Day: August 25, 2017

From Our Correspondent

TAMENGLONG | Aug 25

Awangbou Newmai, parliamentary secretary of Minor Irrigation, CADA, Agriculture and PWD, Government of Manipur has assured to restore the damaged suspension bridge over Barak river at Namtiram village before forthcoming of Christmas.

He was speaking at the mammoth gathering at Namtiram village under Tousem sub-division during his maiden inspection to the damaged suspension bridge.

The landslide with big rocks had damaged the stringing of suspension bridge over Barak river between Tousem sub-division and Tamenglong district on August 16.

The parliamentary secretary was accompanied by Tamenglong ADC members including Pouhotlung Panmei, Charles Liangdiyang, Ramning Pame, Micah Panmei, Deputy Commissioner of Tamenglong, Armstrong Pame, SDO Tousem S Khupboi Aimol, assistant engineer, Bridge Division, PWD Manipur, Irom Irabot Singh, executive engineer, PWD Tamenglong Division, N. Gunadwaja.

Awangbou Newmai further said that he had come to inspect the damaged suspension bridge and study to construct a permanent bridge. He said that more than 40 to 50 villages’ life line has been cut off. The bridge must be constructed as early as possible even though there is no fund allotted, he added.

He further informed that the chief minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh and other officials to take initiative concerning the plight of the Tousem area. He also urged all to give full cooperation and support to all government officials posted at Tousem division.

While speaking about the damaged suspension bridge, Armstrong Pame mentioned how he faced hardship when Makhru bridged was swiped by flood water while he was posted as SDO in Tousem.

Meanwhile, Light Commercial Vehicles Association, Tamenglong also submitted a memorandum urging the parliamentary secretary to maintain the ring road. The association also sponsored vehicles to reach Barak river during the parliamentary secretary’s visit to the damaging bridge.

Chairman of Namtiram Village Authority, ID Arangbou, expressed his disappointment to the authority concerned for not checking and maintaining the bridge despite of several petitions.  He further expressed his gratitude to Armstrong Pame, for providing financial assistant to construct temporary bridges and for donating one boat. He also thanked ADC members, Ramning Pame and Micah Panmei.

I D Arangbou also submitted a memorandum to the parliamentary secretary to include in the work programme to construct new Barak bridge at Namtiram village.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 25

The traffic police in maintaining regulation have not spared even armed forces from breaking traffic norms.  A truck belonging to the CRPF( MH-14V/7798) was parked at a no parking zone today afternoon near Khuyathong traffic point. A team led by Traffic DSP Rattana arrived at the spot and clamped down the wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle was fined and later released.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 25

For the first time in the history of Manipur, four MLAs including speaker, Y. Khemchand pledged formally to donate their eyes to facilitate blind people. They signed the pledge today during the inaugural function of the Eye Donation Campaign Fortnight at Iboyaima Sumang Leela Sanglen, Imphal.

The other three MLAs are L. Radhakishore Singh, Sapam Ranjan Singh and Heikham Dingo Singh and the campaign was organised by Samdrushti Kshamata Vikash Evam Anusandhan Mandal (SAKSHAM), Manipur.

As a part of the campaign the chief guest, speaker Y. Khemchand along with the other three MLAs walked blind-folded with other volunteers to highlight the plight of blind people.

Delivering the chief guest speech, Khemchand said that his heart is touched by the plight of blind people as they are not able to see the colour and beauty of nature.

Donating eyes after death will be a great contribution to uplift the misery of blind people and is an act of true humanity, he added.

The president of the function, MLA, L. Radhakishore said that because of the advance of medical science, people affected with polio have been on a decline. Donating eyes after death will be great contribution in doing the same for blind people, giving them a whole new life.

He appealed to the people to join the campaign and pledge to contribute their eyes with pride as it will be the greatest gift they can think of giving blind people and humanity.

Giving the key note address, SAKSHAM general secretary, Jasobanta Sapam said that reason for very low number of eye donor in the state is lake of awareness among general public, insufficient facilities in hospitals and social and religious myths.

He said that eyes transplantation is the most successful organs transplants and the rate of successful surgery is 95 percent.

Jasobanta appealed to the people of the state to pledge to donate their eyes to give a new life to blind people.

