Manipur News

KANGPOKPI, July 19: Haokholun Chongloi, the lone elected Independent candidate of ADC Sadar Hills Members who had recently joined the Congress party expired due to cardiac arrest at SKY Hospital yesterday afternoon.

He was 65 and is survived by his wife Deilhing Kadunliu Rongmei Chongloi, whom he got married in 1977 and two children Richard Haominthang Chongloi and Grace Lhaineikim Chongloi.

Haokholun Chongloi was elected as an Independent candidate from 8-Wakotphai District Council Constituency under Kangpokpi AC in the recently held 5th ADC Election, 2015.

Later, he joined the Congress party before taking oath on July 13 at the Conference Hall, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi.

He was admitted at SKY Hospital a day after he took oath due to cardiac arrest and expired yesterday afternoon at around 3:30 pm.

Known for his exceptional leadership in the society, Haokholun Chongloi, who is the second son of (L) Vumkhohao Chongloi was born in 1949 at Leilon (Leimakhong) in Sadar Hills.

He passed MA (History) in 1981 at Guwahati University after joining the Medical Department as Male Nurse and took voluntary pension in 2009.

Late Haokholun Chongloi was also the pioneered in the establishment of Kangpokpi Christian Church which had been subsequently established in the year 1986 and became the founding secretary of the Church.

Said to be the biggest Church in Manipur, Kangpokpi Christian Church has been constructed with his commendable initiative as the Church Building Secretary apart from serving as the Church Secretary for more than 15 years.

He was also the president of Chonghang Youth from 1968 to 1988 and served as the general secretary of Chonghang Union from 1988 till breathed his last.

He was also elected as Chairman of Kangpokpi Ward No.7 for two consecutive terms and also served as Secretary, Kangpokpi Town Committee in 2011-2015 before he contested the 5th ADC Election, 2015.

Local MLA Nemcha Kipgen expressed her heartfelt condolence on the sudden and untimely demise of Haokholun Chongloi yesterday evening at the deceased residence at Kangpokpi while consoling the bereaved family members and relatives.

Members of Sadar Hills, Senapati and Tamenglong ADC also attended the last rite of Late Haokholun Chongloi today at his Kangpokpi residence apart from various CSOs including Kuki Inpi Manipur, KISH, KSO Sadar Hills, KWU Sadar Hills, KTC, KWWO, KYU, Church leaders, relatives and well wishers across the state.

Sadar Hills ADC member Haokholal Hangshing, Senapati ADC member M.L. Markson and Tamenglong ADC member Hatting Doungel shared the pain and grievance of the bereaved family while consoling them too.

Kuki Inpi Manipur and other CSOs leaders also conveyed their deepest condolence in the ceremony.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/adc-sadar-hills-member-haokholun-chongloi-passes-away/

LAMKA, July 19: Henglep MLA T Manga Vaiphei who is also the chairman of the MTDC had inaugurated a new community hall at Torbung Village, Henglep sub-division yesterday.

The inaugural of the 100 by 40 feet hall was also attended by Henglep SDO Soimimlien as functional president.

Speaking on the occasion, the local MLA said the amount allotted as the MLA Local Area Development Fund is too little for the entire constituency of Henglep. But soon, the Henglep sub-division will be bifurcated into two for which has been already approved by the cabinet.

This will ease the taking up development work for the people.

He said only Rs 1 crore for his MLA Local Area Development Fund is too little for a constituency like Henglep which is considered the most backward and inaccessible.

He continued construction of a road from Tollen Village till Ukha Leikai will be started soon.

Vaiphei also said there is also a plan to construct community halls in various places at the earliest.

Such community halls are usually constructed under the BRGF Scheme, however, on several occasions, the fund are found to be insufficient like the one which is being inaugurated, he said.

The construction of the hall started under BRGF Scheme fund but had to take fund from the TD and his MLA Local Area Development fund, he said.

The hall was construction with Rs 15 lakhs, he said.

He continued that in order to help the citizens while exercising their franchise, he had set up more than five polling centres, one of which was in Tollen village.

