Manipur News

IMPHAL, January 8: The Office of the District Information Officer, Churachandpur has said that the launching programme of Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) was organised at Kangvai village in Churachandpur on January 8.

According to a release of the Churachandpur DIO, the programme was graced by MP (LS/II-Outer Manipur) Thangso Baite as chief guest, Churachandpur DC, IAS, Lunminthang Haokip, CEO/ADCC, SDO, Mannuamching and District Level Officers. In his keynote address, the Deputy Commissioner has said that people have to change the outlook and control anti-social activities in order to make Kangvai village a Smart Village. Speaking on the sidelines of the launching programme, he further said that the government of India directed all MPs to select one village each under their constituency as a smart village.

Public awareness and social empowerment are the key most important features for a smart village, it said.

SAGY was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi on the birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan on October 11 with the aim to bring the member of parliament of all the political parties under the same umbrella while taking the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in villages and turn them into model villages.

Under the scheme, villages will be offered smart schools, universal access to health facilities and pucca housing to homeless villagers. The main goal of SAGY is to translate comprehensive and organic vision of Mahatma Gandhi into reality, keeping in view the present context. The scheme will have three distinct features which are Demand driven, Inspired by society and People`™s participation, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/thangso-baite-launches-sagy-at-kangvai/

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, January 8: Since two months back, Churachandpur has witnessed several dog-bite related deaths specially in the town area. As many as five people have died due to rabies infection after being bitten by infected dogs in the Churachandpur town area during the period.

31-years old P Tuankhanlian, son of P Tuankhanpau of Zion Veng New Lamka is the latest victim and died on New Year`™s Eve.

The reason is simple – many dog owners are unaware of the need and importance of vaccinating their pets against virus as the rabies virus, a survey by IFP revealed.

At the same time, the functioning of the veterinary department has also left a lot to be desired.

But the alarming issue at the moment is the ignorance of the pet owners regarding immunisation of their pets. A simple survey of the town area is enough to realize that each house has at least one dog. There are many houses which has up to five dogs.

Sianboi Khuptong, a local resident said he has two German Shepherds and have vaccinated both his pets periodically, while on the other hand another dog owner identified as Pathang said he has two dogs but is unaware of the need to immunise the dogs.

Last month a man from New Lamka died after being bitten by a dog and just a day before him, an infant baby Suamlunmang alias Mangboi son of Kaimuanthang (a district correspondent of an Imphal based daily) of Zion Veng had died in a similar fashion.

Kaimuanthang said following the dog bite, he took his son to a private hospital where the doctor confirmed it to be a rabies case and at the same time that the remedial injection/ medicine is not available in Manipur.

He said he that took his two years and eight months old son to the RIMS where the boy died.

The incident of the young boy losing his life so early due to lack of medicine has left a serious question on the health care facility available not only in the district but in the entire State.

There is much lack of awareness among the people on issue, said a woman.

Kim of New Lamka said the civil societies should come up with a diktat that disallows anyone unable to vaccinate their pets regularly to own dogs.

Although five have lost their lives, there are also many who have been bitten by dogs although they are not infected by rabies.

Unless there is proper intervention from the concerned authorities the issue is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. Now with the DC already issuing an official order in this regard, the people are expecting actions from the authorities.

It may be recall that the deputy commissioner to control the fatality, had issued an order saying that every dog owner in Churachandpur had to vaccinate their pets.

However, the people are unsure of the availability of the vaccine at the government Veterinary hospital and had been procuring the vaccines from private clinics. People are also confining their pets movement inside their residential compounds lest they create problems.

Till the filing of this report there are more than 20 complicated cases of dog bites in New Lamka.

Speaking to the IFP last week, the joint director of Veterinary Dr Rosangrul Kholum said during the past three months, more than 4000 dogs have already been injected.

He said the Veterinary hospital in the district has only five doctors which is insufficient for the district.

On being asked about the public response to the DC`™s notice, he said there has been much increase in the number of owners bringing their pets for vaccination.

