Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 19: Series of malpractices have been alleged while implementing 165 numbers of Minor Irrigation Schemes for three fiscal years approved by Work Advisory Board and Ministry of Water Resource, Government of India under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP).

In this regard, two separate complaints had been lodged with the Chief Secretary of Manipur to conduct a probe, by a social worker, S Washington of Kasom Khulen, Ukhrul district.

According to the first complaint, the Government of India Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure released an amount of Rs. 17.27 crores for completion of 165 schemes for Manipur State under AIBP. The fund was reportedly released on November 13, 2013 for the fiscal year 2013-14.

It alleged that of the approved work list of 165 scheme serious fraud was detected while implementation and in the mode payment of bills.

In some cases, there was no trace of any work execution. However the allocated amount was allegedly withdrawn.

Meanwhile, in the wake of Government initiative for taking up 99 new schemes under the same funding agency for the fiscal year of 2013-14 a serious flow was found in the work list prepared by the Minor Irrigation Department, Manipur, it claimed.

It pointed out that the department has re-included places where work was left undone during the year 2010-11, 2013-14, putting areas of places with slight changes of names and unspecific places of names etc were also found.

It may be noted that with regards to the 99 new schemes a written petition was also earlier submitted to the Chief Secretary of Manipur to recheck the list prepared by the MI department, a person from Chandel district namely, SK Joseph Lamkang. The individual identified himself as a social worker.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/social-workers-allege-malpractices-in-implementing-minor-irrigation-schemes/

IMPHAL, February 19: Various civil society organizations have strongly condemned the act of unknown gunmen who came looking for Naharolgi Thoudang editor Khoirom Loyalakpa at his residence.

In a press release, the United NGOs Mission Manipur, North East Dialogue Forum, Social Welfare and Development Centre, Women Action for Development, Social Action Development Organization, Social Development Foundation, United Tribal Development Project, Peoples` Platform Secretariat, People Action Development H-37, Life Development Organization, Centre for Social Development and Village Women Coordinating Committee have strongly condemned the incident.

`We are deeply shocked to hear the news of attacking the residence of Khoirom Loyalakpa, Editor, Naharolgi Thoudang, the Local daily newspaper on 17th February 2015 at around 10.30 am at Kontha Khabam Mayai Leikai by four armed persons while he was out of his residence,` the statement said.

`The four masked armed men asked for Loyalakpa in the presence of his 94 years old mother and 97 years old father. Every nook and corner of the residence was searched with an arrogant action by holding a gun in their hands,` it further said.

`94 years old mother of Loyalakpa was mentally shocked after the action of the four masked men, and she is still traumatized,` it said.

`We strongly condemned such act of serious human rights violation,` it said.

`We also condemned the attack on Noren Ningombam along with his cameramen Bipin Sharma, the bureau chief of “Impact TV” on 13th February 2015 at Moreh by the four personnel of 9th Assam Rifles while they were covering a mob gathered at Moreh police station to demand the release of a man arrested earlier,` it further said.

The people in Manipur already experienced the assassination of Konsam Rishikanta of Imphal Free Press and others few years ago, it said.

Attacking civilians, journalists, human rights defenders, women and children are fall under War Crime which has to be obliged by Indian State, it said.

`We urge the Government of India and Manipur to investigate the cases mentioned above by establishing an independent committee and take up legal measures to the perpetrators and punish them under the rule of law,` the statement added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/various-civil-society-organizations-condemn-threat-on-thoudang-editor/

IMPHAL, February 19: The United Liberation Front (UNLF) has said that a Major of the outfit remained traceless after being arrested by a combined team of Indian Intelligence and Bangladesh Police.

A statement issued by the outfit`™s director in-charge, M. Sak-hen said that on February 11 around 10 pm Major Keithellakpam Chilheiba alias Nabachandra (Bangladesh citizen), was arrested by a joint team of Indian intelligence in civies and Bangladesh (black dress) Police from his Dhaka residence under Mohammadpur Police station.

It said that the Major was taken away on the pretext of having some words with the team and assured to released him within three days time. However, four days have passed since his arrest and his whereabouts is not known, it said.

