manipur – Page 946 – Manipur News

Manipuri woman alleges molestation, late FIR – Times of India

Manipuri woman alleges molestation, late FIR Times of India GURGAON: A 22-year-old woman from Manipur,… more »

Manipuri woman alleges molestation, late FIR
Times of India

GURGAON: A 22-year-old woman from Manipur, a victim of molestation and physical assault, has alleged that police were reluctant to file an FIR in the case and also let off the accused at first. She alleged that while the incident took place on Thursday …
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Another Manipuri student found dead in Bangalore (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuri students take out rally – Mysore (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuri teen’s death: Arrest of suspects demanded (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuri lad to bring Hollywood-style effects in movies back home (kanglaonline.com)
What is needed now is a common platform – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
“Phijeegi Mani” Enthralls Manipuris in Mizoram (kanglaonline.com)
Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuris everywhere (kanglaonline.com)
Press Release – Manipuri Muslim Online Forum (kanglaonline.com)
Pr – Association of Manipuri Diaspora (amand), Pune (kanglaonline.com)

Protecting children in conflict situations

By Suhas Chakma From 18th to 20th May 2012, a team of the National… more »

By Suhas Chakma
From 18th to 20th May 2012, a team of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) will be visiting Manipur for investigation into alleged encounter deaths of children in the State. This is one of the most significant steps taken by the NCPCR under the leadership of Chairperson Dr Shanta Sinha to address the gaps in the implementation of the juvenile justice in the areas afflicted by internal armed conflicts.

Manipur is emblematic of the absence of juvenile justice in the conflict affected areas. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains in force in the State but when the AFSPA was enacted in 1958, there were no juvenile justice laws. Consequently, the AFSPA does not differentiate between children and adults. For effective purposes, the armed forces treat the juveniles as adult. In the entire discourse on the AFSPA, the need for special protection of children has not been addressed adequately.

It is universally accepted that on matters relating to children, specific laws relating to children shall prevail. This overriding principle is set out in article 3(1) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which provides that “in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration”.

Indian judiciary too has recognised the supremacy of the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 over all other Acts including on the Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2002. The Madras High Court in the case of the arrest of G. Prabhakaran (15 years) under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 upheld the supremacy of the Juvenile Justice Act. The Madras High Court while dismissing the trial of Prabhakaran under the POTA stated “The rights of a child are an integral part of human rights, yet the protagonists of human rights hardly ever focus their attention on the exploitation and abuse of the rights of children. ….The POTA court, in the present case, has exceeded its jurisdiction and trespassed into another territory and the mischief has to be undone.’’

In Manipur, children have been consistently arrested, detained and tortured. In many cases, they have also become victims of extrajudicial executions or encounter killings. ACHR has regularly been intervening in a number of cases and it shares two specific cases which have been concluded.

On 13 July 2003, three children namely Kamkholal Haokip (17 years) and his younger brother Sumkhosat Haokip and Satkholun Haokip (15 years) were killed by the Assam Rifles personnel in an alleged encounter at Sipijang area under Senapati district. The Assam Rifles claimed that all the three children were hardcore members of the Kuki National Front. However, the villagers stated that the Assam Rifles had an encounter with the militants following which they cordoned off the four villages – Gelbung, G-Solung, Matjong Thangbu and L Khumnom and called out about 50 youths from their respective homes at about 3.30 am. All the 50 youths were taken to the playground at Gelbung village. Later on at about 6.30 am, three children were picked out from the group while the rest were told to go home. As the rest were on their way home, they heard loud gunfire shots. Later the Assam Rifles personnel called out another 12 youths from the villages and told them to carry away the bodies of the three youths which bore multiple bullet injuries. Kamkholal Haokip was a Class X student of Salem Higher Secondary School while Sumkhosat and Satkholun were employed in a hotel at Imphal. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) intervened following a complaint filed by ACHR but let off the Assam Rifles solely based on a “No Objection Certificate” forcibly taken from the villagers certifying that they were not harassed by the Assam Rifles!

However, the Assam Rifles could not hide with respect to alleged encounter killing of Saikhom Samungou (20 years), Sanasam Ngongo Meitei (15 years) and Thiyam Sunder (23 years) on 11 January 2005 under Yairipok Police Station in Thoubal district. A Press Information Bureau (PIB) Defence Wing handout claimed that all of them were cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front. However, the villagers claimed that Saikhom Samungou and Sanasam Ngongo Meitei were students. The police in its report to the NHRC following a complaint from ACHR stated that while Thiyam Sunder was a hardcore member of the UNLF, Sanasam Ngongo Meitei and Saikhom Samungou Singh were “innocent civilians”. The Ministry of Defence also admitted that Meitei and Singh were civilians but it continued to refer all the three as “militants” and “terrorists” in its report dated 13 June 2006 to the NHRC. The NHRC in its order dated 31 August 2007 directed to pay Rs 100,000 to each of the next of kin of the deceased but under what circumstances Meitei, a juvenile, was killed remained unexplained.

In all the conflict affected areas, arrest, detention, torture, sexual abuse and encounter killings are rampant. There is little knowledge about the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 amongst the law enforcement personnel in conflict situations. The institutions defined under the Juvenile Justice (Protection and Care of Children) Act, 2000 such as Juvenile Justice Boards, Child Welfare Committees, Juveniles Homes, Juvenile Special Police Units etc do not exist in the disturbed areas/conflict situations. And large parts of the country are indeed affected by armed conflicts. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 21 out of 28 States are affected by internal armed conflicts. These includes Jammu and Kashmir, seven northeastern States and 13 Naxalite affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

In order to address the gaps for administration of juvenile justice in conflict affected areas, there is a need to adopt “Standard Operating Procedures” that the security forces must comply. Further, the institutions of juvenile justice ought to be made functional. Otherwise, children living in conflict affected areas will be deprived of what is provided to children in rest of the country.

