Day: July 29, 2013

A journallist family members are now at the receiving end after the journalist had published one incident where a hunter in Ukhrul district had killed a Himalayan Griffon vulture last year.
Ukhrul District Journalists Union (UDJU) alleged that the elder brother of a journalist was harassed again by a hunter who ( hunter) was punished for his illegal hunting under Wild Life (Protection) Act of India.
“At around 10:30 am Monday, one Ngaraipam Shimray physically harassed Hongprao Shimray, the elder brother of journalist Pamreiso Shimray for his report at the Imphal based English daily Hueiyen Lanpao “Rare Birds sighted in kamjong range begin to fall prey to locals” December 15, 2012,” the UDJU said.
According to the UDJU, the story was reported following the killing of Himalayan Griffon vulture by Ngaraipam Shimray. Himalayan Griffon vulture is considered an endangered bird under the Wild Life (Protection) Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/scribe-harassed-at-ukhrul/

The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) has shot off a letter to the Prime Minister on Monday lodging a protest against the demand for inclusion of the Meitei in the Scheduled Tribes status list of the Indian Constitution.
In the letter to the Prime Minister, the tribal youth federation has also raised a demand for a separate state for the tribals of Manipur to avoid potential social-political conflict in the state.
There have been news reports published in the local media recently, saying that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh had agreed in principle to give ST status to the Meitei within the Constitution if recommended by the state assembly, the memorandum said.
It said the news, if true, is very disturbing and dangerous that it could disturb the socio-political issues of the region beyond redemption.
Tribals of Manipur are indigenous people and were never a part of the Meitei hegemony in the valley which was ruled by several kings, it said.
Until the British colonial Government annexed the tribal areas, tribals were independent, had their traditional customs, culture, polity and lived like the ancient Greek City States in the hill-tops of the mountains, it said, adding that even after the Britishers arrived, the colonial rulers left the tribals to themselves except collecting house tax of Rs 3 per year as a sign of their subjects and this system continued till India attained her independence.
It further added that the tribals of Manipur were never under the direct relationship with the Meitei kings, but they were merged to the valley without their consent when India got its independence.
The tribals or hill men of the current state of Manipur were neither a party to the Merger Agreement that culminated in its amalgamation into the Indian Union in 1949-50, it added.
It alleged that the Meitei, the majority community in Manipur, has exploited the simple tribal people of the state socially, economically and politically.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/fatycm-opposes-making-meitei-st/

Imphal Jul 29 MNS/UNA : The oath taking ceremony of Dr Ashwani Kumar as Governor of Manipur on Monday was boycotted by scribes in Manipur after they were humiliated by the CRPF personnel guarding the Imphal Raj Bhavan.
Kumar who is the Governor of Nagaland was today sworn in as Governor of Manipur. He will look after the charge of Governor of Manipur until the Centre appointed a full-fledged Governor of Manipur.
The Nagaland Governor was given the additional charge of Manipur Governor to fill up the post which was lying after the tenure of Gurbachan Jagat expired on July 22 last.
Kumar who arrived at Imphal yesterday from Kohima was administered the oath of office by chief justice of Manipur High Court, Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre.
However, the ceremony was boycotted by the scribes after those who went to cover the oath taking ceremony at the Raj Bhavan were humiliated by the CRPF personnel detained at the entrance gate of the Bhavan by not allowing them to proceed beyond the gate.
The journalists went for the news coverage after getting invitation from state chief secretary DS Poonia to attend the said function.
However, disrespecting the invitation card produced by the scribes, the CRPF personnel disallowed them from entering the Raj Bhavan.
An emergency meeting of the editors of all local dailies and standing committee members of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) held at Manipur Press Club discussed the development. While vehemently condemned the attitudes of the security personnel, resolved to draw the attention of pertinent authorities to look into the matter and takes up necessary action.
Noting down the matter seriously, the meeting further resolved to boycott the carrying the news regarding the oath taking ceremony.
AMWJU’s general secretary, in a press note, maintained that this was not the first instance of humiliating the scribes who were on duty by the law enforcing and security agencies. He further urged the concerned authority not to repeat such act in future.
Interestingly, the incident took place barely a day after a one-day seminar cum workshop on relationship between police and media held at Imphal has mooted that better cooperation between law enforcing agencies like police and scribe fraternity to serve public interest.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/scribes-boycott-oath-taking-ceremony-of-ashwani-kumar-as-governor/