Soiminlien said people should be aware that it is inappropriate and not right for people with houses to apply for IAY which is only for those who cannot afford one on their own.

He appealed to the people not to continue with such practice.

He said he is aware of such practice, because he is himself directly dealing with the IAY.

There are two ways of development, one being individual development and the other one is community development, he said.

Today`™s inauguration of the community hall is a part of community development, he said adding that all the people must try and go for community development that will bring all round development to the community while the individual one will never help develop the community at large.

The chief of Tollen village also organise a feast for the MLA and his party and village folks to show their gratitude to the MLA and said without the MLA`™s personal involvement the construction would not have been completed wanting more fund for completion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/henglep-mla-disappointed-with-insufficient-local-area-development-fund/

IMPHAL, July 19: The Congress demanding woman reservation in the Parliament is good but it is mistimed and could be a ploy to divert the present issue of Inner Line Permit System in the State, BJP Mahila Morcha Manipur Pradesh president RK Pramodini claimed.

Speaking to this reporter, Pramodini said the Congress should not forget that they were in power for 10 longs years in the Centre and is in power in the State for 13 years and continuing.

She was reacting to a demand of the Congress Mahila Mandal president.

Women reservation in Parliament is good but they never considered the same while they were in power for such a long time and now they are making the demand after the BJP came to power, she said.

If the Congress is really considerate of the women reservation, they could have done it during their time, she complained.

Don`™t speak on the issue and make a fool of yourself if you don`™t have proper knowledge of the woman reservation bill history, she said ridiculing the demand.

She demanded as to why the Congress is silent on the Food Security Act which is still not implemented in the State although it is already implemented in other States.

The BJP, she said honours the women.

BJP general secretary organisation L Boby Devi asked if the Congress Mahila Mandal is keen on women reservation although it has never extended any help to the family of Sapam Robinhood killed in the ILPS rally.

She demanded if they have ever raised their voice demanding justice for the family.

They are only trying to divert from the burning issue, she said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/bjp-mahila-president-takes-potshots-at-congress-mahila-mandal-demand-for-women-reservation-in-parliament/

IMPHAL, July 19: We cannot stray outside of the Indian Constitution and stay within the constitutional limit while implementing any legislation like the Inner Line Permit System, Sagolband MLA RK Imo said while inaugurating a market shed at Sagolband Meino Leirak Machin.

He said the government has already withdrawn the Manipur Regulation of VIstors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 following pressures from the public.

We need to be aware of the sensitive nature of the issue of implementing something like the ILPS, and any new bill introduced should be within the ambit of the Constitution or else we cannot get assent of the Governor or the President, he said.

All stakeholders should be very careful in preparing the bill, he continued.

He further appealed to the JCILPS, JAC formed in connection to the death of student Sapam Robinhood to remain calm during the timeline provided by the government for the preparation of the bill.

All stakeholders are also appealed to give valuable suggestions to the government for the preparation, Imo continued.

The time has come for all 57 MLAs to join hands and put away all political differences, he further appealed.

The market shed inaugurated today was constructed by the Young Pillars Union Club under the Local Area Development Fund and could be used as a market shed, bus waiting shed and various other purposes.

Local elders also shared the dais with the MLA.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/new-bill-should-be-within-the-indian-constitution-says-mla-imo/

LAMKA, July 19: A Road Opening Party of 7 AR found an IED this morning around 7:20 along the NH 150 in Tolbung Bangla in Churachandpur.

According to a source, the bomb was found properly fitted in a container and found from the roadside.

The IED was later detonated at a safe location in Situ area after a bomb squad of the Army arrived around 11:45 am.

Meanwhile, traffic along the busy Imphal-Churachandpur road was stopped for some time.

Villagers also said that they had not seen any suspicious movement in and around the area this morning, and they came to know about the incident only after a huge security personnel including the CO 7th Assam Rifles and the Churachandpur additional SP arrived to take stock of the situation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ied-found-in-ccpur/

IMPHAL, July 19: The indefinite curfew imposition in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates will be relaxed for 14 hours tomorrow from 5 am to 7 pm.