The incident is absolutely against the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights and is an arbitrary arrest and detention depriving natural justice, it said.

Terming the act as uncivilised on the part of the Indian intelligence, it further branded the incident as Trans-National terrorism.

It said that Major K Chilheiba, joined the UNLF`™s revolutionary movement in the year 1992 adding that he is holding the rank of Major in the Manipur Peoples`™ Army (MPA), the armed wing of UNLF.

He was arrested by individuals coming in two vehicles. He was assigned a task of the outfit in Bangladesh.

After his arrest, an eveninger in Manipur `Imphal Times` February 17 edition and Jiribam based daily Manipur Chronicle, reported about the arrest of the Major. Nevertheless, the Indian officials remained silent in the matter.

It appealed to the Human Rights bodies and civil societies of Manipur to extend their cooperation in providing legal aid and deliver justice to the arrested Major of the outfit taking into consideration the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, arbitrary arrest and detention.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/unlf-claims-its-officer-untraced-after-arrest-in-bangladesh/

IMPHAL, February 19: A State head quarter cell being set-up to take preventive measures against swine flu has directed RIMS and JNIMS authorities to keep separate isolation wards for any known case of swine flu in the State, stated Okram Ibomcha, director of the State health department. He further said that the State head quarter cell is functioning from the last one week and a helpline has been opened.

Every district should also open cells under the district surveillance officers and chief medical officers to prevent and stop the H1N1 swine flu in Manipur, he said at a press meet at the Directorate of Health, Lamphelpat.

As a part of the preventive measures taken up against swine flu, the State health directorate has instructed to keep separate isolation wards at RIMS, JNIMS and district hospitals to admit swine flu patients, said Okram Ibomcha.

The State health department has started its preparations to prevent swine flu after the neighbouring state of Nagaland has confirmed a swine flu case recently. The anti-dote Fluvir (Oseltamivir capsules IP 75 gm) is available in the State now, with a stock of 2000 strips of the anti-dote available at present, another 5000 capsules has already been ordered from the Central government.

As further precautionary measures against any detected case of the swine flu virus in the State, PPE (personal protection equipments) like mask N-95, three layer masks, goggles mask, cloths and booths are now available in the State, he said.

He said the number of people down with swine flu has reached 631 including the detected case in Nagaland till late last night. The total number of deaths from swine flu in India is 6.7 percent as per the records. The mortality rate has increased where no proper medical facilities are available in States like Madhya Pradesh, with its 25 percent death rate, but in a city like Delhi, the mortality rate is very low at around 0.4 percent only.

The H1N1 virus is dangerous for people below five years and above 65 years; pregnant women, asthma patients and people with kidney transplants are vulnerable as they are in danger of succumbing to the virus more than any other chronic diseased persons, he said.

Swine flu is just like cough fever, if the body temperature of a person drops down with fever rising above 104 degree Fahrenheit or 38 degree Celsius and he does not recover in seven days, it is advisable to admit the person at hospitals for further treatment where he can recover easily with the help of the anti-dote Fluvir (Oseltamivir capsules IP 75 gm) by staying at an isolation room, he added.

The virus can be transferred from one person to another easily through air or saliva etc, so the medical department is advising people to wash their hands properly with soaps. If anybody has to tend to a swine flu patient, he must use N-95 mask and other disposable dresses which must be set on fire after use, he said.

Visiting places affected by swine flu is not recommended and if a person must visit such places, he should do so by wearing preventive kits, he said, adding the N1 H1 virus is transmitted from pig to people but now the virus has mutated into three strains which can be transmitted from people, birds or pigs, making the virus extremely dangerous.

The test for the H1N1 virus is conducted after taking throat swabs of people suspected to be infected with swine flu. The swab will then be sent to Labs at Delhi and Patna. In Manipur, we have a private clinic at RIMS road known as Padma Medicare which in collaboration with SRL, a private Medicare, has its own facilities for testing, he said.

