March 26, 2013 – Page 2

KYU, KSO Sadar Hills thank Edn Minister

The Kanggui Youth Union and the Kuki Students’ Organization Sadar Hills today extended heartfelt gratitude to all who have rendered tireless effort for ensuring successful conduct of TET 2013 in respect of Kangpokpi centre Source Hueiyen News Service

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Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister O Ibobi greets

Governor Gurbachan Jagat and Chief Minister O Ibobi have greeted the people of the State on the auspicious occasions of Yaoshang Doljatra and Good Friday respectively Source The Sangai Express

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NPF lost in Tuensang Sadar I

The Naga People’s Front NPF said the outcome of the election to the Tuensang Sadar I, which was held on March 23 between Independent candidate Toyang Changkong Chang and NPF candidate Elan Chang, was on expected line Source Hueiyen News Servic…

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Advocacy Meeting Of Media On Prevention Of Vector Borne Diseases Citizens’ role in combating diseases stressed

While terming the vector borne diseases scenario, common in the State, as controllable subject experts conceded that role of the citizens is the most effective mechanism to tame the calamitous multi dimensional endemic Source The Sangai Express

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Erosion taking toll on Khwairakpa Eerel

Khwairakpa Eerel, a sacred site for the Meeteis located in an island hill of Barak River at Cachar has been eroded gradually by the high waves and strong current of the river Source Hueiyen News Service

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Yaoshang to be celebrated for 3 days only

A public meeting to deliberate on the history and changing faces of Yaoshang festival as well as its impact in Manipuri society held at Manipur Press Club here today has resolved to cut down the number of days for celebrating the annual Yaoshang festiv…

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Fire-walking festival held in Moreh

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MOREH, March 26: The 46th Fire Walking Festival 2013 concluded today with a fire walking event held at the Sunrise Club ground. The event organized by the Shree Angalaparameshwari, Shree Muneeshwarar Temple Committee had started on March 17. Tomorrow, water … Continue reading →

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Tomorrow, water mixed with turmeric will be sprayed throughout the whole town to obstruct all evil spirits from entering the town. The fire walking festival of the Tamil is held only in Moreh at Shree Angalaparameshwari Shree Muneeshwarar temple in the whole of the North East region.

Several individuals from the Meitei, Nepali, Bihari, Myanmarese communities participated in the fire walking event. Several Tamils who had left Moreh and returned to Chennai also arrived to participate in the festival. The day is also observed at all Tamil inhabited areas in India, Myanmar, Thailand.

A puja was also observed for the welfare of Moreh during the festival. Elaborating on the fire walking event, V Sekhar President of Tamil Sangam Moreh said, people prayed to God to fulfill their desires and once it is fulfilled the person usually walks on the fire.

The event was attended by several VIPs from Myanmar. DIG 26 Sector and CO 9th AR, Moreh and other community leaders also attended the festival.

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Zeliangrong groups call 48 hr highway blockade

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IMPHAL, March 26 (NNN): A 48-hour national highway `total blockade` has been called from the midnight of March 27 by the All Zeliangrong Students Union of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland (AZSU-AMN), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF-AMN) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) … Continue reading →

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According to AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM, the total blockade will be imposed along national highways passing through the `Zeliangrong areas` as the first phase of agitation.”We have served a five-day ultimatum to the state government of Manipur on March 20 which expired on March 25 for the safe release of Alice Kamei but since nothing concrete has come-forth, we have no other option but to call the bandh,” said AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM today.

Alice Kamei, reading in Class-IX at Grace Reach Academy, Hiyanglam, daughter Chakri (Punshichao) Kamei of Chingphu Zeliangrong village was kidnapped by some persons who claimed themselves to be from the Revolutionary People`s Front/People`s Liberation Army (RPF/PLA). Alice Kamei reportedly went missing since March 10, according to the three Zeliangrong organisations.