Imphal Jul 29 UNA : The Manipur People’s Party (MPP) Monday demanded a procurement policy to buy paddy crops from the farmer of Manipur by the state and Union Government and also fixed the rate of it before the implementation of Food Security Scheme.
The party said that farmers work very hard while growing paddy crop. But due to usage of fertilizers in large quantity in the last few years, soil of paddy fields is captivated by it. But now farmers are not able to produce the expected amount due to scarcity of fertilizers.
In this situation how would the government distribute food grain at the rate of Rs 1, 2 and 3, the party asked demanding that the state government should give a clear cut report to the people of Manipur, the party demanded.
If the government failed to give a clear cut report and do not procure the paddy from the local farmers, it has to be replaced by the food grains from other states. This would deteriorate the dignity of labor of the farmers of the state.
At last the field would be owned by rich people and the other businessmen. The people of Manipur would suffer a lot when the scheme ends.
The party further alleged that the Food Security Scheme which is going to be implemented only in the states where Congress government was a bias scheme.
Meanwhile, Manipur government was reportedly planning to launch the scheme in Manipur from August 20 next, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.
The scheme would be implemented in three selected districts of the state as first phase, an official source said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/manipur-to-implement-food-security-bill-from-august-20/

IMPHAL, July 29 NNN : Police today claimed to have cracked the L Sanjoy murder case after three accused in the case were arrested and taken into its custody.
On Monday, the accused were paraded before the media at Lamphel Police Station, Imphal West district. Officer-in-Charge of the police station, N Ingocha while brifing the media identified the trio as  Kongkham Tomba, 33, son of late K Bheigyachandra of Nambol Kongkhgam Leikai, Sagolsem Raju, 39, son of S Nanda of Moirang Sribon, also in Bishnupur district and Lairellakpam Jackey, 38, son of late L Ningthem of Lamlai Maning Leikai in Imphal West.
OC Ingocha said the trio was close friends of Sanjoy and the four worked together for more than one decade as daily wage earners and they also worked as rickshaw pullers. The accused had been staying at Chingmeirong Yenkhoiba Keithel Sang here while the victim, hailing from Mayang Imphal Kokchai Maning Leikai, was staying at Mantripukhri in a rented house, he said.
On July 21 night when Sanjoy was found dead, the four, who were drunk, had a brawl which resulted in the death of Sanjoy, the OC said. He said the scuffle took place after the accused refused to give a rickshaw to the victim for returning home. Kongkham Tomba hit on his head with  a iron chain fixed in a key, Ingocha said.
Locals of the area came out to intervene when the fighting was still going on following which Sanjoy left the spot walking alone, but succumbed on his way near Chingmeirong Oil Pump that night, he added.
He said the case will be handed over to Imphal Police Station as the site where the incident occurred is under the jurisdiction of this police station.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sanjoy-murder-case-solved/

IMPHAL, July 29: The All Tribal Disabled Union, Manipur (ATDUM) today accused the state police of not taking seriously about the recent rape case of a 22-year-old physically challenged woman.
Momo Tangtanga, president, ATDUM while addressing the media at the Press Club here, said that it was unfortunate that the Imphal West district’s Thangmeiband Polem Leikai resident disabled woman was allegedly raped by one B Samananda Sharma of Samaram Mayai Leikai in Thoubal district.
He said the union condemns the incident in the strongest terms and protested that the police have not taken any step to arrest the culprit till date.
Tangtanga also appealed to the concerned police station for immediate arrest of the alleged rapist.
The accused reportedly raped the woman in her own house on July 26 and now he is in large since then. Samananda was working in a rice stall near Polo Ground here with the victim’s mother.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/atdum-on-assault-of-people/

Imphal Jul 29 MNS/UNA : The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Monday alleged that India government and its agents were trying in every possible way to put the Manipuris in bad light, while reacting strongly reacting to a remark of Indian ambassador to Myanmar who is currently in Imphal.
Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhaya who arrived here on Sunday on a four day visit has said that the Centre was taking up steps to allow free movement of Indian and Myanmar citizens in both countries with an aim to boost trade relations as well as provide better health facility to Myanmarese citizens.
Reacting to his remark “The Shija Hospital’s visit to Myanmar would go a long way in changing the Myanmarese people’s notion of Manipuris being very hostile” during his visit at the private hospital, the UNLF alleged that “India colonial government” and its agents were trying in every possible way to put the Manipuris in bad light as well as to put its relation with its immediate neighbouring nation strained so that the freedom struggle of Manipuris against “Indian occupation” gets no sympathy and support from the neighbouring nations.
His remark was “cruel and sarcastic.” His intentionally did forget in that historically Manipur has closer affinity to its South East Asian neighbours racially, culturally and society; and enjoyed good relations with them although there were skirmishes at times.
In a statement signed by its senior publicity secretary Ksh Yoheiba further alleged that “India is sacrificing the land and the interest of Manipuri people, to keep Indian interest intake.”
Gautam Mukhopadya’s sarcastic pun is in bad taste as all the neighbouring nations know the colonial and hegemonic designs of India very well.
Though India gained its freedom after a long and hard fought struggle against the British; it immediately assumed the role of the colonial power in the region and annexed the smaller Western South East Asian kingdoms (called North-East by India), some treacherously and some forcibly.
The Indian colonialism showed its true colour when militarily it military action. In the same pattern the Himalayan kingdom of sikkim was annexed treacherously in 1975. And now the soveignity and independence of the small neighbouring naitons like Nepal and Bhutan are at stake as they are landlocked and the hegemonic India threatens to block its nearest and only passage to the sea at the slightest reason, and thereby keeping them under their dictates.
Therefore, India bullying around the region with a very transparent, regional expansionist policy is the real aggressor to the existence of all the smaller neighbouring naitons.
Hence, the cynical remark of the Indian ambassador can not dampen the spirit of freindliness and co-operaiton between the two neighbours as both the peoples of Manipuri and Myanmar are well aware of India’s dubious intentions, the statement added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unlf-alleges-india-trying-to-put-manipuris-in-bad-light-2/