In this regard, the health directorate has taken up an emergency consultation programme at office after which the State Surveillance Officer, Dr Kh Shusilkumar Mangang IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) spoke on the need for initiating preventive and precautionary measures against swine flu to CMOs, Medical Superintendents, DSO (district Surveillance Officers), IDCPs of every districts today at around 1.30 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/in-preparation-for-swine-flu-rims-and-jnims-instructed-to-keep-isolation-wards/

IMPHAL, February 19: The Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup and Nupi Keithel Singpham Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup jointly staged a sit-in-protest today here at Khwairamband Bazar condemning the bomb blast at the most crowded place Masjid Road.

Speaking to media persons, Thingujam Rani, secretary, Nupi Keithel Singpham amadi Saktam Kanba Lup stated that they strongly condemned the serial bomb blasts that are happening in Manipur.

She further said that a state like Manipur has not much economic resources and Khwairamband Bazar is one place where thousands of women earn their livelihood.

`How are the people going to survive in a situation where there are frequent bomb blasts,` said the unhappy protester.

However, she lauded the police for acting quickly with courage which saved many lives.

`If the police personnel did not take the steps on time then many would have lost their live during the bomb blast as it took place during the rush hour at around 4 pm,` she added.

Poanam Ibenu Devi, secretary, Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagatpa Lup strongly urged the outfit responsible for the bomb blast not to repeat such acts in future.

She further stated that `Ima market is not a war zone. In fact it is a place where the poor earn their livelihood. Let the people of the state live and not die meaninglessly.`

The Nupi Keithel Semgat Sagat Lup and Nupi Keithel Singpham amadi Saktem Kanba Lup strongly appealed the government to look into the matter to prevent such violence in the state.

The three Ima markets and all the surrounding shops remained closed for the day to protest against the bomb blast.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/women-vendors-condemn-bomb-blast-at-khwairamband-bazar/

IMPHAL, February 19: National projects implemented in the State are reputed to be put into effect most swiftly in the entire country, stated Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in his speech as a chief guest today at the IBSD Campus in Takyelpat.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the first National Bio-resources and Sustainable Development Summit held at the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD.

Talking about the State government`™s support to the national projects, he said that the expansion of airports and the new railway links require large tracts of land. He said the State government is carrying out land acquisitions so as not to delay the projects. He said the State will receive 90 percent of the benefits from the ongoing national projects in Manipur.

He has been the Vice-president of the IBDS from the last 13 years and will not deviate from any developmental issue of the institute, he said, adding the area of land of the institute is still not sufficient for effective functioning of the institute.

He further called for co-operation from the people living around the institute and asked the encroachers to evacuate at the earliest from the land allotted to the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency (MANIREDA), and the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) located adjacently to the IBDS institute. He said that if the encroachers fail to evacuate from the said land then the Government would have no other option than to use force.

Coffee cups and bamboo souvenirs with messages of saving the Sangai and Siroi Lily were also released by the dignitaries at the inaugural function.

IBSD Imphal director Professor Dinabandhu Sahoo in his keynote speech said that the institute`™s staff and its students have extended their help in making the institute complex clean. He said the institute is still in need of expanding its premises and some of the area is being borrowed for that purpose.

He said he has a dream of promoting brand Manipur and added that the State of Manipur has unique gifts like the Ema Market which is a one-of-its-kind in the world, Siroi Lily, Sangai and Loktak Lake which are real wonders in their own rights but they need to be made widely known. The State is lacking in promoting these unique gifts, he stressed.

He said that the people of the State need to project the unique assets of the land to the rest of the world and they could help in improving the State`™s economy through tourism. He said the State has a lot of potential to be a tourist destination.

Sahoo said there are a few Bio-resources and Sustainable Development Institute in the country. He lauded the support of the State government in making the IBSD come to this level and also added that the State`™s CM has assured him to lift the institution to the upmost level.

He also announced that during his tenure as the director of IBSD, Imphal, he will put Manipur on the global map.

The chief guest of the inaugural function, O Ibobi also inaugurated a theme park at the IBSD complex. The inaugural function was also attended by Works & Transport minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh as the guest of honour.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/state-will-receive-90-percent-of-the-benefits-from-national-projects-says-cm-ibobi/

IMPHAL, Feb 19: A combined team of District Police Commando Bishnupur and 12 Bihar Regiment on February 16 conducted search operation at Nambol Bazar area and arrested an active member of PREPAK (PRO), a Police release said.

