Day: July 31, 2014

IMPHAL, July 31: Four cadres of the Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) were killed in a skirmish with troops of the 13 Assam Rifles, early this morning at Luangkao village, Tamenglong district.

According to official sources, the incident took place around 4.35 this morning.

The encounter site is located around 67 km west of Nungba police station.

Sources disclosed that taking into account the frequent militant activities disturbing the ongoing railway project in the district; the Assam Rifles had intensified its operation in and around the area.

Subsequently, the AR team received information about the presence of armed militants at Luangkao village and rushed to the spot.

At the village, they encountered several well-armed militant cadres which led to a heavy exchange of fire continuing till around 8am, informed the source.

During the gun-fight, atleast four ZUF cadres were killed while an Assam Rifles jawan was injured.

A statement of the militant outfit has acknowledged that four of its cadres were killed in the encounter, which had left “three AR personnel dead” at the same time.

Meanwhile, sources said that the AR team also recovered arms and ammunitions from the site.

The recovered weapons include two M-16 assault rifles, one lethode gun along with 21 live shells, two hand grenades, one 9mm pistol (Beretta), assorted ammunitions.

The injured AR has been identified as one Jitender, 30, of Madhya Pradesh. He was injured in his left leg and has been evacuated to unit hospital Leimakhong.

The corpses of the cadres were on the way to JNIMS morgue, till the filing of this report.

The ZUF in a statement has identified its slained cadres as captain Gunagloungam Kamei, son of Damchuilung of Reanjang Village, Churachandpur district, sergeant Peter Panmei, son of Guikhammang Panmei of Phaong Village, Tamenglong, sergeant Thuankulung, son of Dingakrei of Luangkao Village, Tousem sub-division and lance corporal Jaojiankhuan, son of Ganglan of Karulong Village, Cachar district Assam.

Stating that the security forces provoked a section of its cadres stationed at Luangkao village, the statement claimed that three jawans of AR were killed, while one was seriously injured in the ensuing gun-fight.

The dead and injured jawans were taken away by the security ambulance for immediate medical attention from the encounter site, it continued.

It further said “The ZUF condoled and acknowledged the sincere and service rendered by our fallen comrades selflessly for the common aspiration of our people”.

Their contribution for the protection and survival of Zeliangrong people were countless deeds adding that they will be missed by their comrades and by multitudes, it said.

“We pray that may God grant them eternal life. We also share in deepest grief of the bereaved families and prayed to the almighty to give them strength to tide over the ‘irreparable losses,” it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/ar-guns-down-four-zuf-cadres/

IMPHAL, July 31: The joint secretary (Academic) Board of Secondary Education Manipur (BSEM), Ph Nandakumar Sharma has been handed a premature/compulsory retirement for being “insubordinate, incalcitrant” besides being “unproductive in office.”

Sources said that several reasons had been incited for the harsh recommendation against the officer.

It is learnt that, on the consideration of his past activities and performance, acts of commissions and omissions throughout his career, Nandakumar was charged of being a person totally unsuitable to be an officer of the board. His loyalty too was described as “doubtful” by the board.

It is also informed that, he had on several occasions, defied legitimate office orders and shown utter disregard for his superior officers and proven himself to be completely “insubordinate and incalcitrant.”

Sources also revealed that during his short stint as secretary in charge of the board (four months), he had clearly demonstrated doubtful integrity both administratively as well as financially, particularly his action of concealing Special Term Deposit (STD) of large value for over six years.

Moreover, Nandakumar was also charged with consistently acting to create disaffection among the officers and staff of the office as well as bringing disrepute to the office, sources claimed.

Nadakumar joined BSEM as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) on February 2, 1981 and later his post was re-designated as Research Assistant and regularised on February 21, 1983.

During his service career he has been placed suspended several times as disciplinary action for his misconduct and being irresponsible, the sources claimed.

Despite his many shortcomings, he was promoted to the post of joint secretary in 2003 and later took charge as secretary i/c in 2006.

But, surprisingly he claimed and enjoyed pay/allowances of a regular secretary on the basis of a manipulated Government order (no.3/19/ 79SE (E) dated 28/04/2006), the source claimed.

Sources also said that Nandakumar was suspected of obtaining fraudulently the signature of the then commissioner (Edn) by inducing the typist to drop “i/c” (in charge) while putting up fair copy of the said order. At the time, he had not attained the requisite number of service years to qualify for regular promotion as secretary.

