Manipur News

IMPHAL, April 13 NNN: The Kuki Students Organization, General Headquarters (KSO GHQ) has fervently appealed the Revolutionary Peoples’ Front/Peoples’ Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) to safely release an ‘under-age school girl’, Alice Kamei of Grace Reach Academy from the outfit’s custody at the earliest possible time.
Mentionably, RPF/PLA says Alice Kamei is 16 years old and had joined the outfit on her own volition while the Zeliangrong organisations rejected the former’s version and accused the militant outfit of kidnapping the school girl to force her to join the group. The Zeliangrong organisations also said that Alice Kamei is only 14 years old.
On Sarturday, the KSO-GHQ said, “Whatsoever the reason may be of the girl being in the RPF custody is not justifiable, as she is a minor who still depends on her parent in every walk of life especially in deciding her future career in life. Even if she had joined the RPF/PLA on her own volition as claimed by the militant outfit, we appeal not to take advantage of the little girl’s ignorance. Instead, use their wisdom and show their generosity of being one of the oldest and signatory groups in Geneva Convention on August 6, 1997 who pledged to abide and uphold the international law which prohibits child soldier”.
The KSO also condemned the lackadaisical attitude and inaction of the state government in bringing back the minor school girl which has been missing since March 10. “If such episode had happened to someone from a high profile family, a celebrity or the major community of the state, things would have gone otherwise as to what we have witnessed last Christmas. Therefore, it will be the best for everyone if the state took serious initiative before things are blown out of proportion,” the apex Kuki students’ body said.
“To show solidarity to our fellow student Alice Kamei, KSO pledged to support the total bandh along the National Highway 2 and NH-37 starting from April 21 and also support all forms of democratic protest and activities initiated by All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) in restoring a normal life of the little girl,” KSO-GHQ vice president Mangcha Baite stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kso-appeals-to-rpf/

IMPHAL, April 12: Total bandh along the National Highway 2 and NH-37 will begin from April 21 to be imposed by All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) which will also be supported by several organisations demanding the safe release of school girl Alice Kamei who is in the custody of militant outfit Revolutionary Peoples Front/Peoples Liberation Army (RPF/PLA) since March 10.
The RPF/PLA says Alice Kamei is 16 years old and had joined the outfit on her own volition while the Zeliangrong organisations rejected the former’s version and accused the militant outfit of kidnapping the school girl to force her to join the group. The Zeliangrong organisations also said that Alice Kamei is only 14 years old.
On Friday, in a publuc meeting held today at Majorkhul Community Hall, Imphal convened by AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM, the participants resolved that the total bandh along the two national highways be imposed as long as Alice Kamei is in the custody of the RPF/PLA.
The meeting also resolved to stage democratic and peaceful public rally on April 19.
The public meeting also resolved to demand that the police should immediately arrest the principal of Grace Reach Academy where Alice Kamei was studying as per the case registered Under Section 406 IPC against him.
The public meeting further resolved to demand for the arrest of the absconder Shantipriya @ Ranjana Devi immediately.
It then said the government should investigate the functioning of the school thoroughly.
Today’s pubic meeting also resolved to submit a memorandum to the President of India and to stage sit-in-protest on the day of President of India visit in Imphal.
The meeting then decided to explore legal means to secure release of the minor school girl.
“The public meeting was held following RPF/PLA’s adamant stand to continue holding Alice Kamei in its custody who has been held captive since March 10. Similar public meeting was also held on March 19 and 26, wherein we had taken several decisions and consequently the 1st and the 2nd phases of democratic public agitation were demonstrated. The public participated at the meeting strongly condemned and disagree with the RPF/PLA’s prolong captive of the minor school girl without any logical reason,” the AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM expressed.
They then alleged that the RPF/PLA in the past had committed serious crimes against the people of Zeliangrong community such as killing of Engenchao Kamei, Chief of Uchiwa village in the year 1991, Amu Gangmei of Moirangkhom Zeliangrong village was shot on his arm in the year 1991 and and later one old woman Mrs. Meichalu Kamei of Konthoujam Zeliangrong village was also shot on her palm somewhere in the year 1993.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/bandh-on-highways-from-april-21/

