Month: June 2015

KANGPOKPI, June 4: Alleging malpractices at 20/3 Saiton Khullen and 20/1- Siden Changpikot polling booth under 20-Sagang DCC in Saikot AC Komrem Students`™ Union appealed for re-poll at the said two polling stations.

M Angam Kom, President Komrem Students`™ Union alleged that on the poll day on June 1 at 20/3 Saiton Khullen polling booth when only around 30 vote of Moirang Mantak has been cast the concerned Presiding Officer allegedly declared that the ballot papers had already been finished.

It was only 2:30 pm and many voters were in long queue waiting for their turn to exercise their

It was only 2:30 pm and many voters were in long queue waiting for their turn to exercise their franchise rights when the Presiding Officer announced his decision to recommend for repoll at the said booth to the voters continued the union president.

Subsequently, the polling personnel led by the Presiding Officer carried the ballot box without sealing and the polling agent of BJP and Independent candidate submitted a complaint letter to the concerned RO and DEO, added KSU supremo.

However, before the Presiding Officer submit the ballot box it has been found sealed at the submission counter and on inquired the Presiding Officer himself disclosed that he promised to the voters for repoll so as to avoid any untoward incident at the polling station and later sealed the ballot box on reaching the DEO Complex alleged M. Angam Kom.

Therefore, the Komrem Students`™ Union beseech the Election Commission of India and State Election Commission to noted the malpractice of the Presiding Officer and initiate immediate inquiry while conducting repoll at 20/3 Saiton Khullen Polling Station.

The student body also expressed discontentment over the majority community in the area who have allegedly avoid minority community to cast their vote satisfactorily in every election.

In the meantime, M. Angam Kom further alleged that at 20/1- Siden Changpikot Polling station the vote poll reached 100 pc and expressed astonishment over it while urging the concerned authority to note the matter and conduct repoll at the same polling station.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/komrem-students-union-plea-for-repoll/

IMPHAL, June 4: In a shockingly fatal road accident, three students of the DAV Public School lost their lives when a Honda Dio scooter without registration number they were riding on was mowed down by a speeding truck today.

The road mishap occured near Singjamei Super Market under Singjamei Police Station, Imphal West around 1 pm.

The deceased students have been identified as Thangminlian Baite, 19 son of Late Solet Baite of Lairoiphai village in Churachandpur but presently staying at Langol Housing Complex; Md Tariq Hassan, 16 son of Md Abdul Hassan of Lilong Litan Makhong and Ningthoujam Biky Singh, 16 son of N Heramani Singh of Khurai Thangjam Leikai.

Thangminlian Baite was studying in Class XII while the two others Md Tariq Hassan and Ningthoujam Biky were studying in Class X at the same school.

According to some eyewitnesses, the truck bearing registration number MN-06/T-0322 was coming behind the Honda Dio scooter moving in the same direction, when the truck hit the scooter from behind near Singjamei Super Market.

The truck carried the scooter for some distance, before some passers-by chased the truck and stopped it near the turning of Singjamei Baza, they said.

The angered people also smashed windshield of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, the concern police station has registered a case in connection with the accident.

Both the driver and owner of the truck have also been arrested.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/truck-mows-down-three-students/

IMPHAL, Jun 4: Statements of two more prosecution witnesses in the case of arrest of United National Liberation Front (UNLF)`™s chief RK Meghen alias Sanayaima and several leaders of the outlawed outfit were recorded before the Special Court of National Investigative Agency (NIA), Guwahati today.

The deposition of the two prosecution witnesses, both forensic experts was taken based on the charge sheets framed by NIA against the leaders of the outfit.

Reports received by this daily identified the two prosecution witnesses whose statements were recorded before the court in connection with the ongoing trial of the outfit leaders as Bhaskar, an expert of Central Forensic Laboratory from Pune and RK Khode, retired Director of Forensic Science Laboratory, Guwahati.

Forensic expert Bhaskar had examined the computers and laptops recovered by NIA from the possession of the UNLF leaders. He had already deposed before the court. However, his deposition was again taken before the court today in connection with the case exhibits.

