Day: June 9, 2013

MNS: In the series of initiatives undertaken by the Assam Rifles to increase environmental awareness and prevent the increasing deforestation, 28 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Headquarter IGAR(S) organised a ‘Go Green Drive’ which was a follow up of the unprecedented success of similar events last year. The drive was inaugurated by Brigadier R N Mathur, Commander 28 Sector Assam Rifles at Kakching and was carried out around Sajik Tampak, Sehlon, Joupi , Kakching and the neighbouring villages spreading in the districts of Churachandpur , Chandel and Thoubal. Over 13,500 saplings, which included fruit bearing ,shady and ornamental trees were planted during this period.
A series of joint educative and training programmes were organised at schools, community centres and villages on environment conservation.
Rebutting the charges levelled by a proscribed outfit in local dailies on World Environmental Day, PRO HQ IGAR(S) clarified that Assam Rifles has been in the forefront of planting trees and not cutting them for establishment of posts as was brought out. No jungles have ever been cut for the same. Assam Rifles always stands committed for maintaining peace and tranquility in the reason. The villagers were enthusiastic over the campaign and happy that the Assam Rifles was undertaking sustained efforts over the past years in increasing the awareness about crucial environment issues and dangers emanating from deforestation. They also brought out that it was only the courtesy of such salutary practices and the efforts of a few that hope for saving the environment remains.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/go-green-drive/

The United Naga Council (UNC) has announced today to call 48 hours bandh in ‘Naga areas’ in Manipur from the midnight of June 16 in what they terms as a protest against government of Manipur and communal forces .
While spelling out specific instances of what the UNC alleges as communal agenda, the Naga body said today that in the presidential council meeting held on June 3, the matter of relentless ‘communal onslaught’ upon the Nagas and tribals was tabled for discussion.
“After thorough deliberation it was decided to observe a 48 hours total bandh in Naga areas w.e.f the midnight of 16th June, 2013 and till midnight of 18th June, 2013 . It discussed about assault and molestation of actress Momoko and at Napetpali assault , murder of two Kongkan Tangkhul villagers , Silent village, Alice Kamei eviction of 28 houses at Kabo Leikai.
The 48 hours total bandh will cover the railway construction works. Medical services, fire-brigade, media, power and telecommunication departments will be exempted from the purview of the total bandh. NNN

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unc-calls-48-hours-bandh/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 9 : The RPF states that the Assam Rifles is an old paramilitary force created by the British during the Indian pre-independent period. From the moment of creation onwards, in order to satisfy the British colonial rulers, it had been an armed force that had acted with all its might and prowess during operations carried out by the British in the small territories in the Northeast of India and Manipur as well said a press hand out issued by Roben Khuman, Secretary Publicity Revolutionary People’s Front
. When a collusion of the British and Indian traders had created artificial famine, and when the women of Manipur had waged the second women’s war against the British, the Assam Rifles was the armed forces that had played major role who indulged in bayonet charges upon the women to suppress the movement. When India kept Manipur king Budhachandra under house arrest at Shillong in 1949 to forcibly make him sign the merger agreement, a well equipped battalion of Assam Rifles under Colonel Ram Singh had been deployed at the ground near Minuthong so as to unleash widespread genocide in case the people of Manipur would have risen against India. The 4th Battalion Assam Rifles at Kangla was also meant to be used for any purpose under any condition. In addition, the AR Inspector General and the Sub Area Commander of the Indian Army Brigadier, E. Habubullah had visited Imphal to study the war condition it was added. RPF said
human rights violations and tortures by the Assam Rifles is not a recent aberration. On the question of extra-judicial killings, the Assam Rifles cannot cover up their crime. In the course of counter insurgency operation from 1979 to 2012 in Manipur, the Assam Rifles had brutally killed 419 innocent civilians including 10 women and 21 children. The most dreaded killing spree that had panic stricken anyone who had heard about it, perpetrated by the Assam Rifles had been the Oinam Massacre (1987 Operation Blue Bird carried out by the AR at Oinam Village in Senapati District.) During the operation, under the command of Major General Kuketri 15 civilians were lined up and mercilessly shot to death. Many were brutally tortured, villages were set ablaze and reduced to ash, several churches and schools were dismantled, many were forced exposed under extreme heat of sunlight on open ground, women were raped and sexually harassed and pregnant women were forced delivered at open ground. It seems that the Assam Rifles today have forgotten the fact that the Amnesty International wrote seventy-three-page document against the extra judicial executions committed by them during the operation. During the “Malom Massacre” on November 2, 2000, the Assam Rifles had singled out selectively and brutally massacred 10 civilians. Among the death a 62 years old person and an 18 years old teenager whohad won National Child Bravery Award in 1988 were there . The fact that Irom Chanu Sharmila, who had been heartedly disappointed by the inhuman killing, had been on fast demanding the repeal of AFSPA exemplifies that the Assam Rifles had been indulging in extra judicial killing in Manipur. In 2004 the Assam Rifles had arrested Thangjam Chanu Manorama (32) from her house at the night of 11 July on the charge of being associated with freedom fighters. She was brutally gang raped, tortured, stabbed, and shot several times at the private parts on the ground of alleged escape and was killed in the most dehumanizing manner. Peoples disheartened by this merciless murder had risen up, protested the killing and demanded repealing of AFSPA. On 15 July 2004, a dozen of mothers in this land stripped themselves in front of the Assam Rifles Gate at Kangla and shouted protest slogans such as “Rape Us, Kill Us”, “Assam Rifles and Indian Army Go Back”.
However, Director General of the Assam Rifles told journalist at the sidelines of the “Go Green” campaign at the Assam Riffles headquarters in Meghalaya on May 31, 2013 that that his troops had not indulged in any extra judicial killing during counter insurgency operation in the Northeast.Since the said above incidents had been well known and went International, the Assam Rifles or Indian Army can neither deny nor cover up that fact that it had been indulged in killing. RPF wants only to say that Assam Rifles, a part of the Indian Army is nothing but “Con Artist”. One must not go by the recently coined deceiving phrase “Know Your Army” that Indian Army had used very frequently. In contrast to it, the Indian occupational force including the AR is the enemy of the people it charged . RPF, therefore, call upon the people to “Know Your Enemy”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rpf-debunks-claims-of-dgar-on-extrajudicial-killings/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 9 : On 07 Jun 13, a cadre of UNLF SS Pvt Moirangthem John @ Akongjamba, resident of Nakhalawai, District Bishnupur surrendered to the Security Forces of Red Shield Division along with .22mm pistol and five bullets. The surrendered cadre joined UNLF in 2007. Notably, he is the younger brother of SS Capt Moirangthem Raja @ Chingkheinganba @ Meiba of UPPK who surrendered to the Security Forces of Red Shield Division earlier on 18 May 2013. The individual desires to lead a peaceful life with his family and become a responsible citizen motivated him to surrender and he laid down arms to the Red Shield Division.
On 08 Jun 2013, a cadre of UNLF Army No 1376, Rank Cpl, Name Ningthoujam Abung @ Sunder @ Lainingba resident of Leinaram Terakhongsangbi Maning, PO- Moirang, PS-Moirang, District- Bishnupur surrendered to Assam Rifles of Red Shield Division at 1600hr with one .22mm pistol with magazines and 03 rounds. The individual revealed that he joined UNLF outfit in Mar 2001. The individuals desire to lead a peaceful life with his family and become a responsible citizen motivated him to surrender and he laid down arms to the Red Shield Division said a PIB(DW) release.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unlf-cadres-surrender/