It is also learnt that based on memorandums submitted by the Democratic Youth Federation of India and Students Federation of India, a preliminary enquiry was conducted into the fake appointments case and other misconducts committed by Nandakumar in 2006.

The report of the preliminary enquiry conducted by the then chairman, BSEM S Budhachandra Singh was submitted on August 26, 2006 and recommended detailed enquiry.

During the enquiry, evidence was found of various irregularities in appointments, promotions, extensions of contract employees, suspected replacement of noting in files and recommended for further detailed enquiry.

Subsequently, his appointment as secretary i/c was cancelled on August 29, 2006 and placed under suspension on September 7, 2006 to avoid any hindrance in the enquiry, informed the source before adding that yet, the case saw no further progress.

Against this backdrop, the department recovered three Special Term Deposits Certificates, STD certificates for large sums of money belonging to the board being kept concealed by Nandakumar.

Despite all these irregularities, the administration committee of the board in its meeting held on November 24, 2012 deliberated on the matter of prolonged suspension (over six years) of Nandakumar along with his application.

During the meeting, Nandakumar Sharma who was also heard in person had expressed remorse and regrets for his past mistakes and pleaded for exoneration and forgiveness.

The board in its meeting held on December 15, 2012 deliberated on the recommendation of the administration committee and decided to close the departmental enquiry against him on humanitarian ground by awarding the penalty of “stoppage of increment for one year without cumulative effect.”

Nandakumar, however, despite having reinstated to his substantive post failed to show improvement in discharging his duty but continued to indulge in creating groupism and disharmony among the officers and staff of the board, which led to the recommendation for his compulsory retirement, informed the source.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/unproductive-bsem-jt-secy-handed-premature-retirement/

IMPHAL, July 31: The BJP Manipur Pradesh demands a white paper on the population of outsiders in the State before the Inner Line Permit is implemented, its president Thounaojam Chaoba told the media today.

Speaking at a press meet at the Nityaipat Chuthek office of the party, he said the implementation of the ILP might take quite some time and as such the government need to first identify the total population of foreigners in the State.

Elaborating further, he said two-third of the total population of Jiribam sub-division is already dominated by outsiders, so the government need to identify the outsiders’ population in the State.

The private member resolutions passed by the State Assembly on two counts to urge the Central government to implement the ILP in the State is a long process, he said.

He said ILP implementation requires constitutional amendment.

Instead of waiting for the Constitutional amendment, the State government should regulate the Inter-State Migration Act, 1979 (Amended in 1985) as in the neighbouring State Meghalaya, he continued.

Elaborating on the nature of the Act, he said it is very similar to ILP and can regulate and identify foreigners entering the State.

The need of the hour in the State is to regulate and check the influx of foreigners with the help of Acts like the Inter-State Migration Act, 1979 (amended in 1985) and to protect the indigenous population, Chaoba observed while declaring that the influx of outsiders into the State has threatened the indigenous population.

Considering that the ILP implementation is a long process, it can be assumed that by the time it is finally implemented, the foreigners would have already overtaken the State’s population and the indigenous people would be already extinct, he said.

So the State need not wait for the long process of passing the ILP in the Parliament, he said.

The statements of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and the deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam on ILP made during the Assembly session were vague and controversial, he said.

He said the statements could only confuse the people of the State.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/bjp-suggests-inter-state-migration-act-1979-amended-in-1985-for-state/

IMPHAL, July 31: Agitators should come to the negotiating table, rather than carry out rampage on the streets said the State director general of police Sahid Ahmed, this evening.

Imposing bandhs and blockades will only cause inconveniences to the people, he added.

The DGP was addressing the media at his office chamber, this evening.

He also said extra police forces will be deployed in the hill districts.

The hill districts are going through a tense situation currently and to take control of the situation, the State Home department has taken up actions to deploy extra security forces there, he said.

He continued that the state force will tackle the situation whatever it takes.

The DGP further said that the situation in Manipur is tense in the wake of the ILP demand movement and the killing of Ukhrul ADC.

He said that policing will be intensified to contol the ongoing conflicts in the State by deploying extra personnel. He said that deployment may increase or decrease from time to time according to the demands of the situation.

When enquired about the communication gap between the public and the police, the DGP replied that Manipur Police will undertake community based programmes on experimental basis accordingly, as per the State policy and programme.

He also furnished that those security forces found acting beyond their briefs will be punished befittingly.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/more-police-in-the-hills-soon-dgp/

IMPHAL, July 31: The United NGOs Mission Manipur has today demanded the authorities to announce the names of the seven government doctors under investigation for working in private clinics.