While RK Khode is the one who examined the mobile phones used by the arrested outfit leaders.

During the deposition of the two prosecution witnesses, RK Meghen along with other leaders of the outfit was produced before the court.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/two-more-prosecution-witnesses-depose-in-meghens-case/

IMPHAL June 6: Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who also holds the Home portfolio condemned the ambush on the 6 Dogra Regiment this morning in the strongest term saying that violence will not bring any solution.

He was briefing media persons at his office, South Block Secretariat this evening.

The ambush is a very tragic and rare case, and such mindless act of violence should be condemned in the strongest term, Gaikhangam said.

`I, on behalf of the State, condemn the mindless act.`

The State also shares the grief of such loss with all the families and friends, he continued.

We also hope that the injured would recover well, he said.

According to officials, the death count has been confirmed at 17 personnel including a Junior Commission Officer and one militant, while 16 were injured, he said.

Gaikhangam also said that the death toll may however increase, since some of the injured are in critical conditions, he said.

However, unofficial claims have also placed the number of death to 20 personnel, he added.

It is unfortunate that we are unable to impress upon the Centre or the complete removal of the AFSPA from the State due to such punctuations, he lamented.

It is indeed a big blow to the discourse for removing AFSPA, he continued.

To a query on the State`™s response to the ambush, the Home minister said since the location is along the international border area, all decisions will be taken in consultation with the Centre and the State will provide all possible co-operation to the Centre.

Meanwhile, the Chandel Naga People`™s organization (CNPO), Naga Women Union Chandel (NWUC), Sulam Area Chiefs`™ Association (SACA), Lamkang Naga Kver Kunpun and Paraolon Village authority have strongly condemned the ambush today.

President of CNPO Ws Kanral Anal expressed condolence on behalf of the 7 Naga tribes of the district and conveyed the sufferings and pain the organization shared with the bereaved family of the jawans.

Kanral fervently appealed to the militant groups concerned involved not to repeat such incident in the future, such incident according to him will only trouble the common innocent people.

Kanral also in his statement appealed to the security personnel to refrain from punishing the innocent civilian aftermath of the incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/violence-will-bring-no-solution-gaikhangam-condemns-ambush/

IMPHAL, June 4: The BJP had colluded with various Suspension of Operations signatory groups to canvass for their candidates during the June 1 Autonomous District Council election, asserted State deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam today.

He was speaking to media persons at a press conference held this afternoon 2:30 at the Congress Bhawan.

He claimed that ahead of the election, the BJP colluded with the KNF (German) group and captured booth at Henglep sub-division in Churachandpur, at Jouzangtek in Tamenglong the BJP joined hands with the KNF (Zougam) to terrorize the area and again used UKLF to help BJP candidates at Chandel.

The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee president also claimed that armed cadres of SoO signatory groups were involved in threatening and intimidating village chiefs, Congress workers and candidates.

They also threatened polling personnel and election agents, he alleged.

It is because of all this incidents that re-poll will be conducted at several places, Gaikhangam who is also the Home minister said.

At the same time, the NSC (IM) backed NPF had warned everyone that no one should vote for the Congress and even if they are not voting for the NPF, they should vote for the BJP, Gaikhangam said adding that the NPF is a constituent party of the NDA government in the Centre.

All these resulted in the Congress being the victim at most places, Gaikhangam rued.

He further claimed that the BJP`™s earlier announcement to form an alliance with the NPF after the ADC election is only evident of all these developments.

He said there was mass booth capturing during the election. Everyone is aware of the threats and intimidation of polling personnel including security personnel, he added.

This is why we are drawing the attention of the Election Commission of India and political parties to develop a mechanism to put a check on all such violations, he said.

The June 18 incident was due to lack of political stability in the State and the inability of the public representatives to work according to the wants and desires of the public, he asserted.

Even today, the Congress will not encourage defection, he said.

The party properly checks the credentials of anyone coming to join the party first before allowing them to join he said adding further that the party will always understand the pulse of the public.