“Different mode of democratic agitations will be taken up in the event of the failure to release the minor girl who has been held hostage since March 10. The decision to impose the total blockade was taken as the kidnappers ignored our humble appeal to release Alice Kamei,” they said.

Meanwhile, AZSU, ZYF, ZSUM has appealed to all the general public and transporters to extend their fullest co-operation and make the blockade a grand success.

“Any untoward incident occuring during the total blockade shall be the sole responsibility of the defaulters. Any organization, individual or agency which defy the total blockade is construable as anti peace loving people,” the AZSU, ZYF and ZSUM said.

Medical and fire services, media, power department will be exempted from the purview of the blockade, they added.

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Women group demands action on child trafficking

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IMPHAL, March 26: The Women Action For Development (WAD) an organization working in the field of gender and women empowerment in the state along with its counterpart NGOs and other civil based organizations and people based organizations of the state have submitted a strongly worded communique to the Chief Minister and the Director General of Police of the state over the lack of action over cases of child trafficking in the state.

The communique pointed out that crimes against women and girls in the state of Manipur are increasing day by day with almost every single day bringing in news reports of the brutal killings of women and girls after incidents of rape and molestation, cases of suicide of young married women due to agonizing torture by husbands or in-laws, trafficking etc. It mentioned that the total number of cases related to the violation of the rights of children in the state, recorded so far for 2013 till date is 56 out of which 4 cases are of rape, 2 cases of rape and murder, 2 cases of assault, 2 case of rape attempt, 1 case of suicide, 1 case of molestation, 1 case of sodomy, 3 cases of Kidnapping, 4 cases of child soldiers, 30 cases of children rescued from trafficking, 4 cases of children going missing and 2 cases of abandonment.

Highlighting that Child trafficking, an organized crime by which under privileged and abandoned children from remote areas are lured by the traffickers with false promises and opportunities to provide free education, residential accommodations, job securities, etc has become one of the most serious issue in the state, the communique by WAD pointed out that there have been many instances earlier where children from Manipur have been rescued from illegal children homes located in different parts of the country and even from abroad. “There were earlier reports of five children being rescued from such illegal children homes in 2007; 12 children in 2008; 41 children in 2009; 169 in 2010; 55 in 2011 and 81 in 2012. For the running year, 30 children have rescued so far,” it said.

It further went on to point out there has been no effort from the concerned state authority so far to address the issue of trafficking nor has there been any convictions of people involved in trafficking cases except for brief spells in jail followed by bail. It added that despite 21 children of the state being found trafficked to Jaipur, the lack of any concerted action to bring back the rescued children and begin the process for their repatriation and rehabilitation is a serious matter and questioned the role, responsibility and actions being undertaken by the state anti trafficking unit till date.

Saying that there was every reason for fearing for the safety and the well being of the children being held in Jaipur, the WAD communique pointed out that there is an urgent need for the concerned authority to get in touch with their counterparts in Rajasthan to initiate the process of rescue and repatriation of the trafficked children. “We urge the Government machineries, particularly the Social Welfare Department Home Department and the Manipur State Commission for Protection of Child Rights to take due and immediate action, failing which WAD will send out official notifications and communication over the same on a national and international basis, it said. According to sources, the communique will also be handed over to the State Governor as also the Social Welfare Minister and the Home Minister with memorandums to be sent to the notice of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the UN reporting channels.

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One AR personnel injured in UNLF attack

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IMPHAL, March 26: The Armed wing of the Manipur People’s Army (MPA) of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) attacked a column of 44 AR after PLA killed one personnel of 15 AR and wounded another by exploding a powerful IED … Continue reading →

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According to sources available with IFP, the incident occurred at an area of Namibisha under Kamjong sub-division of Ukhrul distirct at around 10.25 a.m. A column of 44 AR in some vehicles came under attack with the explosion of a powerful IED planted at the roadside while they were moving together and an AR personnel was wounded by the bomb splinters. The injury sustained was reportedly not critical.

Meanwhile UNLF claimed that the armed wing of the front, MPA cadres launched the attack which claimed five lives of AR personnel and injured some personnel.

