Manipur News

IMPHAL, March 17: None of the prosecution witnesses (PWs) appeared for hearing in the NIA case lodged against UNLF chairman RK Meghen alias Sanayaima and his associate at NIA Special Court in Gauhati.

As a part of hearing of the case, deposition of PWs have been going on.

The Court had given the date of March 16 and 17 for the deposition of witnesses in the case.

NIA was supposed to produce PWs including two from Delhi for deposition in these two days time. However, none of the PWs appeared for the deposition.

UNLF supremo RK Meghen alias Sanayaima and his associates were produced before the Court on both the days.

The case number of the chargesheet frame by NIA is Case No 1 of 2010 u/s 121/121-A/120-B IPC, 16-A, 18/20 U/A (P) Amendment Act 2004.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/none-of-the-prosecution-witnesses-appeared-in-meghens-case/

IMPHAL, March 17: A minor girl aged about 10, a deaf and dumb who was reported missing at the Kumbi Police Station from January 24, 2014, was fished out dead from a culvert on January 31, 2014. News carried in daily newspapers had expressed suspicion of raped and subsequent murder.

The girl was identified as Laishram Shumila, 10, D/o L Amuthoi of Chandonpokpi Turel Khongbal.

An organisation called Dialogue Forum, in association with the Chandol Pokpi Villagers today took out a mass rally from Chandol Pokpi Market Shed to Borayenbi Gram Panchayat Community hall. Women folks in large numbers participated in the rally.

Apunba Nupi Lup Borayenbi, Social Action Committee, NLF, Integrated Rural Development Centre, People Platform Secretariat, Samaritan Resource Centre, United Community Development Platform and Comprehensive Development Centre, also participated in the rally.

Later a public meeting on International Humanitarian Law, Demand for Fair Trial of Laishram Shumila and Repeal AFSPA 1958 was conducted where resource persons reiterated the demand for justice for the victim.

Resource person L Pishak said that the case has been delayed without any reason. He said that there is a suspicion that the culprit is well connected and is taking advantage of this. He further appealed all concern to conduct a fair trial for the Shumila in a speedy way.

Advocate E Nando as resource person educated the villager on all the possible ways for speedy trial and book the culprit according to the law of the land.

General Secretary Women Action for Development M Sobita in the side lines said that the incident occurred during the month of January 2014 and it has been more than a year but the family of the victim still awaits justice.

She further said that the state cabinet needs to implement concrete law for the safety of women society of the state.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/one-year-after-chandol-pokpi-villagers-still-cries-for-little-shumila/

IMPHAL, March 17: Kuki Chief Association Manipur urged the government of Manipur to hold the Autonomous District Councils (ADC) election in time without any delay said a press released.

The press statement of the KCAM signed by Haokai Lupheng and Haokhole Touthang, President and general secretary respectively, stated that delaying of the ADCs election will not bring any goods for the tribals of the state as it is the only means to bring development in the hill districts.

The KCAM will take any attempt of sabotage or delayed the ADCs election as a plan to deprive the hill people of their constitutional rights and privileges.

The ADCs has been revived after a gap of 22 years which also without full power as it should be, so the government of Manipur should not delay the upcoming election and at the same time the ADCs should be give its full powers according to the regulated Acts and provisions given by the India Constitutions, added the press statement.

The KCAM will fully endorse and supports any form of agitations carried out by CoPTAM (Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur) if the government fails to hold ADCs election in time.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/kuki-chiefs-want-adc-elections-held-in-time/

IMPHAL, March 17: Five Catholic Schools in Imphal have decided to close down their schools as they failed to come to an agreement with an underground organization regarding the admission procedure of its lowers classes.

The five schools are Little Flower School, St Joseph School, Nirmalabas High School, Christ Jyoti School and Catholic School at Canchipur.

The schools will remain close until an amicable solution is brought between the school and the said UG group, a source said.

Meanwhile ATSUM expressed dismay with the closure of all Catholic Educational Institution in the valley due to alleged disturbance and tension from various valley based student bodies including some underground element, the All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur (ATSUM) asked everyone to make every educational institution in the state a disturbance free zone today.

Emboi Serto, President ATSUM recounted that in the year 2009 the All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur and valley based student bodies had jointly declared all educational institution in the state a `Disturbance Free Zone`™ but today the same valley based student bodies unfortunately becomes the scalawag in the functioning of catholic schools in the state.

At the same time it is unfortunate that some underground element have also indulged in making unwanted disturbances to the catholic schools in the state alleged ATSUM supremo.

He further alleged that in the name of right to education the valley based student bodies have interfere calculatedly in the process of admission in Catholic schools, demanded quotas and also locked the educational institutions which undesirably produce hazy disturbance to the schools.

Why only Catholic Educational Institution has been pin-pointed and disturbed while there are countless private run schools in the valley wondered Emboi Serto while adding it will be healthy and wise on the part of the those organizations to conduct post mortem of their own activities before things turned unattractive.

