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/

IMPHAL, January 8: Family members have conducted, this evening, the last rites of the two URF, Manipur leaders who were killed allegedly in an encounter with a combined team of the Imphal West and Bishnupur commandos and police on January 6 morning.

The two leaders are the outfit`™s Finance secretary Keithellakpam Tiken Singh, 45, son of (L) K Anganghal Singh of Naoremthong Khullem Leikai and Home secretary Puyam Mungyamba alias Ruhini Meitei, 50, son of (L) P Indu Singh of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai.

The post mortem examination of the two bodies started around 12:30 pm today at the RIMS mortuary and was conducted by a police team led by additional SP, (L/O) Bishnupur K Meghachandra Singh and assisted by two ASI of the Moirang Police.

An executive magistrate of Bishnupur district also participated in the post mortem examination which was fully video recorded.

Families were instructed by the SDPO, Lamphel on the route to proceed on while taking back the bodies. Police teams also arranged proper security so as to avoid any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Ruhini was hit by four bullets in the stomach area, while, Tiken was hit by a bullet each on his head and chest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/families-conduct-last-rites-of-killed-urf-leaders/

IMPHAL, January 8: Chief justice (retd) of the Gauhati High Court justice Rajkumar Manisana passed away this morning around 10:45 from an illness at the Shija Hospital & Research Institute, Langol. He was 82.

The deceased chief justice (retd) will be accorded with State honour tomorrow at his Sega Road Leimayum Leikai residence at 9am.

Justice RK Manisana was born on February 2, 1932 and his father`™s name is RK Sanajaoba Singh.

A BSC LLB graduate, he started his career as a pleader from July 13, 1956 and became an advocate on July 15, 1958.

He was the advocate cum public prosecutor of the government from October 19, 1972 to October 20, 1974.

On November 29, 1979 he was appointed the advocate general of Manipur and became a justice of the Gauhati High Court on November 21, 1984.

RK Manisana became the chief justice of the Gauhati High Court on January 24, 1994.

Later on February 7, 1994 he was appointed the chairman of the Lok Ayukta, Assam.

An official order appointing him as the chairman of two wage boards was notified on September 2, 1994 and he took charge on March 21, 1995.

Chief justice of the High Court of Manipur justice Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra, justice N Kotishwar, juctice Khwairakpam Nobin Singh, High Court Bar Association of Manipur president L Shyamkishwor Singh and other senior advocates offered floral tributes to the departed soul today soon after his demise.

Meanwhile, it is also learnt that the High Court Bar Association of Manipur will hold a condolence meeting on January 12.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/retd-chief-justice-rk-manisana-passes-away-at-82/

IMPHAL, Sep 8: The chairman of the United Revolutionary Front/ Chief of Military Affairs Committee Lanheiba Meitei has greeted the people of Manipur on the occasion of the outfit`™s third anniversary.

A statement of the chairman said that the outfit was formed on January 7, 2012 with the main objective to unite the various organisations fighting for freedom of Manipur.

Like every mountain has a peak, one day the fight for freedom will certain succeed, it said.

The statement continued that no obstacles can stop the movement of the outfit but each obstacle will only strengthen the movement.

The URF has started initiating the process of opening up to other groups of the North East region for the formation of a united force `South East Asia Manipuri Union`™ and has further discussed the fight against `traditional enemy of Indian Colonialism and Capitalism,`™ it said.

The URF also believes that the united stand created by discarding the mindset of only `Meitei-ism`™ and instead committing to the Manipur-ism, will be able to defeat India, the statement said.

It further elaborated on the need to unify all the Manipuris settled not only Manipur but in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Myanmar and Bangladesh and encouraging the Manipuri nationalism.

It is also time for the Manipuri/ meiteis to discard the narrowness, selfishness and arrogance, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/urf-chairman-greets-on-outfits-third-anniversary/

THOUBAL, January 8: Agitated locals of Heirok Part 2 dug out a water pipe which has not been in use despite various appeals to the local MLA and Education Minister, M. Oken, PHE Department and Village Water and Sanitation Committee today.

The 20 m long water pipe was dug out from near the double post in front of market and discarded.