Mail News Service
Imphal, June 9 : It was a milestone in the history of the District Hospital, Tamenglong that a mega surgical operation under the initiative of the JNIMS, Health and District Administration of Tamenglong was conducted successfully at the new RSVY OT building constructed under DRDA by a team of Surgeons and gynaecologist, nurses and paramedical staff from
JNIMS, Porompat, Imphal on 7th and 8th June 2013. Altogether 12 major and 10 minor cases were operated at the new OT building inaugurated by Janghemlung Panmei, MLA 53 A/C Tamenglong on 5th June 2013 in the presence of Shri C. Arthur W, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and Dr. Chambo Gonmei, CMO, Tamenglong.
The following are the team from JNIMS, Dr. N. Jitendra Singh, Associate Professor (Surgery), JNIMS, Dr. S. Thoibahenba Singh, Assistant Professor (Anesthesiology) JNIMS, Dr. Helen Kamei, Assistant Professor (Obst & Gynae) JNIMS, Dr. P. Pritam, Sr. Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, JNIMS, Dr. Ramthaipou Kamei, Sr. Resident, Department of Surgery, JNIMS, Dr. Wormi, Sr. Resident, Department of Surgery, JNIMS, Dr. Joana, Sr. Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, JNIMS, Dr. Gracey Majachungliu, PG student RIMS, L. Jayanti, Sterile Room Technician, JNIMS, N.Sanayaima, OT Assistant, JNIMS, N.Rocky, OT Assistant, JNIMS, M. Lucy, Staff Nurse, JNIMS, O. Nevia, Staff Nurse, JNIMS, E. Sanayaima, OT Assistant, JNIMS and MD. Firoz, OT Assistant, JNIMS
Total number of cases conducted were 12 major cases (4 LUCS, 1 Cholecystectomy, 2 Hydrocele and 5 inguinal & umbilical hernia); 10 minor cases.
The objective of the Mega Surgical Camp was carried out at the District HQ Tamenglong in order to reach out to the poor and underprivileged people of this remote district of Manipur, where many of the people are deprived of surgical intervention in the District Hospital. Many people are being referred to Imphal and elsewhere for further management as there is not a single specialist doctor posted and with no proper infrastructure in the District Hospital, Tamenglong. Preventable deaths have been occurring now and then due to lack of infrastructure such as Blood Bank and nonfunctioning OT. Poor road communication and long 150 km distance from Tamenglong to Imphal has compounded the problems.
JanghemlungPanmei, MLA C. Arthur W, DC, Tamenglong and District Health Mission Society, Tamenglong extended financial and logistic aid to make the programme a grand success.
We can gradually see the light at the end of the tunnel in Tamenglong district. With the political and administrative commitment many developmental works and programmes can be carried out to reach the unreached and save the lives of many poor and sick people living in the interiors.
As of now there 21 MBBS Medical Officers posted at Tamenglong District, excluding 4 MOs who are undergoing PG. Staff Nurses and other paramedical staffs at the District Hospital are understaffed. As such attention of the State Government is needed urgently for smooth functioning of the District Hospital as well as other Health institutions by posting adequate specialist doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.
It would be appropriate if such surgical operation can be conducted at least once a month or according to the needs and requirement in the near future in public interest said a press hand out issued by Dr. Chambo Gonmei, Chief Medical Officer Tamenglong.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/mega-surgical-operations-conducted-at-tamenglong/