AR apprehends two UG cadres (kanglaonline.com)
Manfete 2012 (kanglaonline.com)
Wreath laying ceremony on Assam Rifles Day (kanglaonline.com)
AFSPA as I see it – Wg Cdr G Baruah (Retd) V/s Truth & Abstract of Lie (kanglaonline.com)
2 nabbed with arms (kanglaonline.com)
30th Battalion The Assam Rifles (Rising Sun Battalion) (kanglaonline.com)
AR organizes pulse polio immunization program (kanglaonline.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/protecting-children-in-conflict-situations/

Govt explains assistance schemes to Manipur weavers – Fibre2fashion.com

Fibre2fashion.com In order to acquaint the weavers of Imphal, Manipur, regarding various Central and state… more »

Fibre2fashion.com

In order to acquaint the weavers of Imphal, Manipur, regarding various Central and state government schemes for their assistance, the Office of the District Handlooms and Textiles, Imphal West, organized an awareness campaign on ‘assistance to handloom..

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Govt explains assistance schemes to Manipur weavers – Fibre2fashion.com

Fibre2fashion.com In order to acquaint the weavers of Imphal, Manipur, regarding various Central and state… more »

Fibre2fashion.com

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Latest finding: Richard Loitam died due to cardiac ailment

Published: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 10:08 IST By Santosh Kumar RB | Place: Bangalore |… more »

Published: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 10:08 IST
By Santosh Kumar RB | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

The mysterious death of Richard Loitam continues to haunt the Bangalore rural district police as the medical report has said his death was not due to physical injuries.

In their report submitted to the police on Wednesday, doctors at Victoria Hospital, who conducted the postmortem, stated Loitam’s death was due to a cardiac disease the source of which may be heredity. The doctors prepared the report after analysing autopsy, Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and pathology reports, police sources said.

The police said they will now gather information on Loitam’s alleged heart disease and ascertain if any of his family members had the disease earlier.

Senior police officers are not sure whether to covert the murder case into an unnatural death report (UDR) case or book a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304 of IPC, police sources said. The superintendent of police (Bangalore district) D Prakash was not available for comments on the medical report as his mobile phone was switched off when DNA tried to contact him while Inspector general of police (central range) Malini Krishnamurthy did not pick up calls.

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Richard Loitam, Racism and its Violence

Richard Loitam, a Manipuri student in Bangalore who died reportedly after he was assaulted by… more »

Richard Loitam, a Manipuri student in Bangalore who died reportedly after he was assaulted by his fellow students, presumably was not the first student who died resulting from nasty brawl amongst students; and under the criminal justice system of this country, this is also not the first case that concerned authorities have refused to follow up a case properly or sought to cover-up crimes. Given this, one must ask and be honest as to why so many, particularly from the Northeast, have come out crying for “Justice for Richard Loitam”? The answer will invariably bring a context which will speak, not only about the nature of the present case but also the nature of the response against the death of Richard Loitam.

Justice for Richard – Protest at Delhi : Click the image to view the gallery

Racism and Its Violence: It’s Not a Private Affair Alone

We must ask four questions in order to put the unfortunate death of this young student from Manipur in perspective:

When those people who reportedly hit him so badly to cause his death, the very act of hitting/assaulting him at that moment, will it be free from a consciousness or sense of Richard being “different” from them? And that this marker of being “different” will not have anything to do with (a) how he looks (his “racial” feature), (b) he does not belong “here” (correspondingly, he is from a particular place) and (c) he speaks a different “language” or come from a different “culture”?
The subsequent conducts of the police or college authorities which sought to cover up the case (amongst others, insinuating that he died of an accident or drug related death) will not have anything to do with the fact that Richard Loitam was a student/person who belonged to a distant/far off place (and hence the response of the police and authorities (sort of, can get away with the cover-up)?
Do the experiences of being marked out or treated differently or having faced outright acts of discriminations and humiliations have nothing to do with the decisions of those from the Northeast to join the outcry here (such as on social network-sites)?
Correspondingly, some sense of outrage or resentment that their friends from the Northeast face undesirable experiences of being marked out/treated differently or discriminations/humiliations in the hands of people from outside the region have nothing to do with their involvement in this outcry?

Answers to the above questions shall tell us something about “racism” vis-à-vis the present case. Indeed, these four questions will reveal that Richard’s case is a larger concern which has a collective stake rather than being merely a case of justice for an individual or a family. For instance, it seems, going by the preliminary post-mortem report and pictures of Richard’s dead body and his room that are being circulated on net, the nature of the injuries that had led to his death were not the results of a regular brawl with his fellow students who did not have the intention of causing injuries that might lead to his death or a consequences of a scuffle in which Richard fell and got injured. Prima facie, these pictures and the preliminary post-mortem report seem to suggest that the injuries that led to his death were results of a brutal assault. It is here that one is forced to think of the intent of those who allegedly assaulted him, and the above first question gets implicated in the present case which simultaneously makes Richard’s death a part of a larger issue of “racially” motivated acts.

Besides, legal fraternity will tell us that large part of the denial or subversion of justice under the criminal justice system in the country starts with the lowest level of the system, that is, the police. From refusal to register the FIR or registering it in ways that are detrimental to the victims to shoddy investigations, the denial or subversion of justice began from there. And more than any other class of people, it is the marginalized and weaker sections of the society who are more likely to face such an experience of subversion of justice is a well known fact. There is no point in denying that there had been an attempt to subvert justice by seeking to brush aside Richard’s death as a natural death and hush up the case. After all, the present outcry has been a reaction to such an effort to subvert justice. This being the case, what are the reasons for the attempt to subvert justice by the concerned authorities? Is it a case of familiar attempts of our criminal justice system which often denies justice to the weaker or marginalized sections of the society (here, the case being that Richard was a member of a particular people from a particular region which is marked by a marginal status vis-à-vis the larger Indian society)? It is this aspect of the present case which implicates the above second question, which, in turn, makes Richard’s death a collective concern over and above being a concern of his family and friends.