The Congress will also face any opposition in case of bye-election conducted in the three Assembly Constituencies, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/bjp-colluded-with-soo-signatory-groups-during-adc-campaigning/

LAMKA, June 4: Churachandpur district BJP president J Haokip, secretary Muanthang, BJYM Churachandpur president John Nihsial, vice president Rouhlun Zote and the party candidate for New Lamka West District Council Constituency DK Mang alias Rawlend Daikhenmang called a press conference today at the party`™s district office at New Lamka.

Speaking at the press conference, DK Mang claimed he was being attacked physically and verbally by volunteers and supporters of his opponent last night which is the second time in as many days.

Last night`™s attack happened around 9:30, he claimed.

He elaborated his neighbours Joy Tonsing and his brother Ginneithang Tonsing who is a SI attacked his house cum office on June 2 and then again last night.

He claimed the police supported by his security personnel broke open his residential gate. The confrontation was controlled only with the intervention of the army, police and other social leaders of the area, he alleged.

The BJP candidate continued that the two are supporters of Gouzamang Guite another candidate from his district council constituency.

During last night`™s attack, he said his sister Kanching was also injured and is presently undergoing medication.

Rouhlun Zote said the attack is a direct attack on the party which cannot be ignored and the party will apprised the party`™s central leader of the incident at the earliest.

The party will demand stringent action against attackers, he said.

DK Mang said this is not an isolated case of harassment committed by the supporters of his opponent.

During the election-day, his agent was threatened for rejecting proxy voting by the opponent`™s supporter, he alleged.

He continued since Joy Tonsing was a Sunday School teacher, he was expecting atleast an apology, but it has not come yet.

Mang also showed a video during the press conference showing the opposition candidate leading voters into the polling booth at Rayburn School.

He also alleged that at the Blue Star School polling booth the volunteers and supporters of Guite had locked themselves inside the polling booth and cast proxy votes freely.

He said last night, during the attack, he had no option but to dial the army`™s number who arrived along with the police under SP Mangkhogin Haokip.

Some leaders of Suspension of Operation signatories also helped in controlling the fracas, he claimed.

He further appealed to the authorities to look into the issue and punish the attackers.

He also alleged that the police had not filed an FIR but only entered his complaint in a diary.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/ccpur-bjp-alleges-attack-on-party-candidate/

IMPHAL, June 4: Phanjoubam Tarapot, former head of PTI news service Manipur Bureau, breathed his last yesterday night at about 11.30 pm after a brief illness, at the RIMS hospital where he was undergoing treatment.

He died peacefully, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

The veteran, who is a pioneer of English language journalism in the state, is survived by his wife, Jamini, a son and two daughters.

His mortal remains were consigned to the flames this morning at the Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak crematorium.

Tarapot, is also the author of two books `Insurgency Movement in Northeast India` (Vikas Publisher, 1993) and `Bleeding Manipur` (Har Anand Publisher, 2003).

Meanwhile, the Press Trust of India Limited has condoled his sudden demise.

According to a release of the PTI, Tarapot was born on August 28, 1951 at Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak and completed his graduation from St. Joseph College in Darjeeling in 1975.

He stepped into the world of media when he did a post-graduate diploma in journalism from the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication New Delhi, it said.

Completing his course in 1978, he joined Press Trust of India New Delhi that year. He was selected for the Paris-based `Journalists in Europe Programme`™ in 1986.

Meanwhile, the All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union (AMWJU) has also condoled the demise of its member, Phanjoubam Tarapot.

According to a release of the union, the Standing Committee of the union observed a two minutes silence on his demise.

It said the union sharesthe grief of the bereaved family members. (l) Tarapot became an Assistant Manager at PTI in 1978, the AMWJU statement said.

After carrying on as assistant manager at Arunachal Pradesh, Kolkata and Eastern Circle, he returned to Imphal and became Manager of Imphal PTI and retired from his post in 2014, it said.

His demise will leave behind a void which would be hard to fill, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/veteran-journalist-ph-tarapot-no-more-pti-condoles/