Manipur News

IMPHAL, Jul 28: A man who was having a fest with friends inside a tent house was injured allegedly in police firing today.

The incident occured around 7:50 pm.

Locals said Ngangom Robinson, 32, son of (L) Ng Debendro of Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai was having dinner with some friends inside the AK Enterprises Tent House along the Imphal-Moreh highway in Singjamei area when they heard someone pelting stones at the tent house.

The tent house was close for the day on account of the 38-hour general strike called by the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood, according to sources.

It is also learnt that when Robinson and his friends came out they saw some police personnel of Kakwa Police Station throwing stones at thier tent house. This resulted in a confrontation between the two groups.

Soon more police personnel came in a Rakshak vehicle and fired towards them during which Robinson was hit on his left thigh and right wrist. Residents soon called the local MLA who came and took Robinson to the RIMS for treatment.

It is also learnt that Robinson was first provided some first aid by a local doctor.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/man-injured-in-alleged-police-firing/

IMPHAL, July 28: The government constituted bill drafting committee`™s appeal inviting suggestions and recommendations from the public is a delaying tactic of the government, Janata Dal (United) Manipur president M Tombi claimed today.

Speaking to media persons at a press meet at the party`™s office today, he claimed that recommendations and suggestion from the all political parties committee, legal experts, academicians, politicians, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System among others have already been submitted to the State government.

Now, if the present government is at all interested in introducing the bill, the government could pass a bill based on these recommendations alone, he said.

But on the contrary, the government is inviting recommendations and suggestions from the people which smacks of the government trying to delay the bill preparation, he lamented.

The State government should prepare the new bill based on the recommendations of the JCILPS and the all political parties committee, he continued.

The BJP Manipur Pradesh has also to take a vital role in the present issue Tombi said, adding that the BJP Manipur Pradesh could pressure the Centre where the BJP is leading the government to enact the ILPS or a similar law in the State.

He further accused the BJP Manipur Pradesh of all talks and no work.

Instead of only making statements over the present issue, Tombi asked the BJP to act on the issue.

It is very unfortunate, that the present Congress government has failed to take any action until there is death, he observed.

He continued, the government is also not trying to bring any amicable solution with the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood so that the last rites of the student could be conducted.

Police personnel involved in the death has been encouraged rather than take action against him, he charged.

General secretary of the party, Len Gangte also said that the BJP has to play a vital role in the implementation of the ILPS in the State, however, the BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba is only trying to take political mileage out of the issue.

If Choaba had taken any initiative, the ILPS could have been easily implemented in the State, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/governments-appeal-for-more-suggestions-a-delaying-tactic-jd-u/

IMPHAL, July 28: The Manipur Peoples`™ Party has charged that it would be difficult for the bill drafting committee constituted by the government to draft a bill which would serve the interest of the indigenous people under its present chairman Th Devendro.

Making the allegation, MPP president N Sovakiran told media persons that Th Devendro who has always promoted foreigners to bank on their votes will find it difficult to draft the bill to safeguard the interest of the people.

He was speaking at a press conference at the party`™s Imphal office.

He charged Jiribam MLA Th Devendro of turning illegal immigrants from countries like Bangladesh into electors in his constituency to strengthen his vote bank.

Now the government has handed him the responsibility of preparing a draft to safeguard the interest of the people, which is hard to believe, he continued.

The MPP is unconvinced that the drafting committee under the present chairman would be able to come up with a satisfying bill, he observed.

He further demanded a report on the status of the bill preparation from the drafting committee.

The present turmoil in the State is due to the government`™s neglecting recommendations from experts and the all political parties committee led by Gaikhangam, he said.

Now as such the new drafting committee should report on its status every few days, he demanded.

Today, there are several localities in the State with foreign names; this is all because of MLAs like Devendra who allow foreigners to settle down so that these illegal immigrants could act as their vote banks, he claimed.

Now there are villages with names like Islamabad in Jiribam, Sovakiran charged.

All the ministers in the Congress government in the State led by Okram Ibobi Singh and Gaikhangam have been on foreign tours, yet they have no concern to bring the same development they had witnessed during such trips in the State, he charged.

The government it seems is more concern of the contract works, he alleged.

The failure of the Congress government is quite evident from the present issues like the leakages at the Thoubal Multi-purpose Project dam, he observed.

He said people have started to flee from their villages fearing that the dam leakages could create havoc if allowed to go unchecked.

However, the government is still unable to provide assurance to the people residing in the downstream villages that the dam will not collapse, he continued.

The Chief Minister had assured that the Sekmai Dam will not collapse but it has collapsed recently, he claimed.

The hanging bridge on Barak River had also snapped recently which is also anther failure of the government, he claimed.

The most number of cracks appearing in government constructed buildings have come up during the last 13 years of the Congress government, which is because of failure to maintain quality during construction, he alleged.

The government should be responsible for all these, however, it has failed to take up any action against any official he said.

Never has the present government ever taken a timely solution to an issue, he charged.