Needless to say, the outpouring of resentment and anger against the manner in which he was allegedly assaulted that led to his death and the initial responses of the concerned authorities have been presumably informed by a general sense of being marked out or differently treated or having faced outright acts of discrimination and humiliation by the people of the Northeast and an empathy with them by other citizens of the country. Only a self denial (due to ignorance or vested interests) of those who are used to seeking private solution (such as buying inverter) to a public malaise of institutional failures (electricity) in Manipur would deny that Richard’s case in not merely a concern or affairs of a private kind (family etc) but that of a public and collective concerns which speak of the place and experiences of the people in/from the Northeast. Arguably, it is also precisely because of this public concern that implicates the people from a geo-politically sensitive region that the Govt. of India and political class scrambled to respond to the outcry.

In order to understand the present case, both the unfortunate death, responses to the same and nature of contemporary understanding on racism, we might as well take note of the following two aspects:

Social scientists, researchers and commentators have time and again noted that there is something called “racism without race”, a phenomenon wherein prejudices or acts of marking out a difference and treated differently on the basis of “race” have been attributed/displaced/deflected to other attributes other than the victim’s race. Such responses are not necessarily CONSCIOUS acts; these are done subconsciously or unconsciously.
Sociologists have pointed out that while the perpetrators of communal carnage commit their acts and justify the same in the name of the “people” (often by conflating that “people” in a majoritarian sense with the “nation” as “we, the people”) while the victims respond to the violence by seeking redressal in the name of “justice”. In short, while the majority speaks the language of (by appropriating) the “nation” that marks out the minority as the “other” while committing the violence, the minority victims speak the language of “citizen”.

The above aspects, the different “languages” of the majority perpetrators and the minority victim are points to be noted for us to grapple with the violence that has led to the death of Richard Loitam and responses to the same.

Need for Informed and Honest Response

Incidentally, and perhaps expectedly, on the other hand, there are some who have a misplaced, if not a sinister or deliberate, attempt to distract the issues at hand by raising the insecurity-driven-xenophobia which are often expressed in terms of “identity assertions” and violence against “outsiders” (or amongst the different communities) in the Northeast. Incidentally, some of these people who raise such issues have never spoken out against such xenophobic violence before they choose to raise the issue in this case. Raising such issue is not only reflective of a lack of understanding between the two forms of violence but also an attempt to distract, wittingly or unwittingly, from the issue at hand. The present case must, therefore, be addressed for what it is through proper investigations, which entails an informed and honest effort to take into account the context of the violence and the responses to the same.

It has been pointed out that the inmates (Jews/gypsies) of the Nazi concentration camps were/are not the only ones who were/are traumatized by the experience; the camps guards also suffer from the de-humanizing experience. However, juxtaposing the trauma of the camp guards to de-legitimize or sideline the dehumanizing and traumatic experiences of the inmates of those camps can only be a misplaced concern at best and at worst, a sinister move to deny the sufferings of the inmates and justify and perpetuate racism which had produced the Holocaust.

We must also remember that fight against “racism” in any form or manifestation is not an anti-state act. Indian State, constitutionally speaking, is not a racist State. Article 15 of the Constitution makes any discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, race, sex or place of birth illegal. If the spirit and letter of the Constitution are not respected or followed by the Government or parties, one must not be apologetic about standing against the same. Notwithstanding the Constitution, we must know that our lived world is not entirely determined or covered by the constitutional provisions or laws. We might eulogize Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as the father of the Indian Constitution. But, I suppose, Ambedkar must also be acknowledged for his insistence on or preference for “social transformation” over “political transformation”. Perhaps, the Constitution is like an “interview guide” that researcher uses while engaging with the realities of the “field”; the actual outcome depends on what the researcher actually “does” with it. In short, the kind of “transformation” that he had in mind must therefore be judged by what we do with the Constitution. In fact, Ambedkar’s concluding remark in the Constituent Assembly on 26 November, 1949 on “those who are called to work it happen” must speak a lot to us today.

In short, the case of Richard Loitam brings home the familiar lacunae in our criminal justice system and the reality of “racism” with or without “race” which has often been underplayed, if not actively denied, in this country, including by those who are incidentally at the receiving end of “racism”. Sooner we realize this and seek corrective measures, better it would be for one and all. Seeking justice for Richard Loitam must be a part of that effort.

‘The Loitam case was just a trigger’ – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
The Fight is for ‘Justice’ for Richard Loitam – not for ‘Racism’ : Facebookers still argue. (kanglaonline.com)
Former Manipur Minister seeks justice for Richard Loitam (kanglaonline.com)
The Richard Loitam murder: Denying our inner bigot (kanglaonline.com)
Protest Against the Killing of Richard Loitam – Bangalore – PR (kanglaonline.com)
College covering up Richard Loitam case, says CPI – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Just above 8000 signatures required for the Justice for Richard Loitam Petition – Show your support with Pride (kanglaonline.com)
Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Justice for Richard Loitam: Protest rally held at Tripura (kanglaonline.com)
Justice for Loitam Richard Campaign – Hyderabad – PR (kanglaonline.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/richard-loitam-racism-and-its-violence/

Richard Loitam, Racism and its Violence

Richard Loitam, a Manipuri student in Bangalore who died reportedly after he was assaulted by… more »

Justice for Richard – Protest at Delhi : Click the image to view the gallery

Racism and Its Violence: It’s Not a Private Affair Alone

We must ask four questions in order to put the unfortunate death of this young student from Manipur in perspective:

When those people who reportedly hit him so badly to cause his death, the very act of hitting/assaulting him at that moment, will it be free from a consciousness or sense of Richard being “different” from them? And that this marker of being “different” will not have anything to do with (a) how he looks (his “racial” feature), (b) he does not belong “here” (correspondingly, he is from a particular place) and (c) he speaks a different “language” or come from a different “culture”?
The subsequent conducts of the police or college authorities which sought to cover up the case (amongst others, insinuating that he died of an accident or drug related death) will not have anything to do with the fact that Richard Loitam was a student/person who belonged to a distant/far off place (and hence the response of the police and authorities (sort of, can get away with the cover-up)?
Do the experiences of being marked out or treated differently or having faced outright acts of discriminations and humiliations have nothing to do with the decisions of those from the Northeast to join the outcry here (such as on social network-sites)?
Correspondingly, some sense of outrage or resentment that their friends from the Northeast face undesirable experiences of being marked out/treated differently or discriminations/humiliations in the hands of people from outside the region have nothing to do with their involvement in this outcry?