IMPHAL | Aug 25

Students of Wangoo Higher Secondary School along with representatives of Socialist Students Union, Manipur took out a rally today from Keishampat Lemajam Leikai to Keishampat Junction demanding vacant teacher posts in their school be filled at the soonest.

The students were trying to march to the education minister’s office but police stop them at Keishampat Junction. Later five students were permitted to meet and submit memorandum to the education minister.

Speaking to media persons, SSUM publicity secretary, N. Tanoranjan claimed that the school has only 10 teaching staff and 550 students. Everybody will agree it is literally impossible for 10 teachers to handle 550 students, he added.

Moreover the school is faced with lack of classrooms, improper toilets, lack of a peon as well as non-availability of materials for practical classes in the laboratory, he added.

It is very unfortunate that the government is not looking into the matter and allowing the government school, where many poor students are studying to deteriorate, said Tanoranjan.

The students appealed to the government to look into this matter and take up positive action.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 25

General secretary of Manipur Home Guard welfare association, Th. Inaobi demanded the removal of battalion commander’s post as there is no such post for Home Guard.

Speaking to media persons during a press conference held today at the Home Guard head office located at Lamphel, Inaobi said number of Home Guard personnel is 2143 and out of this 1000 Home Guard personnel are enjoying their salary without performing any duties.

She said the 1000 Home Guard personnel paid half of their salary to the battalion commander and skip their duties. She claimed that there is no such post of battalion commander in Home Guard. She also implied that the post might have been created to facilitate corruption and bribery.

Though an anti-corruption cell was created recently by the state in order to remove corruption, the cell has not been able to take any action against such act of corruption by the battalion commander, she said.

She said the Supreme Court has already given an order for the increase in allowances of Home Guard personnel but the state has taken up any initiatives. “We want only the sanctioned allowances and we do not demand anything extra,” Inaobi said.

The five battalion commanders are Md. Zanab Ali of battalion one, Lamphel, Md. Nizamudin of battalion two, I/W, Md. Tolen (incharge ) of battalion three, I/E, Md. Abdul Hei of battalion four, Thoubal and Md. Rashimudin of battalion five, Bishenpur.

Among them Rashimudin is misguiding some Home Guard personnel in order to remain as the battalion commander. Every month the battalion commanders are collecting around Rs. 20 lakhs from the 1000 personnel so that the personnel can escape performing their duties, she claimed.

“Anti-corruption cell should take necessary against the five battalion commanders at the earliest,” Inaobi asserted.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 25

Chief minister, N. Biren assured the demands of Kangleipak Students Association (KSA) will be fulfilled, and he will personally make sure the demands are turned into action as they are genuine.

A six member team of KSA including president of the association met chief minister today at CM secretariat. Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution minister, Karam Shyam, education minister, Th. Radheshyam and DGP also attend the meet.

After the meet, president of KSA, Moirangthem Luxman said N. Biren has assured the that demands of KSA will be fulfilled after a cabinet meeting in relation with the matter at the earliest.

Luxman said the CM has instructed respective deputy commissioners of eight districts and others to find out the exact figures of illegal registration of non-locals in the electoral list within three months.

He said during the meet N. Biren assured to release the three KSA members who were earlier arrested during their agitation, and to withdraw the FIR lodged against them.

KSA condemned ASI Pakpa alias Nandakishore of Mayang Imphal police station for allegedly meting out third degree treatment on Sinam Mohen, father of Sinam James, presently a member of KSA Mayai Lambi zonal council.

In relation to the incident chief minister has instructed Mayang Imphal SP to conduct an enquiry against ASI Pakpa alias Nandakishore of Mayang Imphal police station.

Luxman further said that if the assurance given by CM does not turn his promise into action within three months, several actions will taken up.

MOREH | Aug 25

Two IED exploded simultaneously today at 1:50 pm and 1:54 pm at the river bank of Khajing river near Seijang village.

The twin blast occurred 2 km away from Moreh Police Station, along the way to Haolenphai village. A team of SDPO, OC and police commando of Moreh police along with 11 Assam Rifles rushed to the place of explosion and inspected the area. The reason and the group or Individuals behind the blast have not been ascertained till the time of filing this report.