.

As such, the concerned public are eagerly waiting for construction of the godown at Molnoi since all the basic process like measurement of the site and approach road are completed and waiting for legal process of land the of Acquisition, said the statement.

The student body maintained that the recommended site is feasible for the construction of 5000 MT Godown, from security point of view as it is lying in between 8th MR Molnoi out post and Pallel Police/commando.

And from geographical point of view, Molnoi is centre point for transportation and distribution of food grains to Machi, Tengnoupal, Chakpikarong, Khengjoy and Chandel Sub-Divisional headquarters, it said.

Moreover, if the FCI godown is constructed at Molnoi, it will be benefitted by various communities of the District. However, if the said FCI Godown is constructed at Liwa Khullen it will serve only one community, added the statement.

The statement further said that, a 2500 Matric Tonnes of FCS Godown was already constructed at Liwa Khullen. So, the idea to construct 5000 MT FCI godown again at the same place is a matter of injustice for the villagers of other Sub-Divisions.

While appealing to political parties like NPF Chandel Unit to refrain from such narrow minded intention and politicise the issue, TSA Chandel also appealed the concerned authority to translate all the given assurance in practical regarding the construction 5000 MT FCI Godown at Molnoi as early as possible.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/tsa-objects-npfs-take-on-fci-godown-site/

IMPHAL, December 5: In a landmark judgment today, the High Court of Manipur has ordered the Centre to pay compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the families of the victims of the November 2 , 2000 Malom incident in which personnel of the 8 Assam Rifles gunned down 10 individuals including a woman.

Speaking to media persons today at his Sagolband Meino Leirak chamber, advocate S Lakhikanta said on December 2, a division bench of the High Court comprising of chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice Kh Nobin Singh had reserved the verdict of the final hearing in the case.

Advocate Lakhikanta who represented the petitioners in the case said according to the judgment, the Union of India, one of the six respondents in the case has been directed to pay the compensation within four months from today.

The other respondents in the case are secretary Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India, Director General Assam Rifles, commandant 8 Assam Rifles, State of Manipur represented by the chief secretary and secretary (Home) government of Manipur, he said.

The ten victims are Tokpam Shantikumar Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai, 1998 National Child Bravery Awardeee Sinam Chandramani Singh and his brother S Robinson Singh of Malom Tulihal Makha Leikai, Soibam Prakash Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai; Ksh Inaocha Singh of Malom Tulihal Awang Leikai, Laishangbam Sana Devi of Nambol Kabo Wakching, employee of the Revenue department Gurumayum Babu Sharma, FCI second driver Kangjam Bijoy Singh, Amakcham Raghumani Singh and Oinam Sanayaima Singh of Nambol Naorem.

The advocate said the incident occurred around 3:20pm of November 2, 2000 at Nambol Boroi Makhong along the Tiddim Road.

Three vehicles of the 8 Assam Rifles was moving towards Imphal along the road he said adding that as soon as the first two vehicles passed the spot, a bomb exploded on the western side of the road in front of the last vehicle.

Soon after the sudden explosion, the personnel jump down and took combat readiness postures creating a warlike situation in the area, he said.

Within minutes, three persons on a two-wheeler who were returning early from their office coming from the northern direction, a woman who was pillion riding in another two-wheeler, her sister`™s son driving the two-wheeler were all stopped and taken inside a waiting shed and gunned down with automatic rifles along with two young students found waiting for a vehicle to go to Imphal for a coaching class, he said.

Another person who looked up on hearing the gunshots while waiting for a friend around 30 metre from the shed towards the south was also shot dead, he said. Two other persons on a two-wheeler who were rushing towards their homes after hearing the explosion and the gunshots were also shot dead at Malom Merakhong, the advocate said.

He said regarding the incident, the then State government had constituted a magisterial inquiry and at the same time, the nine families of the victims had petitioned the then Imphal Bench of the Gauhati High Court to bring justice to the incident.

Following a directive from the then High Court, a District and Session Judge/ Manipur East led team conducted an inquiry into the incident and submitted the report to the court, he said.

Advocate Lakhikanta said the final hearing of the case filed by the nine families was held on December 2, with the division bench of the High Court of Manipur comprising of chief justice Laxmikant Mohapatra and justice Kh Nobin Singh reserving their verdict.

