Month: January 2012

IMPHAL, January 2: As part of its preparation for the ensuing 10th Manipur Assembly election scheduled for January 28, the state election department with the approval of the Election Commission of India has published the final electoral role of the state electorate roll today announced the state chief election officer PC Lawmkunga during a press conference at the state secretariat South block conference hall.

The announced photo electoral roll has 97.44 percent of the total electorate.

While lauding the state election department for the feat, the chief election officer further added that there has been a considerable increase of nearly one lakh electors in the electoral roll from the previous list maintained by the department.

A total of 17,40,820 voters – 97.44 percent of the total electorate, have been announced as against 16,39,000 in the previous list.

There are 8,89,497 female electors and 8,51,323 male electors in the announced electoral roll, the chief election officer informed.

He further added that the preparation of electoral rolls in 11 constituencies have been 100 percent completed. The assembly constituencies are Khundrakpam, Heignang, Khurai, Lamlai, Yaiskul, Wangkhei, Lamsang, Sekami, Wabagai, Kakching and Sugunu.

As the voter Id card has been made mandatory for the ensuing 2012 election, the state election officer has further appealed to all electors who have been left out in the electoral roll to submit their two recent passport size photos to the concern Election Returning Officers and District Election Officers before January 10.

He has further announced that the residual electorates will be allowed to make the transposition, deletion and submission of their names from the electoral record till January 10 by submitting their required papers.

The chief election officer further informed that of the 350 companies of the required security forces assured for the smooth conduct of the election by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 280 companies will be from the central paramilitary forces while the remaining others will be picked up from other states.

A total of 200 companies of central para military forces will arrive in the state on January 10, he added.

Due to the time constrain in the state, the state election department under the instruction of the ECI has announced that intending candidates can file their nominations starting January 6, he further announced.

He also stated that the state requires 3486 electoral voting machines; however there are 4500 EVMs in the state at present with the first round checking of the EVMs and the training programme of 13,000 polling parties to be deployed at 2357 polling stations already completed.

He further added that a team of the Income tax officials will be arriving in the state tomorrow to monitor the cash transaction of intending candidates and political parties in relation to the ensuing election.

The team will further convened a one day workshop on ‘election expenditure monitor’ for public awareness in collaboration with the AMWJU at the Manipur Press Club on January 4, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/filing-of-nominations-preponed-to-january-6-on-eci-instruction/

IMPHAL, January 2:  A Chinese made hand grenade was found at the entrance of local vernacular Naharolgi Thoudang at Sega Road today at about 5.30 am.

The explosive was kept inside a box which was tied with a ribbon resembling a present. The parcel was found at the ground floor entrance stairway by morning staffs of the daily.

After the arrival of the police bomb squad, the explosive was later disarmed. A threat note was also found inside the parcel box which read, “Editor, this is the last warning, next is blast”, the note was addressed by one s/s commander Henthoiba Mangang of the KCP (MC) Lanchen Chanu group.

The bomb threat has been condemned by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union as an intimidation to the independent working of the media. A joint emergency meeting attended by editors and AMWJU standing committee members has resolved to urge the state home department to provide adequate security measures to the media houses by December 3 failing which state government news will be boycotted from the next day onward.

A statement by the president of the scribes’ body A Mobi said that the Chief Minister O Ibobi was intimated by editors and AMWJU members on December 8 last to provide security arrangements near the peripheral areas of media houses which has not been taken up as of yet. The editors also resolved to leave the editorials blank in condemnation of the threat.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/bomb-left-at-local-daily-with-threat-note-newspapers-to-carry-blank-editorials/

IMPHAL, January 2: The MPP, RJD, CPI (M), NCP and JD(U) has decided to name their newly formed pre-poll alliance as ‘Peoples’ Democratic Alliance’ with Dr Nimaichand Luwang of MPP as the convenor and Soibam Indrakumar of JD(U), K Kumarjit of RJD and L Ibomcha of NCP as co-convenor.

The decision was announced this evening by MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang during a press conference held at the MPP office.

Speaking further to media persons, the newly appointed convenor of the alliance stated that a joint meeting was convened yesterday at the residence of Thangmeiband MLA Radhabinod Koijam during which the decisions were unanimously taken.

The meeting further finalised the consensus candidates of the newly formed alliance who will be fielded in 30 constituencies as the first phase.

He further announce that in the 9-Thangmeiband a/c, the alliance will field current Opposition leader in the State Assembly, Radhabinod Koijam of NCP, while in the 11-Sagolband a/c the newly formed alliance will support the CPI (M) candidate.

