Manipur News

IMPHAL, February 3: The Manipur Peoples’ Party has today announced that the party will finalise its candidates for the upcoming 14th Lok Sabha election soon.

Addressing media persons, spokesperson, Heikrujam Nabashyam said that the party will finalise its candidates for the LS poll before the end of February.

He further criticised the Armed Forces Special Powers Act as a racist act; and said the people should not denounced it only as a draconian act.

On the reports of two Manipuri women being assaulted at the national capital, he reacted strongly , saying that there have been several cases of racism against the people of the North East in mainland India in the past three-four years.

He lambasted the three Members of Parliament from the state; and said they are there to sleep in Delhi.

Even in their presence at New Delhi, there have been several cases of crimes against students from the North East, he opined.

He said, the Indian government has always denied that the mainland Indians are racist to the people of North East.

However, after the recent incidents of the death of Arunachal Pradesh student, Nido and the reported assault of two Manipuri students in Delhi, the Indian government must accept that racism does occur.

Since, the centre is wholly responsible for the law and order situation in the national capital, the centre must take the blame for any crisis befalling the North Easterners in Delhi.

He further elaborated on the need of the government to frame a policy to handle racism cases in the national capital.

Like his predecessor, Sheila Dixit, who had assured full, control and protection of the people of north east as the chief minister, Arvind Kjriwal has also failed to act, he said.

He further lamented that the state government has continued to remain silent even after two women of the state were brutally assaulted.

The government must react immediately, he said before urging the Prime Minister to interfere and take proper action against all those involved at the earliest.

Nabashyam further said the incident cannot be taken lightly, and the MPs of the state need to take immediate and proper action at the earliest.

He further attracted the personal attention of state Governor VK Duggal on the reported assault of two women from the state.

He further appealed to the civil organisations of the state to initiate a platform for debate on whether AFSPA is a racist act or not and on how it found its root in a democratic country.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/finalisation-of-ls-candidates-by-february-end-mpp/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=finalisation-of-ls-candidates-by-february-end-mpp

IMPHAL, February 3:  A combined team of Imphal east district Commandos, 30 Assam Rifle and 40 Assam Rifle arrested three cadres of two different underground outfits today along with one 9 mm pistol and five live rounds.

According to a reliable source, a team of the Imphal east district police arrested one cadre of PREPAK and a former cadre of PLA from their respective residences this early morning along with one 9mm pistol and five live rounds.

The two arrested persons are identified as Yumnam Premanda, 33, son of (L) Ningthoubi of Kongba Uchekon Khonuo and L Basanta alias Akash, 32, son of (L) Ibobi of Keirao Lairembi Leirak.

Sources also said that during the evening today security forces arrested a cadre of the UNLF, identified as Tekcham  Sushil alias Ingo alias Leirol, 19, son of Shyam of Heirongthong from his residence.

On the other hand, according to reports received by the press two cadres of KCP Lamyanba Khuman were arrested by a combined team of Imphal east commando and the 40 Assam Rifle along with one Chinese Hand Grenade, two Magazine of 9mm Pistol and 15 live rounds on January 31.

Source said that the two arrested persons are identified as Phijam Robi, 27, son of Ingenjao of Phumlou Mamang leikai and Tensubam Hoyna alias Pari alias Shantikumar, 25, of Kerani of Toitang Sandum Leirak.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/combine-team-arrests-ug-cadres/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=combine-team-arrests-ug-cadres

DIMAPUR, Feb 3 (NNN): Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) has reaffirmed to stand by its October 31, 2013 resolutions on underground tax.

ACAUT`s latest statement came after some businessmen in Dimapur market had revealed that a Naga militant outfit had served monetary demand letters to them few days ago.

ACAUT held a meeting on February 1 after Business Association of Nagas (BAN) received complaints from its members about the Naga militant outfit`s extortion notes. ACAUT has asked business community in Dimapur not to pay any `tax` to underground organisations unless its demand for “One Government One Taxation” is achieved.

On October 31 last year, Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) under the umbrella of “People’s Power”, a 3-point resolution was passed during the rally .

The first resolution was that the Naga public recognizes “One Government One Taxation” only and the Naga public has decided to pay only one tax to one entity. This also means that as long as factionalism exists, the Naga public shall not pay tax.

The second resolution has been that the Naga public re-affirms its support for Naga movement and strongly urges the Government of India to settle the Indo-Naga imbroglio at the earliest while the third and the final resolution says the Government of Nagaland should constitute a high powered committee to study the whole gamut of unabated taxations and illegal collections involving the NPGs and government agencies/departments. The committee shall consist of atleast five members headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court with atleast two members from the ACAUT.