In order to understand the present case, both the unfortunate death, responses to the same and nature of contemporary understanding on racism, we might as well take note of the following two aspects:

Social scientists, researchers and commentators have time and again noted that there is something called “racism without race”, a phenomenon wherein prejudices or acts of marking out a difference and treated differently on the basis of “race” have been attributed/displaced/deflected to other attributes other than the victim’s race. Such responses are not necessarily CONSCIOUS acts; these are done subconsciously or unconsciously.
Sociologists have pointed out that while the perpetrators of communal carnage commit their acts and justify the same in the name of the “people” (often by conflating that “people” in a majoritarian sense with the “nation” as “we, the people”) while the victims respond to the violence by seeking redressal in the name of “justice”. In short, while the majority speaks the language of (by appropriating) the “nation” that marks out the minority as the “other” while committing the violence, the minority victims speak the language of “citizen”.

Need for Informed and Honest Response

‘The Loitam case was just a trigger’ – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
The Fight is for ‘Justice’ for Richard Loitam – not for ‘Racism’ : Facebookers still argue. (kanglaonline.com)
Former Manipur Minister seeks justice for Richard Loitam (kanglaonline.com)
The Richard Loitam murder: Denying our inner bigot (kanglaonline.com)
Protest Against the Killing of Richard Loitam – Bangalore – PR (kanglaonline.com)
College covering up Richard Loitam case, says CPI – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Just above 8000 signatures required for the Justice for Richard Loitam Petition – Show your support with Pride (kanglaonline.com)
Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Justice for Richard Loitam: Protest rally held at Tripura (kanglaonline.com)
Justice for Loitam Richard Campaign – Hyderabad – PR (kanglaonline.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/richard-loitam-racism-and-its-violence/

KNF to release book

IMPHAL, May 16: SoO signatory Kuki National Front, KNF will release a book titled Kukiland… more »

IMPHAL, May 16: SoO signatory Kuki National Front, KNF will release a book titled Kukiland (The Land of Kukis) during its silver jubilee celebration on May 18 at Cmap Ebenezer, Sadar Hills.

According to a release of the militant outfit, the book published by the Department of Information and Publicity, KNF is about the historical trajectory of the Kukis and their contribution in India’s Independence movement and the beginning of the Kuki armed movement by KNF founder (L) Nehlun Kuki in the late 1980s with the sole objective for the formation of a separate administrative unit proposed to be called Kukiland within the Indian Union.

The Conscription of Children as Ultras in Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Police rescue man from kidnappers (kanglaonline.com)
Open letter in support of Pu Phungjathang Tonsing for the post of Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Sunday Reading – Who’s afraid of Saadat Hasan Manto? (kractivist.wordpress.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/knf-to-release-book/

Social networking and changing world

By: Karan Laishram The society indeed has changed a lot today from the days of… more »

By: Karan Laishram

The society indeed has changed a lot today from the days of the simple life when people worked hard during the day and sleep well at night to today’s ever busy competitive world.

We can see a lot of changes in our society in such a short span. It was only in the 80′s and 90′s when people of the state were introduced to modern technologies like televisions and telephones.

In the late 90′s computers were introduced in the state and it was only in the beginning of 2000′s that mobile telephony made its presence felt among the people of the state.

And today there may be no one among the youths in Manipur who have not touched by the internet. The latest trend today is the wave of social networking which has dominated the whole world.

There are many social networking sites in the world of internet today like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Myspace, Google+, ibibo, Orkut to name just a few.

Today, there may be none who does not know or heard about Facebook and other popular networking sites.

While it is good to have such social networking sites which provide us a platform to get in touch with our friends, meet new friends, chat with them, communicate and share ideas, it is also necessary to check whether these social networking sites are doing only the good to the youths in today.

One can clearly see how Facebook, one of the most biggest and popular networking sites, played an important role in organising and uniting people from different walks of life when Loitam Richard, a 19 years old Engineering student from Manipur was allegedly beaten to death by his hostel mates in Bangalore.

Within days of the incident, facebook users around the globe gathered and supported the cause for justice.

In a span of one week the number of supporters to the campaign cross over 1 lakh, thus recording the highest ever public voices raised against discrimination and crime on NE people.

No doubt, internet is a very successful and useful means of communication in today’s world. However, in our present society, many youths are using this useful service in different ways which may hamper their career and social life.

Many are addicted to these internet social networking sites spending their times leisurely without even thinking for their future while many are using these services to organise, gather and instil ideas, generate public opinions and share other useful information among the users.

What is worrisome is the addiction and misuse of these services just for amusement and leisure and creating communal disharmony among the different communities.

It has become a fact that many are a bit hesitant to open their Facebook wall in front of their family members thinking what type of pictures might flash on their screen since many users with fake profiles are uploading porn pictures.

On the other hand, parents lack of awareness of such advanced technology of internet and social networking services which give the youths a free hand in using internets and other related services.

Most of today’s parents are living like blind persons on the activities of their children on computer and mobile phones thereby creating a gap between the generation of the parents and the youths of today.

Taking into consideration of all these issues, it is high time for the youths of the state to think twice while using these useful services for a better and developed society and not for degrading morality and character not only of themselves but also of the society.