He further announced that the alliance will support MPP candidates in 14 constituencies namely Lamlai a/c, Konthoujam a/c, Bishnupur a/c, Thanga a/c, Wangkhem a/c, Heirok a/c, Sugunu a/c, Patsoi a/c, Langthabal a/c, Nambol a/c, Kumbi a/c, Khangabok a/c, Singjamei a/c, Hiyanglam a/c and Thongju a/c.

The alliance will support NCP candidates in the constituencies of Thangmeiband, Kshetrigao, Uripok, Wangkhei, Moirang, Churachanpur, Saikot and Mao.

The alliance has also decided to field JD(U) candidates in the constituencies of Jiribam, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Tengnoupal and Henglep as its common candidate.

Meanwhile, the MPP president also announced a separate first phase list of candidates of the MPP.

The candidates as announced by the party president are Heikrujam Nabashyam for 13 Singjamei a/c, Nongmaithem Herojit Singh for 18 Konthoujam a/c, Dr L Chandramani Singh for 19 Patsoi a/c, Okram Joy Singh (sitting MLA) for 20 Langthabal a/c, Th Chaoba Singh (former union minister) for 24 Nambol a/c, Ningthoujam Sanajaoba Singh for 26 Bishnupur a/c, Aheibam Angousana Singh for 29 Kumbi a/c, Dr Nimaichand Luwang (MPP president) for 32 Wangkhem a/c, Nongmeikapam Sova Kiran Singh for 33 Heirok a/c, Laishram Jatra Singh for 34 Khangabok a/c, Mayengbam Amutombi Singh for 34 Hinyanglam a/c and Mayanglambam Binod Singh for 39 Sugunu a/c.

Further speaking on the alliance formed with the BJP and the MPP, the party president further added that even though the BJP is not in the Peoples’ Democratic Alliance; the two parties have an understanding that the MPP will support any BJP candidate if the MPP fail to field its candidate in the said constituencies, which will be outside the purview newly formed Peoples’ Democratic Alliance’.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/mpp-twotiming-peoples-democratic-alliance-and-bjp/

IMPHAL January 2: The Maoist Communist Party in a statement by its publicity secretary Nonglen Meitei has condemned the bomb threat on Naharolgi Thoudang.

The statement has stated that such a threat made by an armed group to the media lacks political sense and is derogatory. Such incident should not be repeated in the future, it said.

A revolutionary group should not hold the media responsible for not publishing their press releases. A revolution should not be waged through the media and similar issues were highlighted in an international platform by the Maoist Communist Party held recently. The outfit had coined the term “Cyber Party” at the meet, certain organizations that have only its publicity and propaganda through the media as their agenda and not having true revolutionary ethos, the release added.

Furthermore, an outfit claiming to carry out a revolution and targeting the media for not publishing their motives borders on being a cyber-party. The responsibility of the media has been respected by true revolutionaries and the Maoist would not seek to dwell further on the subject. The outfit at present is also dissecting the role of the media and its services towards the public at disseminating information and also for the revolution movement.

It has further mentioned that the Maoist has no grudges against the media for not publishing its releases on many occasions as it does not affect the true revolution. But, attack and threats on the media lacks revolutionary consciousness and tarnishes the image of the revolutionaries and borders on Goondaism, it stated. No armed group should repeat such incident in the future, the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/maoist-says-outfits-should-not-threaten-media-for-not-publishing-their-statements/

SENAPATI, Janaury 2 (agencies): Naga People’s Front(NPF) president Dr Shürhozelie Liezietsü said the forthcoming assembly elections in Manipur in January 2012 would be a referendum on whether Nagas live united as a family.

Speaking at an interaction with various tribal hohos and United Naga Council(UNC) at the NPF Manipur unit office here today, Dr Shürhozelie,who is also Nagaland minister of Urban Development and Higher & Technical Education said no one could stop Nagas from living together and reminded that the forthcoming assembly election was an opportunity for Nagas in Manipur to decide.

He asserted that NPF was for good relationship with various communities, political parties and organsations both underground and overground but asserted that no one would be allowed to dictate terms upon Nagas. Dr Shürhozelie revealed that the main purpose of the NPF was to defeat incumbent Okram Ibobi Singh.

He urged all Naga organizations and church to support NPF candidates in the forthcoming polls.

He said NPF in Manipur has received applications from candidates for 14 assembly seats while there was no ticket aspirant from Kuki dominated areas. He however said NPF could make some seat adjustments with other political parties in Kuki dominated areas.