It can be mentioned here that ACAUT was formed early 2013 to check the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people esprecially the business community by various organisations particularly the Naga underground outfits.

It can also be be noted here that ACAUT had called Dimapur bandh against the rampant imposition of illegal tax on the people by various outfits.

The ACAUT had said it action was just a pointer of things to come unless concerned organisations and authorities accede to our demands or put mechanisms in place to curb unabated taxation and ultimately price rise, namely, dealership and multiple taxations by underground organisations and price rise which is the prerogative of government to check.

The move was initiated unable to bear any longer on the rampant imposition of `taxes` on the business community and also on the general public.

ACAUT wants that there should be only one tax payable to any one underground group. ACAUT also stated earlier that the `back-breaking` multiple taxes on goods imposed by underground groups should be abolished immediately.

`Irritants` such as trade license tax, ID tax, registration tax, calendar donations, Christmas and New Year donations, etc. shall not be entertained anymore.

The ACAUT also wants that the yearly tax payable to different underground organisations should not be increased arbitrarily under any circumstances and therefore, amount payable shall be the same as in 2012.

The creation of the new system of ‘dealership’ by underground groups has been strongly condemned. For instance, it was pointed out that under this latest innovation to milk businesses dry, there is only one poultry dealer/supplier in the whole of Dimapur district and no poultry can be sold in the open market without the consent of this poultry dealer.

It can be noted here that the ACAUT had met the NSCN-IM, the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi and others on the issue.

ACAUT had also listed some other factors that cause to price rise which include DMC toll gates, police check gates, Deopani sand syndicate, Vegetable syndicate, Pan patta syndiacate, Cement and hardware syndicate, Fish and dry fish syndicate, Egg syndicate, Dry supari syndicate, Second hand clothes syndicate, Poultry product vendor union and Butcher vendor union.

The list is not exhaustive. To tackle taxation on a wider scale ACAUT will further pursue to form a fact finding committee to study and compare price of commodities in Nagaland and Assam. It will also meet the state chief minister and the governor and also submit representation to judiciary of Dimapur district.

The sale of all syndicate controlled poultry products including local chicken is henceforth banned throughout the state indefinitely, starting June 18. Anyone found selling poultry shall be doing so at their own risk. This ban shall stay in force till the price comes down to an acceptable level on par with neighbouring Assam, according to ACAUT.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/acaut-reaffirms-october-31-2013-stand-on-underground-tax/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acaut-reaffirms-october-31-2013-stand-on-underground-tax

IMPHAL, February 3: Any misconduct while selecting the beneficiaries of the National Food Security scheme will attract penalty, said state deputy chief minister Gaikhangam today.

Addressing a discussion on the National Food Security Act for Tamenglong, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam said that there is an important clause in the Act, which enforces a penalty for any misconduct in the selection of beneficiaries.

The discussion was held at the Classic Hotel.

He said the scheme has been implemented as the Indian government believes in provision of food for the hungry people.

The scheme aims at ‘no death due to hunger in the country’, he continued.

Further elaborating on the Act, the deputy chief minister observed that failure to successfully implement the act would be disastrous as any developmental work will collapse if the people remain hungry.

Elaborating on the criteria for the scheme, he said that anyone with even a four wheeler is not entitled to the provisions of the scheme.

Anyone who had wrongly entered their name in the beneficiary list should be corrected or rectified within 24 hours or else the family could face punishment, he said.

Gaikhangam further opined on the need for the people to fully understand the scheme for its successful implementation.

Successful implementation of the act in both the hills and the valley could result in improvement of lifestyle in the state, he observed.

For the successful implementation of the act in the district, the MLAs, ministers, officials, ADCs, etc have to take the initiative, he observed.

The discussion for the district is being conducted to help Tamenglong become one of the best districts of the state, he said.

DC Tamenglong C Arthur W said the district administration is trying to finalise the list of eligibility in the district.

He said unlike in other states, there is 87 percent coverage of the total population of the state under the scheme and as such tamenglong has the same coverage.

Elaborating further he said selection of beneficiaries in only one village- Kamai Village remains.

The district administration will wait for 10 days for the village to work on it, and hopefully by February 28, the list of beneficiaries for the district will be complete, he observed.

According to the official record Tamenglong district has 2286 villages covered all together with 2719 AAY families of which the number of beneficiaries selected are 19842.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/misconduct-in-beneficiary-selection-for-nfs-scheme-will-attract-penalty-gaikhangam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=misconduct-in-beneficiary-selection-for-nfs-scheme-will-attract-penalty-gaikhangam