However ADPO Phungyar Mr. Pukeho Mao who also holds the charge of sub-divisional police officer of Kanjong sub-division of Ukhrul said that the information about a column of AR from 23 March proceeding to Namibisha to launch an operation was received but an attack by an UG group or an encounter with an UG group has not been officially reported as yet. It was not officially reported at Chasad or Phungyar police station, he added.

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SC Panel likely to submit report by April first week

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IMPHAL, March 26: The Supreme Court appointed Commission headed by Justice N Hedgre and hearing six cases of extrajudicial killings in Manipur is likely to submit its report to the Supreme Court in the first week of April this year. This was stated by Babloo Loitongbam, Executive director of Human Rights Alert (HRA) during a press conference at the HRA office at Kwakeithel today.

It may be mentioned that in September 2012, Extra-Judicial Victim`s Family Association Manipur (EVFAM) along with HRA submitted a list of 1528 extrajudicial killings in Manipur that took place since 1979 to 2012 praying for the constitution of an Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate into them. On January 4, 2013, the Supreme Court constituted a high power committee to be fully satisfied about the allegations concerning the cases cited by the writ petitioners with Justice N Santosh Hedgre , former Judge of the Supreme Court as the chairman and JM Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner and Dr Ajai Kumar Singh, IPS retired DGP and IGP of Karnataka as members of the Commission.

The Commission was mandated to make a thorough enquiry into and record a fact finding regarding the past antecedents and the circumstances in which seven individuals were: Azad khan; Khumbongmayum Orsonjit; Nameirakpam Gobin Meitei; Nameirakpam Nobo Meitei; Elangbam Kiranjit Singh; Chongtham Umakanta and Akoijam Priyobarta and to address the larger question of the role of the State Police and the security forces in Manipur.

In the final submission to the Commission on behalf of the petitioners, suggestions were made to form a special investigation team consisting of 25 senior investigation officers from outside the state of Manipur to take up the investigation and prosecution of 25 serious cases where it is alleged that fake encounters have taken place.

In Manipur 9 district Courts should be separately established to function exclusively as Human Rights Courts in accordance with Section 30 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 with the qualification that such courts will be empowered to entertain complaints of human rights violation directly and to devise its own procedure so that these criminal proceedings are completed within a period of 6 months. That it be declared that custodial killings and other human rights atrocities when committed require no sanction for prosecution either under the CrPC or UAPA (unlawful prevention act) or AFSPA as the commission of a human rights atrocity has nothing to do with the performance of public duty.

He said that during the proceedings of the Inquiry Commission in New Delhi from March 13- 21, the defence lawyer, legal representative of the petitioners and members of the Commission jointly discussed about the overall functioning of security forces in Manipur, apart from the issue of AFSPA.

When the Commission asked both the Defence Ministry and Home Ministry why AFSPA was not removed from Manipur, the ministries said it was under consideration, Babaloo cited the legal representative of the petitioners as saying.

It also raised a serious question to the two ministries as to why the seven-year -old Jeevan Reddy Commission report on AFSPA was not presented in the Parliament till date, Babloo said.

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Yaoshang spell

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Manipur can well be described as the land of never ending festivals since one goes off only to bring in another in its place partly owing to the various communities living in the state with their different beliefs and practices. Call it multiculturalism or a penchant for revelries and festivities but the people of the state do not have any dearth for being in high spirits under the garb of festivals. Amongst the various communities living in the state, it is the Meties who can boast of being the ones who takes the prize when it comes to observing a never ending array of festivals. For the Meiteis, every festival is of course a major festival with Yaoshang being the top of the pile given that it is held for five full days starting from the full moon of the month of Phagun during which time, the scheme of things come to a near complete halt. The number of days of the festival is near to similar with the observations in certain parts of North India but suffice to say that the five days of Holi in Manipur surpasses the nature of celebrations and social and cultural indulgence. For the very young, the festival is an innocent introduction to the fine art of ‘extorting’ money, which children do by going to homes and asking for money or putting ‘roadblocks’. For the older young people, ‘Yaoshang’ as Holi is known is a socially sanctioned courting period where strict social and cultural codes of no show of personal affection can be crossed by holding hands to the beat of drums and music at night.