It has also become somewhat necessary for the elders to learn a bit about the advanced technologies which provide endless opportunities and information as well as an easy way down the drain.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/social-networking-and-changing-world/

The Fight is for ‘Justice’ for Richard Loitam – not for ‘Racism’ : Facebookers still argue.

By: Bishwajit Okram, LL.B, LL.M, ACCA “Omg! What in the world? How can anyone be… more »

Justice campaign for Richard

By: Bishwajit Okram, LL.B, LL.M, ACCA

“Omg! What in the world? How can anyone be this brutal? Its someones life were talking about here!! All this brutality for changing the channel? Justice should be given!! Please please!! I beg not only the Northeasterner students or people working in Bangalore but to all the right thinking citizens of India should take a stand and fight for Justice!! R.I.P Richard!”

The Garden City, Bangaluru, one assumes, is a very safe city unlike its counterparts in some parts of India. And yet odour of ‘racism’, a stink given out by the facbookers as an intention suspected behind the murder of Late Richard, emanates from this garden city.
Reporting the dead as related to drugs and the accident the victim had two days ago, was the most idiotic thing to do by the local media.
Putting salt to the wound was the indifferent attitude of the dean of the Institute- the Acharya NRV School of Architecture- Bangalore. He was quoted mentioning some habits and temperaments of the late Richard, as though reprimanding him posthumously not being enough with the fact that the poor boy was no more alive, then; this was totally against the sanctity of respecting a departed soul!
The saddest of all was the extreme casual approach of the law enforcing agency, the Bangalore rural police which has the jurisdiction of this case. ‘Mysterious circumstances of the death’ as often cited by the police sounded like the mysteries often endured in the crime fiction book- Sherlock Homes of Arthur Conan Doyle.
The two rogue hostel mates punched him dead; simple! How mysterious could it be?
It took a Mark Zuckerberg’s company-the facebook, to unravel the ‘mystery’ for the code to be unlocked, for the world to see the gruesome image, and cry in horror with disbelief; the writing in the wall of the facebook became clearer – in all probability (Late) Richard was done to death with a strong vengeance; this is the verdict at the minimum by the facebookers.
The first facebook wall arrived on the 24th of April. The soulless face in the facebook came seeking justice for his death all around the world.
His face smeared with blood all around, the battered mouth that oozed out blood shocking the pillow, the sore and swollen face that of like a beast bitten by another beast, the brutally smashed late Richard Loitam lay asleep in his dead as seen in the facebook wall that arrived on the 24th of April.
One would often wonder why such a thing had to happen within a well secured four wall of a hostel governed by able administrators inter alia the well educated and qualified dean of the institute.
Questions are still not answered: why none of the hostel mates came forward to intervene the assault? Why nobody reported the deadly incident to any authority?
As mentioned in some report, the warden did see the assault, then, why was not he bothered to examine the injuries sustained by late Richard if it was grievous or not?;
Why the Bangalore police was playing pooh-pooh with the case – sometimes saying the death was due to accident, under mysterious circumstances; it was a case of homicide but not murder; but now it is a case of murder but the suspects can’t be arrested; they need to wait for x,y,z reports.
The police tried its best to prove that the case is that of a accident; a television footage showed the police inspector showing to the media personnel the helmet worn by the victim two days before his death-trying to make his point that the severity of the damage caused to the helmet could mean Richard’s death was due to the accident.
The dean also played its part well to shrug off the matter lightly. It took him nearly a fortnight to expel the suspects from college. Under normal circumstances, action should have been initiated the following day – pending police investigation; not for the killing but for breaking the hostel norms and rules, if assaulting and killing is not part of the hostel norms. But he didn’t!

Facebookers , more than 2,00,000 of them are still profusely condemning the killing and, they are appalled by the fact that no arrest has been made so far.
It is reported as the author writes this feature, the suspects are under hostel arrest; it is a kind of ‘ house arrest’ we often come across in high profile politically peculiar cases.
A beautiful quote says, “Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught……”- Dennis Leary.
India’s constitution is one of the finest constitutions in the world, particularly the article 19 to 21 are enough for every citizen to feel secured and enjoy the best of the freedoms one can think of.
But, quite often questions arise again and again; there seems to be having a stark difference between what is on the ground and what is guaranteed in the constitution-a total disconnect.
May not be taught in a black and white- but the inaction of the authorities in such cases may imply for it, what the quote above mentioned tries to say.
Many pioneer facebookers of that wall wailed, yelled and, the same were echoed by other fellows on the same questions-racism and justice.

Loitam Richard, aged 19 from Manipur, studying Architecture Engineering at Acharya NRV School of Architecture in…

Posted by Youth Of Indians on Thursday, April 26, 2012

Many cast racism and regionalism when they wrote. One can only hope that was not the case.

Manish Rawat could have yelled on the top his voice when he wrote-” We @%*** INDIAN BREED STILL DONT KNOE NORTH EAST IS INDIA TOO………..”

Marak Jeffrey further shared a past experience, -“…that happened some years ago in Chikmanglur to a fellow NE brother. That incident though was quite conveniently covered up. I hope Richard gets justice.”
Lobsang Tshering Bhutia wrote -“This is racism to the limits…. Heights… People should look beyond barriers of caste nd creed… The people guilty of this dreadful incident should definitely be hanged irrespective of their social and economic status…. Justice should prevail!!! “

Imti Piratelord Ao : “All students from NE and other parts of India studying in Bangalore stand up n fight for him. put damn pressure on the police until they make this case a strong one so that it doesn’t happen 2 u too in the future… “

Issac Buns : “regionalism pure brutal regionalism. . . It is just not happening . . the treatment .tat a student of NE gets is not at all tolerable . We just need answers n justice . It is not justifiable tat he was a drug user witout any sort of evidence . May his soul rest in peace . N justice is just his soul needs . .”