He continued even the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood have not been suspended till date.

The education sector has been shut down for the past many days, and there is no visible solution for the schools to open in the near future, he claimed.

The MLAs of buying fertile soil at low prices and selling it off to the government for the construction of the National Sports University, Sovakiran further charged.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/mpp-censures-choice-of-chairman-for-bill-drafting-committee/

IMPHAL, July 28: The 38-hour state-wide general strike being imposed by the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood alias Thoi of Lairikyengbam Leikai, Imphal East with effect from 5 am today in protest against the government`™s lackadaisical attitude towards delivery of justice to the death of the student in police action on July 8, has greatly affected normal life in the State.

Inter-state and inter-district passenger services stayed off the road due to the ongoing strike.

Movement of private vehicles along the State and National Highways was minimal. Business establishments, shops, banks and oil pumps in different parts of the State remained closed.

The rate of attendance of employees in government and private offices was low owing to the strike. Markets including Khwairamband Keithel in Imphal also bore deserted look. Many programmes which were supposed to be held today had to be postponed.

The strike which will remain effective till 7 pm of tomorrow looked total mainly in the valley districts.

On the other hand, volunteers of Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) and supporters of the JAC blocked roads by burning tyres and placing wood logs in different areas during the course of the strike today.

Movement of vehicles and commuters in the areas was also restricted by the strike supporters.

The strike supporters shouted slogans such as `Implement ILPS in Manipur`™, `Safeguard indigenous people`™, `Punish those police personnel involved in the killing of Robinhood`™ etc.

However, there is no news of any untoward incidents during the course of the strike.

The ongoing general strike called by the JAC also badly hit normal life in Thoubal district.

Shops and business establishment were downed shutters. Except few private vehicles, passenger services in the district were ceased.

Strike supporters who came out in large numbers blocked Thoubal Wangmataba Road by placing wood logs and burning tyres. Passage of vehicles except for religious purposes through the district was also stopped by the supporters in the evening.

A large number of security personnel deployed in different parts of the district remained vigil to thwart any untoward incident during the strike.

On the other hand, Thoubal Awang Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup staged a sit-in-protest at Thoubal Bazar in support of the mass movement led by JCILPS for implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the state.

During the protest demonstration, the protestors chanted slogans like `Award stringent punishment to the police personnel behind the killing of Sapam Robinhood`™, `Enforce ILPS in Manipur without further delay`™, `Long live Manipur`™ etc.

The protestors also urged the government to re-open all the educational institutions at the earliest in the larger interest of the students.

The educational institutions were closed down by an order of the government following the death of the student.

Extending solidarity to the collective demand for ILPS implementation, a sit-in-protest was also staged by Thoubal Kiyam Siphai Khundongbam Leikai Meira Paibi Lup at Thoubal Kiyam Siphai during which slogans such as `Long live Manipur`™, `We condemn killing of Robinhood`™, `Safeguard the indigenous people by passing the proposed bill within the set deadline`™ etc were shouted.

Meanwhile, tension mounted in Tellipati and Soibam Leikai area following a verbal exchange after a shop open in the inside lane despite the general strike called by the JAC of Robinhood today.

In the late afternoon, Gulabi wife of Brahma Sahu opened the shop and when locals asked her to shut, she refused with demeaning answers.

Scuffle followed and volunteers destroyed her shop and set fire to the goods and a two wheeler that belongs to the family.

This led to a spiraling tension fortunately police arrive in time and diffused the mob.

The concern MLA Y Irabot also came to the spot and mediated the situation.

After his intervention the arrested youth named Bhim was also released by the police.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/robinhood-jac-general-strike-in-full-effect-normal-life-badly-hit-on-first-day/

IMPHAL, Jul 28: The General Administration Department has stated in a press release that the Governor of Manipur has ordered that as mark of respect to the departed leader (late) APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Seven Days State Mourning with effect from July 27 to August 2 will be observed and the National Flag will be flown at Half Mast during the period of mourning on all building throughout the state where the National Flag is flown.

There will be no official entertainment during the period of State Mourning, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/state-joins-sevenday-mourning-in-respect-to-apj-abdul-kalam/

IMPHAL, July 28: As the State is witnessing incessant heavy downpours for the last few weeks with the onset of rainy season, water level of the Nambul River is flowing above the warning level.

According to reports received from the Control Room of Irrigation & Flood Control Department located at Khoyathong, water level of the Nambul River which is one of the important rivers of the State is recorded at 781.500 mm while the warning level is measured at alarming 781.175 mm as of today 6pm.

Water level of Imphal River is also flowing at alarming 782.775 mm, Lilong River at 777.850 mm, Nambol River at 772.050 mm, Thoubal River at 776.850 mm and Iril River at 781.400 mm.

However, the Control Room of the Department has not received any reports of breakage of pavement and overflowing of the rivers till 8 pm of today.

On the other hand, the heavy shower has also led to the overflow of water from Wangjing River, inundating many residential houses and 500 acres of agricultural fields at Sangaiyumpham and Wangjing Tentha in Thoubal district.

