Manipur News

By R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, September 19: The Tangkhul civil society organizations have strongly condemned the bomb attack at Viewland, Ukhrul on 17 September evening that had claimed two innocent lives while critically injuring two others.

The Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong,Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Tangkgul Naga Wungnao Long, Longohang and Tangkhul Leihsak Long have in a joint statement, said that they were deeply alarmed and concerned by the violent acts, particularly at a time when the Tangkhul people are still recovering from the shock of the incident on August 30, which also resulted in the loss of two lives.

“The Wednesday incident is nothing but cowardly and terroristic and should be condemned by all.” the statement noted while urging all the people, particularly the Tangkhul Nagas, to stand united against such acts.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved friend and colleague, Ms. A.S. Dinah, the former President of Tangkhul Shanao Long. She was an inspiration for courageous and decisive leadership. We also mourn the loss of Ms. Lansophi Tangvah, a young promising student whose life has been nipped in the bud.”

“We share the grief of the family and remember them in our prayers at this trying time. While it may not be a consolation enough, we remind their family members that the whole Tangkhul people are standing by them.” the statement added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/tangkhul-bodies-condemn-ukhrul-blast/

IMPHAL, September 19: Nagaland based Morung Express reported that an alleged rapist was lynched by an angry mob in Meluri, Phek on September 18.

“The incident was sparked by the discovery of the dead body of an 11 year-old girl, who went missing on the evening of September 17. The victim of the lynching incident, identified as Ibobi Singh, was reportedly nabbed by the public while trying to flee,” the report said.

However, when IFP contacted the Ukhrul police regarding the incident, it was informed that the full identity of the deceased accused is yet to be ascertained.

With his feature resembling a resident from Gwaltabi, the Lamlai police station cross checked the reference however his identity could not be determined, the police said before adding that the corpse is said to be at Maluri village after post mortem examination was conducted at the Naga Hospital, Kohima.

Meanwhile, the Morung Express report continued that according to the Phek police, an 11 year-old girl from Meluri went missing on the evening of September 17.

Her dead body was found the next morning at a forested location about a kilometre away from Meluri town, it said.

Tension mounted after words went round that the culprit was a neighbor of the girl, other sources said according to the report.

“The man was later nabbed by the public somewhere between Meluri and Jessami and taken to Meluri where he was lynched at the local ground,” it said.

Police were prevented from taking custody of the man after they were accused of failing on their duties, it said and continued that the public further prevented the conduct of post-mortem on the girl’s body.

The initial inquest conducted by the police suggested that the girl was raped and murdered, but it could be confirmed only after medical examination, Phek police said according to the report.

Four policemen were injured and one police vehicle was torched in the subsequent clash, the Morung Express report said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/alleged-child-rapist-lynched-in-nagaland/

IMPHAL, September 19: Fourteen members of the Autonomous District Council, Sadar Hills including vice chairman Paojalet Touthang are up in arms against chairman Haokholal Hangshing charging him of swindling crores of development funds.

The dissidents have also moved a no-confidence motion against the chairman before the additional deputy commissioner, Kangpokpi seeking Haokholal’s removal from the post.

Speaking to the media during a press conference at Imphal where the 14 are presently camping, Paojalet said the chairman has decided to disregard the other members as public representatives and acting against the spirit of the District Councils Act and Rules.

There is no transparency in the financial administration under his leadership, he alleged before asserting that although all administrative functions of the council are vested with the executive committee, in reality the chairman has concentrated all functions for himself.

He alleged that the chairman is exercising unguided administrative powers in an arbitrary manner at his own discretion in all development related matters without consulting the house or the executive committee.

He said it has been more than three months since the 14 of them have been camping at Mahabali seeking Congress High Command to remove the chairman who is supported by only ten members.

Paojalet also alleged Haokholal of misusing funds amounting to Rs 1 crore under the 13th Finance Commission in the name of construction of 100 schools in Sadar Hills, without the knowledge of the majority of members.

He stated that sources have informed that “Chairman Haokholal Hangshing is again trying to fraudulently withdraw and misuse more council funds without the approval of the district council or the executive committee before the no confidence motion is resolved.”

Paojalet Touthang alleged that his intention is to bring disunity among the congress councilors which will eventually weaken the Congress Party in Sadar Hills.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/adc-sh-members-charge-chairman-of-swindling-funds/

By R Lester Makang
UKHRUL, September 19: As rumours that the government is providing beneficiaries with instant access to Rs 1 lakh on opening of a bank account under the newly-launched Pradhan Mantri Jan Dan Yojana (PMJDY) scheme continue to circulate among the public, banks in Ukhrul town have remained chock-a-block with people from across the district and are having a tough time dealing with the crowd since the past few days.

This heavy rush is probably created by unfounded rumours/information regarding the scheme being circulated among the local populace here, said Achui, branch manager, UBI Mini Secretariat branch, Ukhrul, while adding that the bank has since August 18 last opened the facility to the public for opening their bank accounts under PMJDY scheme but only a few turned up.

However, since around September 10, the number of people visiting the bank to open their accounts have dramatically multiplied, she said adding that:“Since August 18 some 150 accounts have been opened at the branch but as the number of applicants suddenly shot up, more than 1000 applications are left pending since the past few days.