UNMM secretary, U Nobokishore demanded that the names of the doctors who are earning extra by working in the private clinic although they are getting non-practising allowance, should be made public.

During a press meet convened today at the Manipur Press Club, he said that the United NGOs Mission Manipur deeply condoles the death of Wangkhem (o) Eliza, wife of W Dinachandra of Langol Ningthou, Imphal West at Shija Hospital on July 14.

He sought constitution of an enquiry commission into Eliza’s death, and further appealed to the Governor to divulge the action taken report after his recent visit to RIMS.

Nobokishore said Eliza was moved to Shija hospital after developing complications due to acute failure of sensitive body organs including the kidney, because of negligence on the part of RIMS doctors who treated her.

She was shifted to Shija Hospital in a very critical condition, he said.

He said the UNMM acknowledges and appreciates the doctors and nurses of the private hospital for their cooperation and help in trying to save Eliza’s life.

Although the organisation appreciates the courage of a particular doctor identified as Doctor Trinity of the RIMS Gynaecology department who had visited the office of an NGO and clarified that he had not committed any mistakes in treating Eliza at RIMS, the UNMM cannot take lightly the negligence on the part of the RIMS doctors during the treatment of W Eliza, Nobokishore said.

The United NGOs Mission Manipur has also strongly condemned the reported sexual assault of girl players by their coach and demanded the Centre’s intervention in the case.

Speaking to the media during a press conference, secretary U Nobokishore demanded constituting a special investigation team, comprising of a Judge of the Supreme Court, police and other special pertinent bureaucratic officers, headed by the judge to investigate the whole functioning of the SAI, Imphal.

He further demanded termination of all staff found involved in the sexual violence and corruption.

He said the UNMM was deeply shocked to hear about the sexual assault of the girls by the staff/coach of SAI, Takyelpat.

He said that it is not the first time that such crime has been reported in the State.

Such crimes happen frequently throughout the entire nation, he said while asserting that the UNMM’s vision is to see many more sportsperson from the State shine in the international fields, however, there is a lot of corruption and other problems which needs immediate cleaning.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/unmm-demands-names-of-government-doctors-practicing-in-private-clinics/

UKHRUL, July 31: The Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) has called a 24-hour total shutdown in Ukhrul district in protest against police action on participants of yesterday’s mass prayer meet, with effect starting from midnight tonight.

Sources informed that the total bandh has been called to register the public’s displeasure over the action of State security forces in disrupting public participation in the planned ‘Prayer for Just Peace’ meet on July 30 at TNL Ground.

The ensuing total bandh will be effected beginning from midnight of July 31 to midnight of August 1 throughout the district.

In this connection, the Tangkhul apex body has called upon every member of the public in the district to extent utmost cooperation and solitarity to ensure successful observance of the bandh, sources further said.

“All headmen and Village Authorities have been accordingly entrusted to oversee strict adherence to the call of the shutdown at their respective jurisdictions,” TNL sources informed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/tnl-calls-24-hour-ukhrul-bandh/

SENAPATI, July 31 (NNN): Clearing the air of confusion over its mode of agitation, the United Naga Council (UNC) said that public transport or any other vehicular movement will not come under the purview of its 10-day agitation starting from August 1.

UNC general secretary Gaidon Kamei said all types of construction of Trans-Asian Railway, BRO/BRTF, NHPC, Power Grids, works under Asian Development Bank (ADB) will be banned in ‘Naga areas’ of Manipur for ten days stretch.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/unc-on-10-day-agitation/

IMPHAL, July 31: A driver and a handyman were allegedly kidnapped from Piphema, near Kohima while returning from Guwahati to Imphal on the intervening night of July 25 and 26.

Sources said they were kidnapped by an armed group from Piphema on the midnight of July 25 on their return trip to Imphal after loading cement from Guwahati, Sanapur.

They were allegedly kidnapped in relation to an earlier monetary demand made to the cement trader whose cement bags they were ferrying.

The armed group has reportedly made a demand of Rs 60 lakhs from the trader. It is speculated that the kidnapping is a result of the trader not meeting the demand.

The driver has been identified as Langonjam Radhamohan, 30, son of L Khalendro of Wangjing Lamding Chirapur and the handyman as Khumanthem Sanjeet, 22, son of K Binoy of Wangoo Mamang Sabel Nongyai Khong. They were driving a Tata truck bearing the registration number MN 01 9602.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/driver-handyman-abducted-in-kohima/