While curiously asking those organizations about the functioning and administration of other private run educational institution in the state Emboi Serto asked, `Do those countless private run educational institution follow in reality the guidelines lay down by Board of Secondary Education Manipur and Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur as well as those guidelines under Right to Education Act`.

He continued that earlier ATSUM has already appealed to those organizations and every right thinking denizens to hold a healthy debate over the issue but nothing constructive and positive response has been acknowledged.

If a healthy debate was conducted following the ATSUM appealed the Catholic Educational Society decision to closed down all Catholic schools in the valley could have been avoided said Emboi while adding terming the closured of Catholic schools in valley due to the alleged tension and disturbance from various organizations a huge loss to the academic career of many children in the state.

The ATSUM once again suggests a healthy debate over the issue, appealed Emboi and articulated that ATSUM`™s willingness to conduct a reality check and have joint inspection of every private run educational institution in the valley by ATSUM and valley based student bodies including those UGs to check whether they follow the prescribed guidelines under RTE and BOSEM as well as CoHSEM.

ATSUM further appealed to all organizations and every right thinking denizens of Manipur to solve the imbroglio over the Catholic schools at the earliest so as to ensure educational institutions a disturbance free zone.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/five-catholic-schools-in-manipur-to-close-down-again/

IMPHAL, March 17: The Life Insurance Agents`™ Association, Imphal has launched its hunger strike agitation demanding the central government to restore the Sec 44 (ERC&HRC) Insurance Act of 1938.

The Life Insurance Agent`™s Federation of India, along with all the branches of the company will continue its protest starting today and will continue till March 21.

The hunger strike protest was held today at Khoyathong outside the LIC, head office.

Speaking at the sideline with the media persons, Kh Achou, vice president, LIAA, Imphal branch stated that restoration of Section 44 (ERC&HRC) Insurance Act of 1938 is a must.

He further noted that if the Act 1938 is not restore then the agents who had already work for more than 5 years may not get any renewal commission and other benefit.

He continued that even the nominee would not get any hereditary Renewal Commission if the Act 1938 did not restore.

Kh Achou said that the hunger strike for all India Insurance Agents will continue till March 21 and LIAA, Imphal will carry out its agitation tillApril 30 he added.

The various demands made by Life Insurance Agent`™s Association include removal of service tax on premium, removal of TDS on LIC.

Policy maturity, to increase the bonus to policy holder, to increase the gratuity to 5,00,000, to increase the group insurance to 1000000, relaxation the club rule until new plans were introduce, to implement the recommendation of IRDA (Gazette dated- 18.02.2013 for Commission).

Empowering the empower agents to support the policy holder, to give Incentive directly and to the career agents, to implementing the amendment of agent`™s regulation-1972 and to implement the salary and conveyance to CLIA.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/life-insurance-agents-hold-hunger-strike/

IMPHAL, March 17: There could be shortcomings in the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers bill, 2015, which was passed by the House in the last day of the 10th Session of the tenth Manipur Legislative Assembly yesterday, but it can be amended for 100 more times.

This was stated by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh speaking to media persons at JNIMS today.

He further said the shortcomings in the Bill can be corrected or added by consulting with the legal experts and others concerned.

The door is wide open from the government`™s side for the consultation, he added.

The Chief Minister was visiting the Jessami-Phek bus accident victims admitted at JNIMS and RIMS and Khwairamband Keithel bomb blast victims admitted at RIMS and Raj Medicity today.

After meeting the victims at the hospitals, he spoke to media persons at JNIMS where he said there is a rule of the government to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the deaths in the bomb blast and one lakh to the severely injured victims.

However in the case of accidents, the government does not have a rule as such, but on humanitarian ground it is considering to provide some financial assistance to the bus accident victims this time.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, Health & Family Welfare Minister Phungzathang Tonsing and Deputy Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Presho Shimary during his visit today.

The Chief Minister during his visit met 12 victims of the bomb blast at RIMS and one victim at Raj Medicity while one bus accident victim at RIMS and three others at JNIMS.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/shortcomings-in-manipur-regulation-of-visitors-tenants-and-migrant-workers-bill-2015-can-be-amended-for-100-times-says-cm-ibobi/

IMPHAL, March 17: Four bird poachers namely Haobijam Megha Singh, 44, s/o (L) Maimu Singh of Karang ward-C; Potsangbam Temba Singh, 60, s/o (L) Thambalngou Singh of Mayang Imphal Konchak Yangbi; Ningombam Thoiba Singh, s/o N Ibotombi Singh of Thoubal Leisangthem Khong Manung and Khoiyengdem Deben Singh, s/o (L) Narhari Singh of Mayang Imphal Konchak Yangbi were produced before the CJM Bishnupur today and has been sent to jail after being prosecuted.

A release of Global Science Club, Khoijuman said the four mentioned persons were apprehended from the Loktak lake by Langol Sabi area`s fishermen along with the volunteers of Global Science Club, Khoijuman on March 12.

The poachers were later handed over to the Bishnupur PS for further legal action along with the two unauthorised SBBL guns and nine live ammunitions, it said.