The curfew was clamped in the districts in view of the volatile situation following the death of a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy during staging a protest demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the state on July 8.

The curfew was also relaxed for 14 hours today from 5 am to 7 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/curfew-relaxed-for-14-hrs-today/

LAMKA, July 17: An important and strategically located bailey bridge upon the Laimatak River was inaugurated today next to the power house of the Loktak Hydro power plant.

The bridge will help directly more than 10 immediate villages. More than 40 more villages will also get benefits of the bridge once the road extension is complete.

The bridge also known as the Tumjangphai Bridge will be fed by motor-able roads.

The bridge constructed under SPA funding has taken almost 10 years with the concern EE saying that the amount used in the construction has crossed Rs 3 crores

The 150-feet long bridge on the Leimatak River in Henglep sub-division was inaugurated today by Manipur Tribal Development Corporation, chairman and local MLA Manga Vaiphei in the presence of local MDC Demmang Haokip, MDC Khaipau and Paulal Haokip.

Churachandpur DC Lunminthang Haokip was also present at the inaugural function.

PWD EE Nenhkhampau Guite and staff of the Churachandpur PWD, village chiefs and other villagers were also present.

The bridge will be act as a corridor and improve road connectivity of the neighbouring villages.

MLA Manga Vaiphei said the day is a great day of accomplishment.

He further congratulated the PWD for the completion of the bridge construction and said hopefully more such bridges will be inaugurated before the yearend to improve road connectivity.

The MDC also expressed happiness on the inauguration of the bridge and urged the public to consider it as their own property and not just a government property.

Speaking on the occasion, the DC said the bridge will help improve road connectivity and help students in attending their schools.

The improvement in road connectivity and the district administration`™s proposal for a banking facility in the area made during the last DLO meeting, people could hope for all round development in the area in the near future, he said.

The EE urged the people to protect and take care of the bridge.

He further thanked the NHPC for all the help provided during the construction of the bridge which help in expediting the construction.

The Laimatak area`s Chief Association also expressed their gratitude to their MLA, PWD etc. and showed it by presenting tradition shawls to them including the CE of NHPC VK Karan.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/bailey-bridge-over-laimatak-river-inaugurated/

IMPHAL, July 17: The Manipur People`s Party decided to miss the all political parties meeting initiated by the Congress government because of its non-transparent handling of the ILPS issue, party president Nongmeikapam Sovakiran told media persons today.

Sovakiran said it took the political parties committee on ILPS more than six months to prepare the recommendations to be used in the previous bill which was passed in the March session of the Assembly.

However, the Congress government brought out an entirely different bill without incorporating the recommendations of the political parties committee during the Assembly session which was passed, he said.

Now this time also, the Congress is only trying to divert the attention from the core demands of the people, he claimed.

At the end, if there is any mistake or thing that fails to please the public, the Congress might blame the other political parties, Sovakiran alleged.

And so the MPP decided not to attend the meeting, he said.

The MPP has no desire to take political mileage from the ILPS issue, he said.

The government`s lack of transparency in dealing with the issue has only aggravated the tension in the State, he continued.

MPP senior advisor Dr Chandramani said unfortunately, the government has brought out a bill which is almost 90 percent different from the recommendations of the political parties committee, JCILPS and other experts.

Chandramani also strongly condemned an FIR filed against students taking part in the June 8 rally during which Sapam Robinhood was killed.

He said this could only aggravate the situation in the State.

The one month time to prepare a new bill is also a long period, he continued.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/congress-handling-of-ilps-issue-nontransparent-mpp/

IMPHAL, July 17: After an emergency sitting of Manipur Legislative Assembly convened on July 15 in the wake of public outcry resolved to withdraw the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 and replace it by another new one, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh convened a meeting with 12 legal experts of the State on preparation of a new bill acceptable to the people.

