Day: December 13, 2011

IMPHAL, December 13: In the aftermath of attack on the BJP leaders carried out by some miscreants during a political convention held at Thoubal Moijing on December 11, eight persons including two VDF personnel were apprehended with suspected explosive substance by private security guards while trying to intrude at the residence of intending BJP candidate of Thoubal assembly constituency, Oinam Indira Devi at around 8:30 pm today.

Speaking to IFP over the phone, Oinam Indira who is also the secretary of a local NGO stated that some youths identified as relatives of Thoubal Adhakshya Md Latif came to meet her. However, she suspected the youths as all family members of Adhakshya Latif were known to her. When enquired about their credentials, they ran away from her residence, she stated.

Her private security guards deployed at the gate nabbed three of the youths while one of them fled. They disclosed that they were altogether nine coming in an auto-rickshaw from Sangaiyumpham. On further inspection, the guards found five other youths holding some blackish sticky chemical substance inside the auto, Indira asserted.

Personnel of 15 Assam Rifles were called in to verify the apprehended youths. On verification, two out of the eight youths turned to be VDF personnel posted at Thoubal and Wangbal posts. The investigation on the matter is still on. The police are yet to ascertain the recovered chemical substance, the BJP candidate added.

Indira disclosed that some unidentified persons have recently threatened to blow up her house. A hand grenade was also found at her residence some months back, she added.

When asked about any suspect in today’s incident, she stated that political rivalry is behind all threats to her.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/miscreants-nabbed-with-suspected-explosive-substance-intruding-into-probable-bjp-candidates-residence/

IMPHAL, December 13: The Joint Action Committee of Irilbung Water Supply Chowkidar Ibomcha and the Yaikhu Kanba Lup have imposed a 5 hour bandh tomorrow along the Imphal-Yairipok road from 10 am to 3 pm.    

Ibomcha and Yaikhu, father and son, were reportedly abducted from Irilbung water supply scheme, where Ibomcha (the father is currently serving as the chowkidar) by miscreants identifying themselves as KCP militants on December 7 around 9:30 pm. The victims have remained traceless since then.

The JAC in this regards today organized a public meet cum sit in protest at Irilbung bazaar wherein the decision to imposed the bandh was resolved. The gathering also adopted several other resolutions.

In the first resolution, the meet agreed to pressure the government to take the responsibility for the safe release of the abducted victim at the same time, it had also resolved to appeal to the individuals/groups involved in the abduction to release the duo unharmed on humanitarian grounds.

The meet further agreed upon the imposition of public curfew in the entire government offices located within the Irilbung block until the victims are released, in protest against the indifferent attitude of the government to take initiative to release the duo.

Apabi Devi Ibomcha’s wife has appealed the group who have abducted her husband and son, to release the duo unharmed on humanitarian ground.

She said that the father and son are the only sole earners of the family and innocent persons who never had any forms of enmity with anyone.

She further revealed that her daughter in law, Yaikhu’s wife is also expecting.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/jac-of-abducted-father-son-imposes-bandh-on-imphalyairipok-road/

IMPHAL, December 13: The observation of the ‘International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence against Women’ organized by the Women Action for Development (WAD) which began from November 23 concluded today with a simple function at the Royale Conference Hall, Classic hotel.

The closing function was attended by Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker, I Hemochandra, eminent playwright MM. Manaobi, AIR programme executive, Vijaya Yumlembam as chief guest, functional president and guest of honour.

Speaking at the function, the Manipur Legislative Assembly speaker noted that crime and violence against women has been gradually increasing in the state.

However lauding the effort of the WAD in spreading awareness and supporting the victims of crime against women, the speaker stated that WAD has been extending care and support to the victimised lot.

He further appealed to the general public to take active role in the fight against such gender violence and to uproot it from the soil of the state, which is what the WAD and other like minded organizations have been promoting in the state.

Further during the valedictory function, WAD also distributed best gender journalist award 2011 and also for best lyricist, slogan competition.

The WAD also submitted a memorandum with charter of demands to I.Hemochandra.

The demands included setting up of women cell in every police station without delay, establishing working committee of Legislative Assembly for Protection of Women and Children from violence, to ensure effective implementation of gender budgeting policy with one third allocation of resource for women and also cases pertaining to violence against women and children should be allowed to handle by the IOs who are trained and gender sensitive.

The WAD further mentioned to launch ‘Helpline Centre’ for the victims of Violence Against Women (VAW) and punish those police officers who could not file the charge sheet for the case of VAW in time besides “criminal investigative award” for those discharging their duties for the cause of women and girls.

It further demanded to scatter CJM courts which are concentrated in Imphal to their respective districts for easy access and implementation of Protection of women from domestic violence Act properly and effectively.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/wad-demands-special-provision-to-protect-women-and-children-from-violence/

From John K. Kaping
UKHRUL, December 13: International rock band from the United Kingdom (UK), “Higher on Maiden” rocked Ukhrul with heavy metal music thrilling the tens of thousands of head-bangers at the TNL ground in what could be Ukhrul’s biggest rock concert. Rock fans braved a cold chilly December night as the band belted out metal songs one after the other. The rock concert was held under tight security arrangement and youth volunteers around the periphery of the TNL ground deputed by the Ukhrul Students’ Union.

The explosive high-profile international band in Ukhrul town remains the first of its kind in the records of the district.

The rock band landed from UK and is performing a “rock-tour” of the entire North Eastern States in India, organized by Seven Sisters Entertainment Group, New Delhi with a focal aim to enlighten the promotion of the art of Rock music bands established in the States, according to Sunny Shimray and Hardy Shimray the join associate partners of the organizing bodies Seven Sisters and MIZIM.