The arrested person has been identified as Keishnam Binodkumar Meitei alias Bimol alias Imo alias Nongdamba, 31, son of K Rajendro Meitei of Keibi Heikak Mapal Awang Leikai.

On follow up action, another active member of PREPAK (PRO) identified as Okram Sanatomba Meitei alias Peba alias Nganba, 23, son of O Ibomcha Meitei of Keibi Heikak Mapal Awang Leikai was also arrested, it further said. A case has been registered at Nambol Police Station and investigation is going on, it said.

Further, a team of District Police Commando Imphal West arrested an active member of KCP organisation during search operation at Kwakeithel Akham Leikai area on February 17, it said.

The arrested person has been identified as Khomdram Birjit Singh alias Momo alias Ibungo, 33, son of Kh Biramangol Singh of Kwakeithel Akham Leikai. Incriminating articles were seized from his possession, the release said.

On follow up action launched by District Police CDO, Imphal West and Women Police, another active member of KCP identified as Soibam (0) Rita Devi, 46, wife of (L) S Joychandra Singh of Haobam Marak lrom Leikai was arrested from her residence, it said.

Incriminating articles were seized from her possession, it said and added that a case has been registered at Lamphel Police Station and investigation is going on.

Furthermore, District Police Commando Imphal West arrested an active member of UNLF during search operation at Naoremthong Laishram Leirak on February 18, the Police release said. The arrested person has been identified as Laishram Langlenkhomba alias Dayal alias Eyamba, 49, son of L Biramangol Singh of Naoremthong Laishram Leirak.

Investigation revealed that he alongwith two associates had hurled grenades at some restaurants on Tiddim road and Uripok Laikhulembi, it said and added that a case has been registered at Lamphel Police Station and investigation is going on.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/police-arrest-ug-cadres-during-search-operations-in-various-places/

IMPHAL, February 19: The students`™ union of Modern College has decided to close down the college if the government fails to bring amicable solution with the agitating All Manipur College Teachers Association (AMCTA) before February 25.

Chanam Amujao Meitei, finance secretary of Modern College students`™ union, informed this while speaking at the press conference held today at the College.

He further said that the college was suppose to start its classes by February 2 but as the government fail to fulfil the demands made by AMCTA the classes were closed down indefinitely.

Colleges which are under AMCTA are on cease work strike indefinitely, students are missing many classes, he said.

He also pointed out that the syllabus and courses which they are studying need to be changed at par with the national standard so that they do not lag behind.

The infrastructures of the college are in worst condition as compared to the other colleges and there is still lack of teachers in various subjects such as Philosophy, History, Education, Geography and Political Science in the college, he said.

The students union of the Modern college strongly appealed the concerned authority to look into the matter seriously to improve the infrastructure and to fill up the vacant teacher posts.

Meanwhile, a press release of the Modern College Teachers`™ Association (MCTA) has said that under the banner of the All Manipur College Teachers`™ Association (AMCTA), the association has been launching cease work strike since February 18.

The cease work strike will be continued till the teachers`™ legitimate demands are fulfilled.

The Association regrets the inconveniences faced by the students of the College, it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/students-urge-govt-to-fulfil-amctas-demands/

IMPHAL, February 18: The Business Advisory Committee has fixed the duration of the tenth session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly for seven days from February 25 to March 3, a source said.

The BAC meeting was held at the Speaker`™s chamber from 1 pm at the Manipur Assembly Secretariat building today. The meeting was chaired by Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker, Th Lokeshwar, as the chairman and the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, several Ministers and MLAs were present at the meeting.

Sources revealed that on the first day, the Governor of Manipur will address the house followed by a motion of thanks to the Governor`™s Address; obituary references (if any); presentation of BAC report; presentation of supplementary demands for grants, 2013-14; presentation of budget estimates, 2014; motion for vote on accounts, 2014 and introduction of Government Bill (s), if any.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/business-advisory-committee-approves-sevenday-financial-year-session-for-201314/