Imphal Jul 29 UNA : A plea of the former PRO (Defense Wing), Imphal Colonel Ajay Chowdhury, who was granted bail in a case related with the smuggling of psychotropic substance, to allow him to leave the state for some days was rejected by special court NT&PS on Saturday.
The same court has granted bail to the Army officer to the Colonel on a surety bond of Rs 1 lakh on July 17. The Army officer who was arrested with a case smuggling of psychotropic substance was, however, directed not to leave the state without prior permission from the court.
Colonel Ajay Chowdhury applied to the same court to allow him to leave the state for some days to attend admission counseling for his children. However the court rejected the plea as there were no supporting documents of the reason cited for his requirement to leave the state.
On the other hand, state home department had also appealed to the court to revoke the bail of the seven drug traffickers.
The then PRO of PIB (Defense Wing), Imphal Col Ajay Chowdhry was arrested together with Ngairangbam Brojendro and Lunkhohao Haokip alias Haopu Haokip with drugs worth Rs 25 crores at Pallel of Chandel district along the Imphal-Moreh section of NH-2 on February 24.
They have been charged by police for trafficking another huge consignment of drugs to Moreh in the first week of December last year.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/court-rejects-colonel-ajay-chowdhurys-prayer-for-leaving-manipur/

Imphal Jul 29 MNS/UNA : The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) Monday alleged that India government and its agents were trying in every possible way to put the Manipuris in bad light, while reacting strongly reacting to a remark of Indian ambassador to Myanmar who is currently in Imphal.
Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhaya who arrived here on Sunday on a four day visit has said that the Centre was taking up steps to allow free movement of Indian and Myanmar citizens in both countries with an aim to boost trade relations as well as provide better health facility to Myanmarese citizens.
Reacting to his remark “The Shija Hospital’s visit to Myanmar would go a long way in changing the Myanmarese people’s notion of Manipuris being very hostile” during his visit at the private hospital, the UNLF alleged that “India colonial government” and its agents were trying in every possible way to put the Manipuris in bad light as well as to put its relation with its immediate neighbouring nation strained so that the freedom struggle of Manipuris against “Indian occupation” gets no sympathy and support from the neighbouring nations.
His remark was “cruel and sarcastic.” His intentionally did forget in that historically Manipur has closer affinity to its South East Asian neighbours racially, culturally and society; and enjoyed good relations with them although there were skirmishes at times.
In a statement signed by its senior publicity secretary Ksh Yoheiba further alleged that “India is sacrificing the land and the interest of Manipuri people, to keep Indian interest intake.”
Gautam Mukhopadya’s sarcastic pun is in bad taste as all the neighbouring nations know the colonial and hegemonic designs of India very well.
Though India gained its freedom after a long and hard fought struggle against the British; it immediately assumed the role of the colonial power in the region and annexed the smaller Western South East Asian kingdoms (called North-East by India), some treacherously and some forcibly.
The Indian colonialism showed its true colour when militarily it military action. In the same pattern the Himalayan kingdom of sikkim was annexed treacherously in 1975. And now the soveignity and independence of the small neighbouring naitons like Nepal and Bhutan are at stake as they are landlocked and the hegemonic India threatens to block its nearest and only passage to the sea at the slightest reason, and thereby keeping them under their dictates.
Therefore, India bullying around the region with a very transparent, regional expansionist policy is the real aggressor to the existence of all the smaller neighbouring naitons.
Hence, the cynical remark of the Indian ambassador can not dampen the spirit of freindliness and co-operaiton between the two neighbours as both the peoples of Manipuri and Myanmar are well aware of India’s dubious intentions, the statement added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unlf-alleges-india-trying-to-put-manipuris-in-bad-light/