IMPHAL, April 12 MNS NNN: Manipur Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on Friday discussed 13 different agenda, including the President’s scheduled visit to Manipur on April 15.
The Cabinet decided to recruit seven staff members, including Project Officer of Labour and Employment Department to fully implement the Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojana under National Health Insurance Scheme and to provide the benefit to the Smart Card Holders in proper manner, Government spokesperson and Education minister M Okendro told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Besides, four private hospitals have been selected where the Smart Card Holders may avail the benefit of the scheme, he said. The clinics are Shija Hospitals and Research Institute, Raj Polyclinic, Langol View and Charitable Hospital and Sky Hospital.
It also approved to extend the permissible age limit of recruitment to Manipur Forest Service from 21 to 30 as per the Manipur Forest Service Rule, 1986, he added.
The Cabinet further approved to appoint Thangjam Ritarani Devi, wife of late Thokchom Kiran of Thongju Part II, Koirou Mamang Leikai to the post of a grade-IV in Manipur Government’s Education Department.
The Draft Industrial and Investment Policy of Manipur 2013 was also discussed in the meeting, he said, adding the Cabinet later prorogued the fourth state assembly session.
As a security measurement a combing operation was taken up by the Manipur police in various places of Imphal city ahead of President of India visit on April 15:
Today, Imphal west police commando led by DSP S. Ibomcha conducted a combing operation at Thangmeiband and Chingmeirong area in Imphal west district where they rounded up hundreds of youths for verifications but no arrest was made during the operation.
The President would be arrive at Imphal airport by a special flight in the afternoon of April 15, around 4.30 pm and scheduled to leave Imphal for New Delhi in the morning of next day (April 16).
Announcing a boycott to the visit, Coordination Committee (CorCom) of six rebel groups (KCP, RPF, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), UNLF and KYKL) has called a statewide 26-hour general strike which would commence from 6 am of April 15 and to be ended at 8 am of next day.
Frisking and checking operations at sensitive areas, particularly roads leading to the Imphal city and stretch of the roads from Imphal airport to Chingmeirong Adimjati Shiksha Ashram complex have been intensified by opening mobile checking points at various places in Greater Imphal area.
Additional security personnel from state forces IRBns and Manipur Rifles have been called out to assist the police in stepping up security measures.
Meanwhile, authority of the state Public Works Department (PWD) has ordered to clear sand, stone chip etc. that pile up on the roadside on the stretch from Imphal airport to Chingmeirong via Imphal Raj Bhavan, the road which the President would travel.
The order has been issued as per request of the police in connection with security measures being taken up by them in these areas. There was high possibility of planting bombs by rebels taking advantage of these materials piling on the roadsides, an official of the department said as stated by the police.
Apart from remaining piling up sand and stone chips at various places on the roadsides along the stretch from Imphal airport to Chingmeirong via Raj Bhavan by contractors for repairing of roads, many individuals also do the same, he added.
They have been asked to clear immediately before the department takes up action ahead of the scheduled visit of the President.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cabinet-discusses-presidents-visit/

The body of Ningombam Satyabama, which had been lying untaken for seven days in a mortuary here since her death on April 5, was on Thursday claimed by the Joint Action Committee seeking justice for her killing.
The JAC said that it has claimed the body on Thursday in consideration of the pain of her family but not in harmony with the state Government.
It said that the Government has not addressed yet a single demand of the JAC till date.
Earlier in the morning, representatives of various social organizations and the JAC held a joint meeting at Kakwa Community Hall during which the decision to take the body of Satyabama was taken.
The decision was taken considering the distressed family of the victim, it said.
The 31-year-old single woman was found dead in a field at Bashikhong Wangkhei Loumanbi Loukol in Imphal East on April 5 and since then her body had been laying unclaimed in the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) mortuary here.
Three accused in the sensational murder case were arrested by Manipur Police on April 5.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/satyabhama-cremated/