Stronger agitations will be taken up if the concerned authority still remained unmoved. Speaking to the media, FINE Society Club Secretary, Kh. Romio stated that the locals of Heirok part 2 have not received potable water for the past 15 years.

People use Heirok River water for drinking which was clean however, recently the river water has become unusable and the people have been suffering since then. The people along with FINE Society have been conducting democratic movements for the past 2 months demanding availability of potable water to the local MLA and concerned authorities with no result.

He further said that due to their unrelenting demands, the VWSC Heirok Part 2 had released untreated water directly from the river which has become filthy as a means to appease the agitated public. As protest against the VWSC, the people had demanded major repair of the water supply and to change the old water-pipe lines within a month.

However, VWSC only replaced 150m of the old pipe line and stopped further repairing of the water supply. Due to the carelessness of the VWSC, the agitated people of the area carrying spades and pickaxes started digging out the water pipes. When water burst out from the pipe, it was found to be untreated dirty water upon checking. Action must be taken up by the authority against the committee, said the Secretary.

The FINE Society Club also condemned the unruly behaviour of the OC of the police station who came to pacify the mob.

The Secretary further said that he strongly condemned the ignorance of the local MLA and PHE department despite the various appeals made to them. He further questioned the local MLA on his ability to turn the village into a model village when the people are not even provided potable water for over 15 years. He added that stronger agitation will be taken up if the concerned authority failed to take up strong action immediately, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/heirok-public-go-on-rampage-over-non-availability-of-piped-treated-water/

This is not new at all. It has been happening all the while in Manipur. The story of courier services taking the consumers for granted is perhaps as long as these services were introduced in the state. Before the liberalisation era, and even in the early years of liberalisation in the 1980s, there was only the government owned Speed Post for the people to depend on for sending urgent mails and parcels across India. This was the era when there was only Indian Airlines operating the sky, Ambassador and Fiat cars ruled the streets, Vespa and Yezdi two wheelers were the only few brands available. Fast mail then meant delivery within a week. A lot has changed since. A surfeit of private airlines has virtually pushed the government carrier out of business. They have also shrunk India in time and space considerably. Not only can a traveller from Imphal reach Delhi in a single day, but he or she can return from Delhi on the same day. He now also has a choice of airlines to choose from to travel on any given day. Twenty five years ago this would have been unthinkable.

This has also meant air mail delivery time has been shortened unimaginably. The best courier services loudly boast of the capability to deliver mails and parcels to any destination in India from anywhere within 24 hours, and at the most 48 hours. But business being business, when the market becomes weighted towards the sellers, the sellers begin to take advantage of buyers. This was happening in the air courier business till only a few years ago. In a place like Imphal, where consumers are not so bothered of their rights, they were ending up not being given the service they paid for. Other than a few top end courier services, there were courier services, such as one called DTDC, which began insisting customers to collect their parcels from their office, as if this was the natural thing customers were expected to do. And people did do as dictated, because they wanted their goods in their hands even if it meant a little extra effort. But today, even those who were indulging in such unfair business practices are having to change their ways because of the entry of a great number of very good private courier services. Unfortunately this change has not touched the government owned Speed Post. This is atrocious, for not only do the customers pay more than they would have paid for ordinary mails and parcels to use this service, but the employees of this government department are paid from public tax money, and they are paid much better than their private counterparts. As in most, if not all government services, complete lack of accountability has made their employees take things so easy, knowing their salaries do not depend on the quality of their work or the success of the enterprises which give them employment. No wonder so many public sector enterprises are loss making. In places like Manipur, they become defunct on a regular basis.

The IFP reported today of a case of Speed Post delay. The parcel in question was booked at a place in Karnataka on December 20, and within 24 hours, it landed at the Kolkata airport. It then disappeared from the internet parcel tracking facility of both the merchant, Amazon India, and also of India Post for 10 days, before the Imphal Airport NSH reported its receipt on January 1, and within an hour it was forwarded to the Imphal head office of the service. On January 2 morning, the internet tracking facility showed the parcel as received at the Imphal HO, and then nothing happened thereafter. At the end of the day today, January 8, the parcel is still lying at the Imphal HO. As reported again, the Imphal HO expects the customer to come and pick the parcel up from its premises. We do hope the postal service authorities are listening.

Leader writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/01/consumers-sidelined/