The younger generation in fact, often fails to see the devotional aspect of Yaoshang apart from the connotation of the Hindu mythological story of the veil Hollika being burnt on the fire while the noble Prahlad is saved because of his devotion. To the older generation, Holi means a time for offering the best of spring to Lord Krishna and his consort, Radha and celebrating their divine love. For the later generation of course, the sub text of spiritual devotion can be lost but it is evident that the air of romance has caught on given the number of elopements that take place during the five-day period. There is still no proper study in this link between social and cultural sub texts of festivals but in Gujarat, another traditional society statistics have shown that the festival of Navratri that allows for open social sanction of young people mixing together leads to an increasing marriage activity!

One other activity around Holi that cannot be left out is the Sports meets that are organized at the Leikai level. Many often describe them as being representative of the great love for sports that people of this state have. There may be some amount of truth is this assumption but it would be wrong to pitch Sports meets during the festival as a strong ground for appreciating and encouraging sports in the state. Firstly, the activities are conducted in an almost casual manner: there are no clock timers for athletic activities; the judges are often the elders of the Leikai or young people while the participants are mostly people who do take up any athletic activity for the whole year. For the Yaoshang sports meets to be actually an extension of grooming or encouraging sporting talents, there needs to be much more competitiveness. Perhaps organizing them on the lines of Municipal wards etc may help bring in some seriousness. While organizing sports meets have brought down the extent of small children standing by road-sides and stopping pedestrians and vehicles for `Nakatheng`, much needs to be done if they are to be vehicles for encouraging sporting talents.

While most states in the country mark Holi in one day, in Manipur the majority of shops and business establishments remain closed year after year. Passenger vehicles stay off the road and people who make a living from daily labour or selling vegetables etc will suffer the most and not much gets done during the five-day break including for media houses. With the financial year closing around the corner, some Government departments and officials would certainly be cursing the festival this time round. But more than anything else, one hopes that the five day period does not bring a surplus of bad tidings at the end of festivities as proved by earlier occasions starting with the Heirok incident and subsequent others where there have been loss of lives. May this Holi be a safe one!

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Holi greetings

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IMPHAL, March 26: The Press Information Bureau (Defence Wing), has said in a press release that Maj Gen KK Sinha, SM, General Officer Commanding Red Shield Division conveys his warm greetings to the people of Manipur on the festive occasion of Holi which signifies the triumph of good over evil. “May this festival of color bring peace, harmony, prosperity and happiness in the lives of all. He appealed to the people to contribute towards the promotion of brotherhood and camaraderie to bring in peace and prosperity to the region in the days ahead”, the message said.

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ZSUM general assembly

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IMPHAL, March 26: The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur will be holding its general assembly (DIMKI) cum election for the tenure of 2013-2015 on April 4, 2013 at 10 am, at Youth Hostel, Imphal opposite to the Assam Riffles transit camp, … Continue reading →

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For the smooth functioning of election, an emergency meeting of the Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) was held on March 17 at ZSUM office and Philip Kamei, former chairman was appointed as returning officer and Majabung Gangmei and Achapbou Newmai former state secretaries of ZSUM as election commission members respectively, it further said.

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RPF rebuts 15 AR claim

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IMPHAL, March 26: The proscribed outfit, Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF) has claimed in a press statement that Koijam Gourahari (55) son of (L) Ibobi of Leirongthel Lamakhai who was reportedly arrested by a team of the Thoubal District Police Commandos … Continue reading →

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The statement said Koijam Gourahari was reportedly arrested during a search operation at Yairipok Mamang Leikai as a suspect involved in the March 23 blast along with one 9mm pistol and two live rounds, a Chinese hand grenade and 500kg of plastic explosives.