Lhüvevolü Rhakho : “Omg! What in the world? How can anyone be this brutal? Its someones life were talking about here!! All this brutality for changing the channel? Justice should be given!! Please please!! I beg not only the Northeasterner students or people working in Bangalore but to all the right thinking citizens of India should take a stand and fight for Justice!! R.I.P Richard!”

Tshering Choden Bhutia : “northeast ppl r always discriminated.. Only we ppl can understand..”
Mrigank Bhattacharya “R.I.P. Richard…..those monsters who hv done dis wid u, willl burn in hell…..if dere iz GOD….”

Neil Singh: “ ths is the second time in a week tht a northeast student has been killed……”

Deepankar Roy: “If such Incident of a Student from Mainland India Dying in North East would have come Up, The Publicity and the Swift Justice that, All the Mainland States would have demanded invariably can make the Life of North Easterner Hell in MAINLAND INDIA!!! But Unfortunately, We are looked upon as UNTOUCHABLES by our Own Brother and Sisters from MAINLAND INDIA, meant only for Exploitation be it Human Resources or Natural Resources !!!
Heights of INSANITY! WAKE UP u all People from MAINLAND INDIA before its too LATE!!!!!!!!!”

Gaurav Dikshit: “RIP..really sad..Worst form of racism exists in India”

Pry Singha: “har gali mein to kutta bhi sher hotey hai……saley north indian people 1nce u cme 2 north-east dn wl so u…..”

This is, however , not to say that there are no people looking at this issue, rationally from different perspective. Many also explain logically their own perspectives.
Vishnu Vishwanathan: “R.I.P Brother! No matter north east north west , south or north India ! India govtt. has no law strong laws for safety of students …Neither do they concern about student problems ….Thats why there is ragging everywhere …Feels sad but its the truth as i myself was once a raging victim however i escaped death n a story dat wud have circled up d whole f networking sites if i wud have been dead den…Common students lets get n unite togather as community not race based groups to fight Raging in campus ………………!!!!!!”

ALan Sibia : “Its heartbreaking! There can b no justification for taking someone else life. Whethr he ws a drug abuser or not, had a tiffd wt hs mates or not, no person or group hav a rit to end the life of Loitam or any human. It forces me to percept: a) was ther any racial motive behind the killing? b) was he used by the seniors as an object to show off their courage n skills whch comes out only when the number of ther associates are high? c) was ther any deliberate plan of harming him even to the extend of killing him- (complimenting to the level of torment tht one can presumed frm the pic). These are questions whch time wl b answer IF the murderers are to be properly trialed before a court of law. RIP Richard n i doubted if peace n harmony are to exist in the minds n lives of the killers for quite a long time. “

Vishal Chaudhary: “guys it not about regionalism its about the miss done done by some bloodies who should be punished bitterly”

Thankfully, majority of the facebookers maintain the composure except to rent their frustration, which were quite human.
Samsad Ahmed: “saitan banna asan hai par kya insan bane rahna itna muskil hai”

Raj Tewary : “…….acharya institute it shud be burnt down. alongwith those murderers”

Dicky K Gangte Meizap : “This is 3rd degree torture and murder”

Gopal Bhandari : “I think the management should be honestly dealing by compensating and justifying his family as well as all the culprits should be given hardest punishment. Or else this will lead to a big social unrest .”

Hrishi Singh: “the person who hve done this, ussko ko saale ko ssube saamne aise he marne ka order diya jaye,,,,,,,this iss the only way to stop such kind of things”

Milind Wankhede : “So sad yaar. ……. Oh god Where r u”

Monica Witschi Tenzin Chokzin : “Horrifying…..”

Lizza F Hinzz :” is da word humanity not in them…may his soul rest in peace…”

The bottom line is, punish the guilty and deliver the justice to the victim without further delay. For this to happen, it would need an extra ordinary courage for a robust justice system to work. Effectively then, if at all there existed racism, that will automatically go of its own.

Still, the rationality is

“You don’t fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity.”-unknown

This article is sent to KanglaOnline by Bishwajit Okram

Manipur Science Meet concludes – Assam Tribune

Manipur Science Meet concludes Assam Tribune IMPHAL, May 15 – Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi… more »

Manipur Science Meet concludes

Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, May 15 – Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today said that science meet every year would help in supporting innovation system in the State. “Organising such science meet every year in our state will be a measure of supporting innovation …

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Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/manipur-science-meet-concludes-assam-tribune/

Lapses in probe: Loitam’s uncle – Deccan Chronicle

Lapses in probe: Loitam’s uncle Deccan Chronicle The family of the 19-year-old Manipuri student Richard… more »

Lapses in probe: Loitam’s uncle

Deccan Chronicle
The family of the 19-year-old Manipuri student Richard Loitam who is awaiting the final post-mortem report of his death, believe the police investigation is not as thorough as it should be. Richard’s uncle, Manbindu Singh, an SP in Manipur, said, …

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Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
‘The Loitam case was just a trigger’ – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuri students take out rally – Mysore (kanglaonline.com)
College covering up Richard Loitam case, says CPI – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Former Manipur Minister seeks justice for Richard Loitam (kanglaonline.com)
Justice for Richard Loitam: Protest rally held at Tripura (kanglaonline.com)
The Richard Loitam murder: Denying our inner bigot (kanglaonline.com)
Manipuri teen’s death: Arrest of suspects demanded (kanglaonline.com)
The angry Northeast (kanglaonline.com)
People in this world must help for “LOITAM RICHARD” (bipinthingujam.wordpress.com)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/lapses-in-probe-loitams-uncle-deccan-chronicle/

International Campaign to stop rape and gender violence in conflict

THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO STOP RAPE & GENDER VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT 14 May 2012: We,… more »

THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO STOP RAPE & GENDER VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT

14 May 2012: We, the Control Arms Foundation of India and Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network joined The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict that is the first ever global collaboration between Nobel Peace Laureates, international advocacy organizations, and groups working at the regional and community levels in conflict areas to stop rape and gender violence in conflict on 11 May 2012, 3-5 pm at India Gate.The Campaign was led by the women Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative and an Advisory Committee comprised of 25 organizations.