Clarifying that although the government has announced Rs 1 lakh insurance cover for each account holder in the event of any eventuality, the same is yet to be included in the current account opening process; the official further stated that what is then being done now is simply to provide bank account for each citizen and it is not known when will the government implement such benefits.

Maintaining that the unprecedented rush has hampered the duty of the staff, another official of the bank said that a separate section for opening accounts under the scheme has been arranged so as not to disrupt normal banking service. Accordingly, people who turned up for the purpose could be seen making a serpentine queue outside the bank.

Surprisingly, no such crowd could be witnessed at UBI, Viewland branch as its bussiness correspondents stationed at Phadang, Teinem, Hundung, Hunphun and Tolloi villages are taking care of the account opening process for the people of their respective areas.

Meanwhile, a large number of people could also be seen thronging the Ukhrul Election Office to obtain the Voters ID cards for the purpose of opening bank account. When asked about the procedure for obtaining the card, one official of the department said that those people who are already included in the published Electoral List and not owning ID card are charged Rs. 200 per head for a duplicate card.

“We are charging this amount from the public because we do incur expenses in the process as cards are made in Imphal only,” he said lamenting that we do not have this facility to create the card at our own headquarters. He also urged all the MLAs of the district to look into the acute shortfall in such facility for the denizens of the district.

Incidentally, the election department has allegedly ignored the replacement of Voter ID cards for those who had surrendered their cards for correction of particulars and duly applied for new cards on payment of Rs.25 per card some years back.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/pmjdy-rumours-draw-unprecedented-rush-at-ubi-ukhrul/

IMPHAL, Sept 19: Manipur Peoples’ Party president, N Sovakiran has come down heavily on the government of Manipur, particularly in matters of its handling of the situation in Ukhrul.

The MPP president said violent crimes such as murders and bomb blasts still continue, though the government claims that situation is under control.

Sovakiran interacted with a few media persons today, at the MPP office near Polo ground Imphal.

He said the State has already announced ex-gratia for the victims of different unfortunate incidents which had occurred at Ukhrul but lamented that the govt is still silent over the killing of MPP vice president, Haobijam Manisana, who was assassinated on November 13, 2013.

He said MPP had apprised the Governor and the Chief Minister regarding the matter but nothing has been done so far.

Sovakiran exuded confidence that MPP’s candidate for Hiyanglam by-poll, Mayengbam Amutombi will emerge winner. He said his party is well prepared for the poll.

The MPP chief took jibes at the BJP for their failure to properly address the issues of ILP and border fencing, which are important issues in the State, in spite of the BJP being in power at the Center. Public has lost confidence with parties like BJP and Congress, now people are expecting a lot from regional parties like MPP, said Sovakiran.

For the upcoming by-poll, it may be mentioned that former MLA E Dwijamani is going to be the Congress candidate. Meanwhile Trinamool is yet to declare its candidate for the by-poll. The candidate’s name is expected to be declared on Sept 22.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/pubic-expectations-are-high-on-regional-parties-mpp/

IMPHAL, September 19: High ranking officials and rich people receive all the benefits given to the State by the Union government but poor people have to endure hardships the most during times of difficulties, stated Professor Dr Chinglen Maisnam of the Department of Economics, Manipur University during a protest meeting (Wakat Mifam) today at the Irabot Bhawan in connection with the 118th Irabot Day.

The government is never prepared to meet challenges during a crisis but acts on behalf of rich people who end up taking all the benefits in the name of poor people, he said at the meeting organised by the All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur.

The government is not bothered about delving into the root causes of issues and its fundamental problems, he adds.

Commenting on the different pay scales for VDF and police personnel, Dr Maisnam said VDF personnel are working full time but are paid less than police personnel.

If their pay scale is not increased, domestic violence and crime against the women will happen as they can’t meet their daily requirements with the meagre salaries they receive, he adds.

On the issue of privatization of various departments, he said if departments are privatised than middle class families and lower class families are going to suffer the most.

Meanwhile, L Sotinkumar, general secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, Manipur said the day’s meeting was to discuss the six demands which were important for the people and various associations and AITUC, Manipur will continue to struggle until the demands were met.

The Congress government has ruled the country for more than 50 years and it promotes globalization and privatization, he adds.

The current dispensation at the Centre maintains that they will cleanse the system with good governance but bad governance continues, L Sotinkumar said.

Talking about the ILP, he said the issue is most important in our State because non-local people are soon going to outnumber the indigenous people of the State.

Pointing out that the highways in the State have become places of assault by NSCN-IM cadres who targeted the buses and the trucks plying along regularly, he said NSCN (IM) cadres rob trucks and demand ransom for abducted drivers and kill them and destroy their trucks if ransoms are not given. A highway security force is important for the trucks and buses, he adds.

He also said that delegates of AITUC, Manipur are meeting the Prime minister and the Home Minister in October to put demands in various matters which are important for our State.

The various unions and associations must come together to be powerful and become the “Arms of the Workers”, he added.

In today’s protest meeting, Trade Union Coordinating Body Manipur secretary Ksh Santa; secretary of TUCC, Manipur, Khomdram Gyaneshwar; All Manipur Road Transport Motors Workers Union H Kulamani and others also spoke on various other issues.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/09/rich-people-receive-all-sops-meant-for-poor-people-claims-professor-dr-chinglen-maisnam/