It further alleged that the Assam Rifles had arrested the father of a PLA cadre from around the Yairipok area and accused him of his involvement in the bomb blast.

It continued that the said person has no involvement with the dealings of the outfit nor does he have access to the arms of the outfit. It said the man has infact not seen or had contact with his son who has been with the PLA for more than 15 years.

The statement alleged that the security forces will continue to produce more innocent persons as involved in such bomb attacks. It further said that the RPF in its various forms of attack against the security forces tries hard not to hurt the general public; however there might still be instances where there might be injuries and deaths which is the way with wars.

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Island village chief sworn in

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IMPHAL, March 26: The swearing in ceremony of Mr Marem Ringai (konon) Maring as the chief ( Khullakpa) of Island village located at Pallel under Tengnoupal Block of Chandel district was held. The solemn ceremony held at the village was … Continue reading →

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IMPHAL, March 26: The swearing in ceremony of Mr Marem Ringai (konon) Maring as the chief ( Khullakpa) of Island village located at Pallel under Tengnoupal Block of Chandel district was held.

The solemn ceremony held at the village was attended by N Lukham, IAS Retd. Commisioner (Hills) as the chief guest, R Koyaingam, Vice President of Maring Uparup Assembly (MUA) as the president and L Darsinso, Chief Executive Officer, MCS of Autonomous District Council as the guest of honour.

MD Korung Maring attended the function as moderator while Rev. Mm Ko-untim Hormi, Pastor of Mimou Baptist Church attended the function as Administrator.

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Zeliangrong groups call 48 hr highway blockade – KanglaOnline

Zeliangrong groups call 48 hr highway blockadeKanglaOnlineIMPHAL, March 26 (NNN): A 48-hour national highway `total blockade` has been called from the midnight of March 27 by the All Zeliangrong Students Union of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland (AZSU-AMN), Ze…

Zeliangrong groups call 48 hr highway blockade
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, March 26 (NNN): A 48-hour national highway `total blockade` has been called from the midnight of March 27 by the All Zeliangrong Students Union of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland (AZSU-AMN), Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF-AMN) and Zeliangrong …

and more »

SC Panel likely to submit report by April first week – KanglaOnline

SC Panel likely to submit report by April first weekKanglaOnlineIt may be mentioned that in September 2012, Extra-Judicial Victim`s Family Association Manipur (EVFAM) along with HRA submitted a list of 1528 extrajudicial killings in Manipur that took p…

SC Panel likely to submit report by April first week
KanglaOnline
It may be mentioned that in September 2012, Extra-Judicial Victim`s Family Association Manipur (EVFAM) along with HRA submitted a list of 1528 extrajudicial killings in Manipur that took place since 1979 to 2012 praying for the constitution of an …

and more »

Ambulance distributed under NRHM for better medical services – KanglaOnline

Ambulance distributed under NRHM for better medical servicesKanglaOnlineManipur Government has to distribute 20 ambulance vehicles each to the hill and valley districts under NRHM in phase wise. The 13 ambulance vans were distributed for the first phas…

Ambulance distributed under NRHM for better medical services
KanglaOnline
Manipur Government has to distribute 20 ambulance vehicles each to the hill and valley districts under NRHM in phase wise. The 13 ambulance vans were distributed for the first phase. Ram Muivah, Principal Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr A Bijoy, …
National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) ambulances flagged offE-Pao.net

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BJP state heads confer with party`s national president – KanglaOnline

BJP state heads confer with party`s national presidentKanglaOnlineIMPHAL, March 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh president Thounaojam Chaoba and General secretary Ashwini Kumar today met with the BJP National President Rajnath Singh at t…

BJP state heads confer with party`s national president
KanglaOnline
IMPHAL, March 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party, Manipur Pradesh president Thounaojam Chaoba and General secretary Ashwini Kumar today met with the BJP National President Rajnath Singh at the later's residence at Delhi to confer on several issues …