The International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence : CAFI

Stop Rape in Conflict

Rape in conflict is not a new phenomenon. But with increased data, research, and media visibility, we are able to demonstrate the widespread nature of gender violence around the world. Rape is no longer considered an inevitable part of armed conflict—evidence shows that it is employed as a strategic weapon to destroy people, communities, and entire nations.

Gender violence is a tactical weapon used by state security forces and armed groups alike. It includes rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy, sterilization, mutilation, and insertion of objects into cavities. In international law, rape and gender violence are considered a crime against humanity, war crime and rape can be a crime of genocide. The motives for conflict-related rape and gender violence are varied—ranging from tactical to personal. Rape is often used to destroy the social and cultural bonds of communities, gang rape can be used to create cohesion within army units, it can be used to ensure terror among the enemy or during looting. Rape continues to often be used as a weapon after peace has been negotiated, as various sides in conflicts struggle to demobilize and resume their lives alongside each other—often still fearing renewed clashes. Gender violence tears the social fabric of society apart, continuing to leave a deep impact on survivors and communities in the years after the attack and conflict. Medical problems such as sexually transmitted diseases or gynecological fistula, only compound the psychological trauma. Our collective efforts have brought gender violence to the forefront of policy and public discussions. Now, our united actions will stop rape in conflict.

On 11 May 2012, we the members of Control Arms Foundation of India successfully organized an awareness programme at India Gate, where more than 150 fliers were distributed to the public. Later we submitted memorandums to: President of India, Prime Minister of India, Women and Child Department of Govt of India

For more information, please contact:

Control Arms Foundation of India & Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network

Email: Binalakshmi{at}gmail{dot}com Mobile: +91-9891210264
Address for correspondence: B 5/146, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029, India.
Phone: +9-11-46018541 Fax: +91-11-26166234.

Website /Blog: www.cafi-online.org & http://neiwip.blogspot.com

Press release is sent to KanglaOnline by A. Majaiibungo,Meetei Team Leader Research and Advocacy, Control Arms Foundation of India ,B 5 / 146, First Floor, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi – 110 029, India

Email: majaicafi{at}gmail{dot}com

Bandh in Manipur hits international trade – Hindu Business Line

News24online Bandh in Manipur hits international trade Hindu Business Line PTI Indo-Myanmar trade at the… more »

News24online

Bandh in Manipur hits international trade
Hindu Business Line
PTI Indo-Myanmar trade at the border town of Moreh in Manipur’s Chandel district has been severely affected due to a 72-hour bandh called by a local tribal organisation from May 12. There has not been any trade at Moreh, about 120 km south east of here …

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The Culture of ‘Bandhs’ and the Absence of Local Governance in the Northeast (kanglaonline.com)
UTLA warns of highway bandh (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur cannot be divided (kanglaonline.com)
Former Manipur Minister seeks justice for Richard Loitam (kanglaonline.com)
Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Thai students to learn English in Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Delhi: CFSL scientist from Manipur aDelhi: CFSL scientist from Manipur accuses colleagues of racial discrimination (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur: Post-Assembly Elections 2012 (kanglaonline.com)
Complete NH-53 work before monsoon: Manipur Minister to BRO (kanglaonline.com)
College covering up Richard Loitam case, says CPI – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)

At 91, Politician Remembers the First Parliament – New York Times (blog)

New York Times (blog) At 91, Politician Remembers the First Parliament New York Times (blog)… more »

New York Times (blog)

At 91, Politician Remembers the First Parliament
New York Times (blog)
Mr. Keishing comes from the conflict-ridden northeastern state of Manipur and is a Christian and a Naga, one of the tribal groups in the area. His long political carrier encompasses six decades of Manipur state and national politics including two …

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Manipur cannot be divided (kanglaonline.com)
At 60, House honours two who saw beginning – Rishang from Manipur and Resham Lal Jangade from Raipur (kanglaonline.com)
Repeal AFSPA, safe Sarmila and politically solve insurgency issues (kanglaonline.com)
Open letter in support of Pu Phungjathang Tonsing for the post of Deputy Chief Minister, Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Delhi police bar CPI (ML)`s AFSPA rally plan (kanglaonline.com)
Record Victory for Congress (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur: Post-Assembly Elections 2012 (kanglaonline.com)

Manipur village demands end to fake encounters – Newstrack India

Newstrack India Tamukhong (Manipur), May 13(ANI): A youth social organization club in Tamukhong, Manipur, has… more »

Newstrack India
Tamukhong (Manipur), May 13(ANI): A youth social organization club in Tamukhong, Manipur, has condemned the trend of fake encounters conducted by security personnel, and demanded prompt action against the guilty. Speaking at a recent public meeting in …
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Manipur and The Development Demands: Media, knowledge and all that

By Amar Yumnam T.S. Eliot once said: “What is actual is actual only for… more »

By Amar Yumnam
T.S. Eliot once said: “What is actual is actual only for one time. And only for one place.” Let us apply this to contemporary situation to our land. Manipur’s development challenge today is unique, and the development scenario cannot afford and will not remain the same. If we ever wish to see Manipur sustain as Manipur, things have to change and change massively. Here I would like to recall two recent analyses of economists working on African and Asian-Pacific issues. One issue relates to the role of media (read press in the context of Manipur), and the other to use of knowledge for development. It would be interesting to appreciate the dynamics on these two aspects in the case of Manipur too.