He said during the case, three personnel of the Assam Rifles including a havildar gave their statements as Prosecution Witnesses, and 17 PW from the side of the petitioners also gave their statements.

During the case, the AR had stated that the victims were killed in cross firing and that after the explosion, the AR team was also fired upon, which the court had rejected, he said.

The respondents were represented by State government Standing counsel S Rupachandra and government advocate RS Reisang.

Following the landmark judgment of the court, Tokpam Somorendra Singh father of Shantikumar Singh expressed happiness over the judgement.

He told Imphal Free Press that the judgment will be remembered by the people in all times to come.

It may be mentioned that the anti-Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila had started her fast since the Malom incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/court-orders-centre-to-pay-rs-5-lakhs-each-to-families-of-malom-incident-victims/

IMPHAL, December 5: As part of the nationwide National Protest Day, 11 different trade unions took out protest rally in Imphal this afternoon to denounce the anti-lanour policies of the NDA led government.

The protest was carried out on the joint call of Indian National Trade Union Congress, INTUC, All India Trade Union Congress, AITUC, Centre of Indian Trade Union, CITU, BMS, HMS, All India United Trade Union Centre, AIUTUC, AICCTU, TUCC, UTUC, SEWA, LFT, Association and Federation-AITUC.

The protest rally highlighted the anti-people and anti-workers policies of labour law amendment, privatisation, disinvestment liberalisation, contractualisation, casualisation and outsourcing announced by the NDA government.

The rally was commenced from Irawat Bhavan at around 1 pm and culminated at the THAU Ground.

During the joint public meeting, L Sotinkumar, general secretary AITUC said that the anti-labour laws will take away the right and liberty of the employees of both the industry and the service sector. He said the motive of the present NDA government of obliterating various schemes is questionable.

The unions had jointly submitted a recommendation to the central government for labour reforms, and had urged for uniform pays for the contractual employees in the same line with the regular ones, he said.

DR Nara, speaking to the media on the side lines of the rally, said that the NDA government in the center has been favouring the corporate groups and at the same time neglecting the majority poor. Ever since the Narendra Modi government has come to power, the fate of the labours has become uncertain.

He pointed out that the government is trying to invalidate the MNREGS which gives 100 days job to poor people of this country. The unions are against the decision of the government to allow 9 per cent foreign funding into the defence sector of the country, he added.

He maintained that the rally will create a new history in labour movement of India.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/trade-unions-rallies-against-antiworkers-policies/

IMPHAL, December 5: The renovation work of Khuman Lampak Stadium undertaken with a proposed fund of Rs 100 crores under the 13th Finance Commission has raised several questions.

Highly placed sources revealed that the Commission had already sanctioned Rs 50 crores in two phases for repairing works of the main stadium. However, there is no remarkable construction work taken up in the stadium, sources said.

Further the sources said that the redevelopment works include up-gradation of the sitting capacity of the main stadium from 25 thousand to 60 thousand, up-gradation of the hockey field Astroturf; replacement of goal post by international standard fibres and up-gradation of boxing arenas along with the seats etc.

Sources continued that, the hockey stadium has been locked down since about a year ago. On Inquiry, the authority concerned claimed that the closure is due to repairing work taking place inside the stadium, sources said.

But according to experts, replacement work of Astroturf of the ground does not take even a month, they added.

Sources also pointed out that recently, some contractors had replaced the Astroturf of the hockey ground with sub-standard materials. The goal post has been replaced with simple iron bars, they claimed.

They added that the redevelopment and repairing work has been assigned to the contractors of Manipur Development Society, MDS, which has little technical knowledge of sports infrastructures.

Alongside, sources further claimed that the Youth Affairs and Sports Department is neglecting the talented players of Manipur. They pointed out that hockey coaches are conducting practices on the roads as the stadium is closed. Players are facing hard time to negotiate with the restrictions placed in the name of security arrangement inside the stadium premises, added the sources.

The Khuman Lampak sports complex is primarily meant for players and not for the YAS officials, they said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/12/khuman-lampak-stadium-repair-works-raise-questions/