The rock band’s line up consist of main vocalist Ian Mikensie, Paul Hewitson (Bass), Steve Bunet on Drums and Steve as backing vocalist with guitars. The band played a good number of Iron Maiden songs that thrilled the jam-packed arranged accommodation open air platform at TNL ground filled by tens of thousands Ukhrul rock fans tonight.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/iron-maiden-tribute-band-from-uk-enthralls-ukhrul-rock-fans/

IMPHAL, December 13: With the government remaining indifferent to the demands of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGO despite the cease work strike of the JAC entering its 52 days today and at the same, the Manipur Secretariat employees joining the strike from today, it is an apparent invitation for a fiasco, said the JAC.

The JAC in a statement has said that taking into consideration the interest of the people they have been excluding essential services from the purview of the agitation. However it warned that it would not be wise on the part of the government to further test the patience of the JAC.

It posed that implementing few developmental projects in the state alone cannot be termed as welfare of the people and the state, when its machineries are left with a meagre pay scale.

It noted that the central government has been sanctioning funds to the tune of more than 80 percent to pay salaries/honorarium of the employees, pensioners and labourers, which has been playing the vital role in economic circulation/distribution through out the state. It is not the accumulated wealth hidden by the MLAs, ministers and other VIPs, doing this task, it maintained.

It claimed that the government is recklessly recruiting youths for government services before election to get political benefit. However after the election this vested interest policy will land the state into an ‘economic famine’ after the election, it asserted.

The JAC however would not acknowledge this ‘famine’ and allow it to entangle with its rightful demand of 6th pay, it held.

It warned that any employees found discharging their duties for their personnel gain in the wake of the agitation, will be dealt with serious consequences.

At the same time, it appealed the government to do the needful by regarding the agreement reached between the JAC.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/government-inviting-a-crisis-by-ignoring-its-demands-amtuc-amgeo/

CHURACHANDPUR, Dec 13 (agencies): A litter of cigarette stubs, abandoned syringes and used contraceptives greet a visitor to one of the four drug hangout joints in Manipur`s second largest town where red-eyed, stoned and slightly feverish youngsters huddle together.

Churachandpur, 60 km to the south of State capital Imphal, is a hub of injecting drug users (IDUs) thanks to its proximity to the Golden Triangle, notorious for opium and heroin production. The Golden Triangle, in narcotic parlance, includes the contiguous border area of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar from where drugs are sourced and peddled to north-east India and beyond.

The town, along with Ukhrul and Chandel districts, have the most number of IDUs in the State. There are an estimated 38,000 IDUs in Manipur, which has a population of around 2.5 million. “The injecting drug users mix heroin with water and inject in their body with the help of a syringe,” a member of the NGO SHALOM, which works with drug users, told IANS.

Locally known as No.4, a small chit of heroin costs anywhere between Rs 50 and Rs 300 in Churachandpur.

“Lack of socio-economic development and proximity to drug trafficking routes make the problem worse for youngsters who are unemployed. They get into drugs and never come back,” Chhakchhuk from SHALOM told IANS.

There are four hangout zones — locally known as hot spots — in Churachandpur where the IDUS indulge in drugs.

At one of these places, a 16-year-old fiddles with a syringe which contains some fluid. Her kohl-lined eyes are burning red, not with anger but with the effect of drugs. Ask her what her name is and she tells you to “get lost” without batting an eyelid.

What is most concerning is that these drug users share needles with each other, increasing the chances of contracting HIV. Locals say these places also see a lot of sexual activity. According to NGOs in Manipur, out of 38,000 injecting drug users in Manipur, 5,000 are female and highly vulnerable to HIV.

As per independent estimates, HIV prevalence among IDUs was over 15 percent in seven districts of the country in 2008.

While Amritsar topped with 30.40 percent, Churachandpur was second, with 28 percent of IDUs suffering from HIV.

“A majority of the female IDUs are sex workers who peddle drugs in the State from neighbouring Myanmar,” said an NGO functionary in Imphal.

According to the state Narcotics Control Bureau (Imphal Unit), heroin manufacturing units have mushroomed in Manipur.

In a press conference in Imphal earlier this month, Bijoy Shahni, assistant director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (Imphal Unit), said heroin was being illegally transported from Myanmar through Manipur to other parts of the country via Nagaland and Assam.

Likewise, he said drugs like Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine tablets are also smuggled to Myanmar through Manipur.

To reduce the looming health threat local NGOs like SHALOM and SASO provide fresh needles to IDUs and advise them not to share needles. While they have been able to make some impact, Manipur still has a long way to go.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/lives-in-peril-inside-manipurs-drug-zone/

IMPHAL, Dec 13: The proscribed UNLF has cautioned the people against human traffickers who have exploited women and children in the name of delivering good jobs outside the state.

A statement issued by senior publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba mentioned that the Assam Rifles of the Indian Occupation Force often tries to mislead the people by naming fake traffickers. Persons who bring youths into the revolutionary movement have been wrongly exposed as human traffickers. Such misleading act of the Indian security forces leads to unnecessary commotion and violence amongst the innocent people.

The Assam Rifles have challenged the modesty and dignity of Manipuri women. Chanu Rose, Ahanjaobi, Sanjita, Manorama and others were the victims of these immoral Indian security forces, the statement said.

The UNLF further appealed to the people to identify the real human traffickers and safeguard innocent women and children from being exploited at the hand of Indian colonialists.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/12/unlf-cautions-people-against-human-traffickers/