Sources informed the IFP that the legal experts were formally invited by the Chief Minister for the meeting which has been seen as an important development following the withdrawal of the controversial MRVT & MW Bill, 2015.

The marathon meeting that lasted for more than two hours was held at the Conference Hall of the CM`™s Office at Babupara at 4 pm.

The 12 legal experts are from All Manipur Bar Association (AMBA, High Court Bar Association Manipur (HCBAM) and Bar Council of Manipur (BCM).

AMBA was represented by its president advocate H Chandrajit Sharma; general secretary Supriya Devi; Khaidem Mani and S Lakhikanta Singh while the HCBAM was represented by its president advocate N Binoy; I Lalitkumar; N Jotindro and advocate Jotindro.

The BCM was represented by its chairman advocate N Ibotombi Singh; RK Nokulsana Singh; RS Reisang and L Shyamkishwar.

Apart from the CM, Deputy CM Gaikhangam; Minister of Law & Legislative Affair Thoudam Debendra Singh; Minister of Labour & Employment I Hemochandra Singh; Minister of Commerce & Industries Govindas Konthoujam and Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh were present at the meeting on behalf of the government.

The meeting discussed at length about preparation of a new bill for Inner Line Permit System implementation in the State within the provisions enshrined in the Constitution of India, sources informed.

In this regard, all the 12 legal experts gave their opinions.

The meeting also had a threadbare discussion on inclusion of certain terms in the proposed bill as desired by the government following the pressure from the public.

They opined that inclusion of certain terms in the bill body is permissible, according to the sources.

The meeting also discussed on defining the terms legitimately and how far the Constitution supports it, according to the sources.

The opinions gave by the 12 legal experts were not officially recorded by the government.

Further according to sources, the experts, pledged that they will be extending all possible helps to the government in drafting and checking the new bill from the legal view.

A team of government to be led by the CM may hold more rounds of talk with the legal experts on the issue, the reports added.

Mention may be made that following the withdrawal of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 on July 15, the government headed by the Chief Minister held a meeting with representatives of all political parties yesterday on drafting of a new bill to safeguard the indigenous population.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/governmentlegal-experts-meet-deliberates-on-preparation-of-new-bill/

Reson Haobijam still in serious condition

IMPHAL, July 17: The United Committee Manipur and the June 18 martyrs families visited the family of Late Sapam Robinhood at Lairikyengbam Leikai and donated some cash amount in recognition of the student`™s sacrifices for the ILPS movement.

They also visited several injured persons who are presently undergoing at JNIMS and RIMS including Ch Imobi of Khurai Thangjam Leikai and Reson Haobijam of Khurai Konsam Leikai.

The team also provided some financial help to the injured individuals for their treatment.

Speaking to media persons following the visit, UCM president Johnson Elangbam expressed deep concern against the police conduct during the recent ILPS movement.

He said young students who were participating in the democratic agitations were assaulted in such inhuman manner and inflicted with serious multiple injuries.

He further appealed to police personnel to carry out their crowd control exercise according to the trainings they had received instead of using so much violence.

He further appealed to the Chief Minister to expedite the process of drafting the new bill and complete it at the earliest.

`All political parties and representatives of JCILPS should also be consulted and their suggestions should be incorporated too, in the larger objective of saving the indigenous population of the State`™ he said.

Reson Haobijam, 17, son of H Mani and Sanatombi was admitted in a critical condition with multiple injuries at RIMS after a mock bomb exploded near him during one of the many protests.

A mock bomb splinter was infact taken out from one of his four wounds sustained in the explosion.

A vein on his right hand was cut open and he has been given five units of blood so far since his operation.

Meanwhile, the father of the injured boy said doctors have told the family that one of the boy`s ear drums is damaged and that he would have to undergo a CT Scan examination

However, since the CT Scan machine in the hospital is not functioning and since Reson cannot be taken out of the hospital due to his condition, getting the CT Scan done is getting delayed, he said.

Reson is still in a very serious condition and had another blood transfusion today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ucm-visits-robinhoods-family/