On hearing the news that many houses and agricultural fields have been inundated due to the heavy rainfall, former Adhyaksha of Thoubal Zilla Parishad Atao Rahaman and Pradhan Nominee of Sangaiyumpham Part I Azad Khan using JCB tried to block the overflowing water from entering the residential houses and agricultural fields.

Ex-Minister of Wangjing Tentha Constituency Moirangthem Hemanta and Youth Co-ordinator of Khangabok Block Congress also arrived along with JCB and Tata truck to help in blocking the water flown out from the river.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/nambul-river-water-level-crosses-warning-mark/

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL, July 28: A seniority list of the employees of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences to be purposed to the Union Health Ministry is presently under heavy debate.

The list due to certain entanglement in service terms and conditions has not been furnished as of yet despite the Ministry demanding the list at the earliest.

In the regard, a notice was sent to the deputy director (Administration)of RIMS on April 27 last. It was a letter forwarded by the under secretary of the Government of India , Murari Lal Sharma to the deputy director urging that that the finalization of the seniority list should be completed at the earliest. The letter gave a time limit of one month to finalize the list, i.e. by May 2015.

Followingly, a seniority list was then later drafted based on the controversial `Time Scale Promotion scheme 1991` by the incumbent director- in- charge, Prof. S Rita Devi on May 28 last. However, due to the complaint raised by many professors of the Institute,the list was kept on hold by the director herself. Later, an order from the Director came out to re-examine the list, according to order number B/2243/2005-RIMS made on July 16 last- a Scrutiny Committee comprising of three professors was constituted to examine the objections raised by the professors to the Time Scale Promotion and also in regard to framing the seniority list. The committee was to submit its recommendations then by July 25. 2015.

The Committee responsible for evaluating the seniority list consists of Prof.W Gyaneshwar Singh, Dean of JNIMS as Chairman; Prof. Ng Brajachand Singh, Dean of School of Medical Sciences, Manipur University as member and Prof. Ak Joy Singh, Dean of Academics (RIMS) as convenor.

But, the function ability of the said Committee was also questioned afterwards by incumbent senior professors of RIMS . The main point of contention being the debated Time Scale Promotion of the Institution. According to the standing `Time Scale Promotion Rules and Regulations` which serves as a guidelines for RIMS employees, those employees who have been appointed to Professorship under the said Time Scale Promotion are not supposed to be regular appointees of RIMS . They are supposed to be junior to those who are holding the Ministry sanctioned regular post.

In the regard and to quote a section of the rules, the excerpt is as follows mentioned in the regulations. i.e.: 1) Time Scale Promotion (TSP) is a flexible complimentary scheme and wherein no additional posts are created. 2) TSP doesn`™t offer perquisites at par with other appointees in the grade and only offers a marginal adjustment to the pay. 3) If a professor promoted under TSP retires, expires or leaves the job, the post which the incumbent was holding will cease to exist and revert back to the earlier post, i.e. associate professor.

In simpler terms, there is a total of only 29 sanctioned posts for regular professors at RIMS. RIMS have now at present 13 regular sanctioned professors and a following vacancy of 16 professors. However, the TSP which was introduced in 1991 to `remove discontentment and frustration due to lack of opportunity for promotion in normal courses`™ allows the appointing authority to upgrade 22 % of total regular posts of associate professor to the `grade`™ of professor which is reflected also only in the pay scale. It means to say that there is only a limited number for post of the sanctioned professor of a department in RIMS, for example, Anatomy -1, Biochemistry-1, ENT-1, Medicine-4, etc. which totals to 29 sanctioned posts by the Ministry. But, the other associate professors have to wait for either the senior regular appointed officer to leave, retire or expire to become a regular sanctioned professor.

Hence, the Time Span Promotion is being introduced in 1991 to remove discontentment and frustration among the teachers and officers in the institute however without altering the number of the 29 posts sanctioned by the Ministry. But, the terms given by the Ministry on the seniority status mentions that `Seniority of the employees of the Institute in each category shall be determined by the order of merit in which they are selected for appointment to the grade in question; those selected on earlier occasion being ranked senior to those selected later, provided that the inter-se-seniority of employees other than the teaching staff of the Institute shall be determined by the length of continuous service of post in a particular area.

The questions which is put up by some professors to the Health Ministry and RIMS director is – what is the fate of the regular appointed persons who comes under the sanctioned 29 posts? As those who are promoted under the TSP which have no sanctioned post rules outmaneuvers the sanctioned senior ones. It appealed that the seniority of the faculty is not respected and appointing the Director in charge of RIMS on the last two occasions were the juniors being picked up.

The RIMS senior faculty decries that the TSP regulations has overrode the sanctioned norms and moreover been ignored by the Health Ministry at large. The concerned professors appeals that proper judgment be carried out without favoritism and with regard to aforesaid rules and regulations.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/rims-professors-challenge-faulty-seniority-list/