Manipur News

IMPHAL, August 10 NNN: The FATYCM today said it condemns the August 4 incident that took place in Poumei Colony are, Imphal wherein at least six houses were destroyed, terming it as a ‘senseless act.’
The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) said that a representation was submitted to Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi on Saturday requesting him to take appropriate steps for immediate restoration of law and order in the state to protect private properties so that the people can live with dignity.
Citing importance of peaceful co-existence in the state, the federation had on May 5 last made an a fervent appeal to the Local Area Protection and Preservation Committee and its allied organizations not to adopt violent activities and not to prevent people from making private buildings in their own patta land.
However, the Meiteis residing in the Poumei Colony area had completely destroyed at least six houses belonging to tribal community in the area on August 4 in spite of the appeal, it accused.
It also expressed unhappiness over the alleged apathy shown to the issue by the state Government, calling it a step motherly attitude. Taking serious note of the incident, FATYCM apprised the Chief Minister in the memorandum about the matter requesting him to seriously look into it by taking immediate action.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fatycm-condemns-attack-on-poumei-colony/

IMPHAL, August 10 MNS/NNN: Hundreds of people in Sekmai in Imphal West district of Manipur on Saturday held a cycle rally against the proposed Tipaimukh Dam construction under the aegis of the Luwangbung Development Association, Awang Sekmai. The association also sent a memorandum to the Prime Minister to cancel the mega project citing the great potential impacts.
The rally which started from Nillapadma Primary School passed through various localities and then assembled at the starting point.
Kh. Malemnganba, member of the assn. said the state will face a lot of damages due to construction of the dam. No dam so far can’t give any utility to people as it can be known from Loktak Project.
The placards which read like go back NHPC, don’t torture people in the name of development and don’t try the Manipuries to become refugees.
Saying that very high ecological, environmental and social impact,and cost of the diversion of the vast tract of forest land will far outweigh the benefits likely to accrue from the project, Luwangbung Development Association said in the memorandum to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that it hopes the Government will respect the recommendation of the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) which says not to accord the approval for diversion of 22, 777, 50 hectres of forest land.
It also urged the Government of India and its Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to desist from granting the forest diversion proposal for the Mizoram part of the Tipaimukh Project and to make the proceedings of the Indo-Bangladesh Sub-Group of proposed 1, 500 MW project and open and transparent.
The memorandum also said, “We urge the Government of India to revoke the earlier environment clearance on the mega project as the Forest Advisory Committee of the MoEF has rejected the forest clearance for the project based on its colossal environmental and social impacts.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cycle-rally-taken-out/

IMPHAL, August 10 NNN: The Sana Konung (Royal Palace of Manipur) Semgat Lup (SKSL), an umbrella body of 57 different social organizations from both the hills and valley today reaffirmed its stance to safeguard the Royal Palace of Manipur, pledging to fight tooth and nail against the state Government’s policy to take over it.
A meeting of the SKSL was held at the palace premises during which six resolutions were taken to protect and preserve the Royal Palace which the state Government keens to take over for renovation and expansion.
The meeting presided by SKSL president Ch Gopalmacha took six resolutions. It resolved that the proposed takeover of Sanakonung by the Government for its redecoration must first get the people’s mandate.
It decided that the titular king must not leave the palace while rejecting the recent letter sent to SKSL by the state Art and Culture Department. The meeting called it a policy against the will of the people.
SKSL now will focus on revamping the palace, it resolved and reaffirmed that the lup will never allow the Government to take over the palace for renovation and preservation under the Historical Monument Act and that the lup will fight tooth and nail against the Government’s policy.
It decided that the palace will be renovated by the Royal Council after consultation with the public and warned of strenuous agitation in the face of the Government’s efforts to use force for the proposed takeover.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/taking-over-of-royal-palace-opposed/

IMPHAL, August 10: Call it the lapse in the security measure, a bomb was exploded right in front of the main gate of Manipur Chief Minister’s bungalow here around 6:30 pm Saturday but no human casualty was reported in the explosion. The explosion took place amidst tight security taken up by state police ahead of the Independence Day celebrations in Imphal city.
Today’s blast has come amidst tight security measures being taken up in the run up to the Independence Day celebration. Search operations and frisking have been intensifying in the past ten days in and around Imphal so that no untoward incident happens during this year’s Independence Day celebrations.
This evening, minutes after the blast at the high security zone, Manipur Home minister Gaikhangam, Deputy Director General of Police Y Joykumar and top police officials rushed to the spot.
No arrest was made so far in connection with the incident. After the blast, heavy police personnel present at the site conducted a cordon and search operation in the area around the Chief Minister’s bungalow.
Gaikhangam who is also the state Home Minister condemned the blast and said it was ‘unfortunate.’
He said the public will sense a security lapse over the explosion that took place at the heavily-guarded bungalow and underscored the need for re-arranging, strengthening and regulating the security measures.
Earlier, militants carried out an attack on the bungalow.
He said, “The Home Department takes the Saturday’s blast seriously. We have discussed the matter very seriously.”
Gaikhangam said the security personnel providing protection to the public as well as the Government need to execute their duties sincerely.
Asked about the CCTVs installed in Imphal city, including the Chief Minister’s bungalow, Gaikhangam informed reporters that the state Government now cannot maintain most of them well due to certain reasons. He, however, said that these CCTVs will be repaired soon.
The Deputy Chief Minister while expressing concern over the reported kidnapping of two officials of state Horticulture Department said the Government believes the duo will be freed safe and sound very soon as negotiations are on to secure their release.
He appealed to the concerned militant group to release the two officials safely and warned of stringent actions to militant organizations that are often indulged in kidnapping for ransom.
The two officials of Manipur Government’s Horticulture Department were reportedly abducted by suspected Kuki militants near Kanglatombi bazaar under Sekmai Police Station in Senapati district on the night of August 8.
Gaikhangam also urged the militant groups which are under Suspension of Operation (SoO) and ceasefire not to violate the agreements and to think for peace.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bomb-blasts-in-front-of-cms-residence/