Earlier, speaking to 55 out of 56 NPF ticket aspirants at Taphou Naga village Senapati, the NPF president said the party would contest the polls in Manipur for the first time and expressed the hope that voters would make wise decision.

He said NPF was the oldest regional party in the region and the only one out of 700 recognised political parties which Nagas need to be proud of. Dr. Shürhozelie said the entry of NPF to Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh was in the light of the four resolutions passed by the Nagaland assembly on the issue of integration of Naga inhabited areas.

He said out of Manipur total area of 22,327 sq Km , the ratio of land area of Nagas vis-à-vis Meteis was 9:1 and which has sparked fears among the latter.

He said there were 20 assembly seats in hill areas of Manipur and if all tribals unite they could become a tremendous force he said. Dr Shürhozelie asked other communities in the Hill areas of Manipur to seriously think about it as tribals could be a formidable force to exert their rights over Meitei domination.

Altogether 55 out of the total 56 aspiring candidates including two women who had applied for NPF party ticket from 14 different assembly constituencies of Manipur attended today’s function. All aspiring candidates made a public pledge to remain loyal to the NPF party’s ideologies and support those who would eventually get party tickets.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/npf-entry-to-manipur-is-to-defeat-ibobi-shrho/

IMPHAL, January 2: At least two cadres including a woman of the proscribed KCP(MC) Nongdrenkhomba group including a woman have been arrested by Bishnupur police commandos on January 1 from Moirang Laithangjing Mamang.

A release of the Bishnupur SP said that the militants were arrested while conducting frisking and checking at Moirang Laithangjing area on New Year day following credible information about the presence of some UG groups who were planning to carry out some crime in the area including hurling of hand-grenade to the residence of sitting Moirang MLA M Prithiviraj. 

The release has further identified the arrested militants as Ningthoujam Sanjok Singh alias Roshan, 26 s/o Amuba of Tokpa Ching bazar, Thoubal and Thongam ningol Salam ongbi Sama Devi alias Sakhi w/o Inao of Moirang Kumam Leikai.

One Chinese hand-grenade and seven demand letters of KCP (MC) were recovered from the possession of the arrested militants, said the release of the Bishnupur SP.

The two arrested militants were planning to carry out a series of grenade attacks including at the residence of Moirang MLA and other intending candidates of the 10th Assembly election, as instructed by Nongdrenkhomba, the release said and added that the district police Cdos have thwarted a possible grenade attack by the militant group with the arrest of the two, the release added.

In the meantime, a team of the Cdo Imphal east arrested one RPF/PLA cadre at about 7am on December 31, 2011 along with a point 32 pistol loaded with two live rounds from Kakwa in front of United Social Amatuer Club.

A police release has said that the arrested militant has been identified as Khangenbam Bobo alias Ibotombi, 40 s/o Suresh Singh of Kakwa Lilando Lampak.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/bishnupur-police-thwarts-grenade-attack-series-with-arrest-of-kcp-mc-cadres/

IMPHAL, January 2: A 34 year old housewife identified as Takhelchangbam Sanahanbi Devi w/o T Naran of Keishampat Thokchom Leikai was injured during a bomb blast at the residence of Thokchom Romesh Singh s/o (late) Kulachandra Singh of Keishampat Thokchom Leikai around 6:30pm under Imphal PS.

The incident happened this late evening when unidentified miscreants lobbed a hand grenade at the residence of Romesh which exploded in his residential courtyard and injured his neighbour Sanahanbi.

Sanahanbi who has been admitted at the RIMS hospital was injured with splinters from the explosion.

Meanwhile, family of Roshan informed that the reason behind the attacked cannot be ascertained as there has been no previous threat from any individuals or groups.

The concerned police have registered a case in this regard.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/neighbour-hurt-in-grenade-attack-at-keishampat/

IMPHAL, January 2: The 30th foundation day of the Imphal based Manipuri daily ‘Kangleipaki Meira” was held today at the Manipur Press Club with Dr RK Nimai Singh as chief guest.

Journalist awards instituted by the local daily annually were also presented to at the function.

While L Dhanabanta of Poknapham was given the award of best male reporter, while Sapam Aruna of the Sangai Express was honoured with the female reporter of the year award.

N Phillips was also given the award of best journalist in the electronic media.

Translator of Mao dialect M Kapani of the DIPR was also awarded with the best appreciation award instituted by the daily newspaper Kangleipak Meira during the foundation day observation today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/01/eveninger-observes-foundation-day-with-awards-distribution/