Media Research: Economists now emphasise the fundamental role of media in causing governance improvements and fighting the menace of corruption. In Africa as well as the rest of the world, studies have established that deepening of democratic norms does help the emergence of responsible media. Once the media has emerged in a democratic framework, the primary responsibility of the media to evolve as an effective social tool for moving forward is critical. They have to rise to the challenge and play the role expected of them. But this is easier said than done. It necessarily demands a committed team in the media working persistently for a positive change in the society they function. This point has been considered significant particularly because in societies of critical development challenges, there are many forces working to influence the media. The latter should be able to hold their ground under pressure. We need to examine how our press in Manipur has been in recent times.

Knowledge and Development: Knowledge is now being appreciated as a key input while endeavouring for development. A new dimension to this understanding has now been added by incorporating management aspects into the development designing, development interventions and development administration. For a decade or so, the invisible hand as the ultimate framework of development has swayed the economists by relegating the state to the background. Now this has been subjected to heavy revisions consequent upon the global meltdown. While not asking for return of the state in the development arena as in the past, it is now emphasised that regulation is needed for ensuring the desired outcomes.

Development intervention cannot just be left at that. Development interventions are to be managed in such a way the manifest outcomes tally with the desired goals. While the desired goals are the long term objectives, the manifest outcomes are the results of short period completion stages of development interventions. Now this management of development interventions is not an easy task. It has to be based on a deep understanding of the social context where the intervention is being put in place and robust analysis of the contextual pros and cons. This understanding and analysis have to be applied without being swayed by contemporary personal biases and selfish errors. We need to examine if this is a characteristic of Manipur as well.

Media in Manipur: Media in Manipur today are no longer the same as they were two decades back or so. They now show signs of vibrancy. But courage and objectivity are still question marks. As stated above, media for development have to relentlessly stress and fight for truth and objectivity. They should be performing the task of change for development protagonists. The forces of corruption and rogue elements forming pseudo social change workers have definitely emerged as strong negative agent in contemporary Manipur. They have been working hard to subject all the media, institutions, organisations and the state under their thumb. It is the primary onus of the media to rise to the occasion and resist the pressure from this front. But it is exactly here that I feel the contemporary media in Manipur find themselves weakest. Even supposedly widely circulated newspaper allows herself to be nothing more than a notice board where any Tom, Dick and Harry can post any. In the process, the media allow themselves to be used as a strong channel for character assassination of people without in any way endeavouring to indulge in the primary task of news confirmation and truth enquiry. This has made our media in Manipur fail to perform the task of a change agent for development.

Knowledge In Manipur: The fundamentality of knowledge is now a most widely emphasised element in development analysis anywhere in the world. The Asian Development Bank is a major institution in Asia to apply this element on a large scale in order to ensure sustainable development in this continent. Now this application of knowledge for management of development entails three things. First, it appreciates the problems and weaknesses (including biases, whims and prevailing errors) in any society. Secondly, the first understanding should never be used as opportunity for personal aggrandisement either by the knowledge agents or any social group or individuals. Third, while applying the knowledge to management of development (read projects) attention has to be given as to how far any short-term result dovetails or conflicts with the long term objective.

Here Manipur today suffers from three critical weaknesses. First, the endeavour to understand the social context and apply knowledge in the way to ensure development is minimal at best in so far as the development intervention is concerned. It is true both for the state agents and those working presumably on behalf of the state. Second, the forces of corruption and the rogue elements have joined hands in working for development. This definitely is a very wrong use of knowledge and a very contemporary error of social functioning in Manipur. Here we can imagine the recent emergence of contractors as architects in many executions of development projects. Third, the resultant outcome of development intervention naturally moves far away from the desired goals.

Upshot: In fine, I have tried to look at the prevailing atmosphere of development administration and development thinking in the context of Manipur from the angle of emerging lessons from countries in Asia and Africa. In order to give proper context and direction to the whole issue of development in Manipur, there is an imperative for the press in Manipur to rise to the occasion and move beyond the medium for character assassination by behaving as bill-boards. There is also a primary need to push the significance of knowledge for development in a way much more genuinely significant than the forces of rogue elements and corrupt forces.

Manipur and The Development Demands: Media, knowledge and all that (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur Cycle Club – Bamboo Cycle fabrication workshop (kanglaonline.com)
The Conscription of Children as Ultras in Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
College covering up Richard Loitam case, says CPI – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur: Post-Assembly Elections 2012 (kanglaonline.com)
Complete NH-53 work before monsoon: Manipur Minister to BRO (kanglaonline.com)
Manipur cannot be divided (kanglaonline.com)
Loitam’s report ready to roll – Manipur (kanglaonline.com)
Five women join Manipur Police with fake papers (kanglaonline.com)

Manipur cannot be divided

Zee News,Saturday, May 12, 2012, 14:03 Talking to mediapersons here, Gaikhangam, also a senior Congress… more »

Zee News,Saturday, May 12, 2012, 14:03

Talking to mediapersons here, Gaikhangam, also a senior Congress leader, asked how a state with a geographical area of 22,327 sq km could be divided.

“It is the homeland of more than 32 communities. How can one say it is the land of the Meiteis or the Nagas or the Kukis? Manipur is the homeland of all communities,” he said. “It is a democratic country but if a community raises a demand, it should not make another one suffer,” he said.

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Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/manipur-cannot-be-divided/

Manipur cannot be divided

Zee News,Saturday, May 12, 2012, 14:03 Talking to mediapersons here, Gaikhangam, also a senior Congress… more »

Zee News,Saturday, May 12, 2012, 14:03

Talking to mediapersons here, Gaikhangam, also a senior Congress leader, asked how a state with a geographical area of 22,327 sq km could be divided.

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Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/manipur-cannot-be-divided/

Merit List of Students HSLC EXAMINATION,Manipur 2012

MERIT LIST OF STUDENTS
HSLC EXAMINATION, Manipur, 2012
Source: Manipur Examination Results Site- NIC

MERIT LIST OF STUDENTS
HSLC EXAMINATION, Manipur, 2012

Source: Manipur Examination Results Site- NIC

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