It has warned every persons intending to poach or hunt wildlife at Loktak lake of legal actions with the help of competent government authorities if found by the volunteers of Global Science Club, Khoijuman who routinely patrols the areas in Loktak lake reported to be frequented by such poachers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/bird-poachers-land-in-jail/

IMPHAL, March 17: The FCI regional officials and a contractor presented false data on the distance between Jagiroad to FCI FSD Sangaiporou route in a well organised fashion to siphon off huge amount of money from the government, the Transporter and Driver Council said today.

In the press meet held at the office of the TDC MG Avenue, President Ranjit said the TDC has been suspecting the FCI contractor`™s conductsfor a long time.

Ranjit further said that on May 26, 2014 a tender was called for lifting FCI goods by the FCI GM Assam Region and the tender was rewarded to GB Chowdhury Holding Private Limited Panbazar Guwahati on July 24, 2014.

As per reports the FCI official along with the transport contractor prepared a plot to misappropriate huge amount along the Jagiroad to Sangaoporou route.

Transporter Contractor GB Chawdhury, Basker Hazarika GM Assam Region and former Executive Director Zone Basumatri together changed the FCI MTF (model tender form) of rate quotation to per MT per Km into their own formulation to manipulate the distance of this route for huge gains on ferrying goods, he said.

They claimed distance from Jagiroad to Sangaiporou is 631 Km and charged at the rate of Rs. 5999 per trip.

But an RTI application revealed that there have been atrocious misrepresentations of facts of the distance of the route used by the contractor.

In their reply to the RTI application, they again mentioned that the distance between the two points is 631 km, and justified their rate of Rs. 5999 per trip. They claimed they did not use NH-37 for ferrying their goods and instead ferried the goods by the Jiribam route.

This however was found untrue and the TDC has obtained an official statement from the Jiribam Police Station, in which the Jiribam OC wrote on February 22, 2015 that during the months of June and July 2014, there were no FCI goods loaded vehicles passing through Jiribam, Imphal East district.

Ranjit said the FCI GM Assam region, ex-Executive Director and Contractor GB Chaudhury sent their vehicle only along NH-2 Imphal-Dimapur roiute and not Imphal-Jiribam route.

But the contractor has been pretending he has been using the Imphal-Jirabam route so he could claim a bigger distance travelled and charge more from the Manipur public and government.

Ranjit said the Imphal-Dimapur route is a distance of only 421 Km and through their manipulation they charged for 210 Km more, which amounts to about Rs. 30,000 gain per trips of their trucks.

In this regard the TDC lodged an FIR against the culprits at Lamphel police station on February 27, 2015 under criminal misappropriation the public money.

Unfortunately, the TDC said the Lamphel Police has not taken up the FIR case the culprits as yet. The TDC then took the matter to the Court on March 3, 2015 and court has directed the Lamphel Police to furnish reason for the not taking up the case, Rajit told the press conference.

The Lamphel Police is scheduled to appear before the court on April 9, 2015 said Ranjit said.

He further said that the RTI was filed by T Jibankumar member of TDC.

The TDC demands a thorough investigation on the matter and book the culprit for misappropriating money belonging to the Manipur public.

The involved FCI official and the contractor must reward befitting penalty, Ranjit said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/multi-crores-rupees-misappropriated-while-ferrying-fci-goods/

IMPHAL, March 17: The Director of University and Higher Education, Manipur has informed that the Government of Manipur will be further updating its list of empanelled Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions/Engineering Colleges/ Technical Institutions/ Institutions offering general/ professional courses duly recognised by UGC/NCTE/AICTE/DCI/INC/PCI, etc., with full details of courses offered, fee structure, hostel facilities, prospectus, etc, of their Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions, a release of the Directorate of Higher Education said.

This with an aim to enable the State Government to ensure that students of Manipur intending to pursue higher studies outside the State are facilitated with required information pertaining to proper recognition/ affiliation, etc. of the Higher Educational Institutions and keeping in the public domain for the information of the people of the state to apply for admission in the duly approved institutions only and to nominate adequate number of eligible students of the state, as and where applicable, the release said.

According to the release the government proposes to go for empanelment of Higher Educational Institutions through checking of the credentials and proper verification from UGC/ NCTE/ AICTE/ DCI/ INC/ PCI, etc., and also conducting inspections of their Higher Educational Institutions by a team of officials from the Dept. to verify the adequate availability of hostel facilities in proper conditions, proper and decent boarding and fooding arrangements, safety issues for the students in terms of local atmosphere and outlook towards NE Students.

The team will be meeting the concerned authorities to sensitise them of the safety concerns in addition to concerns for quality education, impressing upon the authorities of the concerned Higher Educational Institutions that Government of Manipur is taking all necessary measures to ensure protection of related interests of the NE students as was done in 2014, the release further said.

The Directorate has already requested detailed information from the authorities of the Indian Universities/ Colleges/ Institutions so as to reach the Director of University and Higher Education, Government of Manipur, Imphal-795001, within April 10.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/03/govt-to-keep-directory-of-empanelled-educations-institutes/