He said a rabies infected dog is hard to confirm infection without observing it for at least 10 days or by examining its brain.

He continued dogs from the far flung villages are not properly vaccinated and at the same time they sometimes get infected by wild animals from the nearby forest covers.

Staff of the veterinary department in the district has charged the concerned authorities of neglecting them.

Churachandpur ADC Chairman Langkhanpau Guite said he had at least on three counts asked the concerned authorities to fill the required posts under the ADC including the required doctors of the veterinary department.

Meanwhile, the YPA with its 11 units in New Lamka and the neighbouring area have been rallying along the streets and roads to ensure that the DC`™s order for necessary immunization of dogs is obeyed.

The DC in the meantime has followed up his earlier order by establishing help-lines through the Veterinary department, SP, SDOs, district council and CMO for the public to contact for redressal of dog related injuried.

A veterinary doctor Soma Valte who has opened a clinic along the Tiddim Road said there are several qualified veterinary doctors in Churachandpur, however, the government is yet to recruit any doctor since the past 18 years.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/death-from-dogbite-big-concern-in-ccpur-infant-son-of-scribe-amongst-casualties/

IMPHAL, January 8: Atrocities committed by security forces under the cover of Armed Special Power Act 1958 have been revealed and after the actual details regarding the discovery of some skulls from the excavation site of Tombisana High School is known and it may yet unearth another story of the barbarity of Indian security forces, charged National Identity Protection Committee president Sunil Karam. He was speaking during a one-day open discussion on the recovery of human skulls from the Tombisana High School.

The discussion was organised by All Manipur Students`™ Union at the Ema Khunthokhanbi Shanglen, DM Campus.

He elaborated that the case of Manorama has already revealed that personnel of the Assam Rifles raped and murdered her while also disclosing that many fake encounters do occur in the state. The recent recovery of eight human skulls during the excavation at the Tombisana High School may reveal the real stories behind many involuntary disappearances in the state, he added.

He said the Government has transferred the case to CBI as a delaying tactics and it is of no use to count on the CBI as it is mostly concerned about cases relating to mainland Indians.

He also alleged that though the discovery of the skulls during the excavation was sensitive, the Government remained silent.

Executive director of Human Right Alert, Laitongbam Babloo Singh said the media has played an important role in the recovery of human skulls issue. The Government who make people disappeared can easily make the skulls and skeletons disappear as well but the media by highlighting the issue stopped the government from doing that.

He said Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared Association, Manipur (FIDAM) has recorded 21 such cases and the recovery of the skulls may be related to these cases.

With the use of advanced technology, the identities, ages, the manner and times of the deaths of those people to which these skulls and bones belonged can be easily ascertained, Babloo said, adding that the government must take these cases seriously to deliver justice to people.

The open discussion was also attended by FIDAM president K Ranjit, UPF president BM Yaima, Human Right defender Joy Chingakham, Freedom editor RK Ranendrajit, many Emas and representative of many other civil bodies.

The president of the All Manipur Bar Association, Khaidem Mani was the moderator of the open discussion.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/discovered-skulls-are-evidence-of-sf-barbarity-says-meet/

IMPHAL, January 8: Irom Chanu Sharmila said she is fighting for the rights of the people and that she will not stop her movement until her demand is met.

Coming of the courtroom of JMIC Imphal East where she was produced today, the anti- Armed Forces Special Powers Act crusader said God seems to testing her.

Saying that she has been continuing her fast for more than 14 years, Sharmila expressed hope that God will soon grant her wish.

The court had earlier reserved the hearing on the case t o file a charge-sheet against Sharmila submitted by the Porompat Police till January 22.

Sharmila said her means of agitation is democratic although the government has failed to recognised it.

Meanwhile, a report of the Newmai News Network said `Desmond Coutinho who claims to be lover of Irom Sharmila was also produced before the same court.`

It said the British citizen of Goa origin was arrested by Manipur Police last December on the charge of causing serious disturbances and harassment to the activist.

The court further remanded him to police custody till January 22, the report said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/court-reserves-sharmilas-case-hearing-for-jan-22/