Day: August 28, 2017

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 28

A former branch manager of Manipur Rural Bank (MRB) Yairipok branch has lodged a complaint to chairman and managing director CDM UBI, Kolkata against the chairman of MRB alleging partiality and misuse of official powers and position.

The complainant L. Joychandra Singh, in his letter, drew the attention of the CDM to initiate appropriate action against the MRB chairman, Bimol.

According to Joychandra, he was put under suspension on December 9, 2010 for alleged misappropriation of over Rs. 46 lakhs. The decision to conduct a departmental enquiry against him was taken on September 8, 2011 and the enquiry started on February 2, 2012.

Although the enquiry lasted for several years the enquiry officer reportedly prepared a report without taking Joychandra’s statement and submitted the same to disciplinary authority on October 11, 2016.

Subsequently, on December 3, 2016 the final order was issued on the quantum of punishment to be given to Joychandra without giving any prior notice to him and made him to take force retirement.

Interestingly, it is learnt that the enquiry has failed to fix any financial liabilities on Joychandra despite having forcing to retire.

After Joychandra’s suspension, from Yairipok branch one Th. Gourabi Singh was posted as the manager in December 2010.

Gourabi being a local man allegedly disbursed huge amount of loan and advances to his relatives without proper investigation and verification thereby creating huge amount of NPA (non-performing assets).

Then in 2013 he fraudulently issued D-call receipts to K. Meghachandra Singh local MLA amounting to several lakhs. This came to the knowledge of the head office. But no action was taken against him and promptly transfered to Kumbi branch. There were also many scandals surfaced and no action was taken against him showing flexibility and tolerance.

It is learnt that he has given a sum of Rs. one lakh to the then chairman for cover-up which is a case of misuse of official power and position as disciplinary authority.

The branch Manager MRB, Bimol was also caught by vigilance department for fraudulently issuing bank guarantee bonds amounting approximately Rs. 6.47 crores to one of the special contractors.

Despite his denial Bimol was suspended on September 3, 2016 by the head office.

Subsequently, an order issued designating senior manager (Adv. And Rec.) A. Brajeshwar Sharma to investigate the matter, who found the allegations correct and submitted the report to the head office.

To everyone’s anticipation for stern action, Bimol’s suspension order was revoked on August 18 last without any action.

 “I have been punished for what somebody has done and blame it to me resulting out of partial and biased enquiry violating the principles of natural justice and fair play”, lamented the former manager.

Moreover, he revealed that a case is also pending with the High Court for deprivation of full benefit of retirement policy.

“I accepted the forced retirement not in the sense that I am guilty but I am fed up to work under such kind of governance and it would be suffocating for seniors like me to continue further”, he added.

Noting the alleged partiality and irregularities, violating the principle he appealed the higher authority to take appropriate action failing which he threatens to complaint the matter to department of financial and CBI anti-corruption cell.

IMPHAL | Aug 29

All Tribal Student Union, Manipur (ATSUM) served 48 hours ultimatum to the Manipur University authority demanding to follow the High Court directives and the Central Educational Institution Reservation Act, 2012 in the admission process.

Speaking to media persons at ATSUM office located at Adimjati complex today, ATSUM general secretary Seiboi Haokip demanded that the admission process should be put in abeyance until such time and the results declared for the academic season 2017-2018 are rectified to the guidelines and reservation norms of the government.

“Peeved at the brazen defiance of the Manipur University authority for its failure to comply to the directives of the High Court of Manipur and the Central Educational Institution Reservation Act, 2012, with regard to the admission process”, ATSUM warned the authority to change within 48 hours failure which the students union will intensify agitations.

Articulating its strong opposition to the perpetual defiance on the part of the MU authority since the up-gradation of Manipur University to the central university, Seiboi said ATSUM and University Authority has signed MoU on November 7, 2016 where both party agreed to adhere central education institution (reservation in admission) act which stipulates 31 percent reservation for the Schedule Tribe which subsequently culminated ATSUM’s month long agitation.

But the recent announced admission lists in the various departmental entrance test results explicitly indicates that most of the departments except Economics and English departments has overtly defied the central act as well as failed to honour the spirit of MoU signed between ATSUM and MU authority, Seiboi said.

Further, the Manipur University authority shall solely be held culpable for all loss of academic days in the event of an agitation unleashed by ATSUM, he added.

MUTSU closed down MU A-block

Meanwhile, irate tribal students of Manipur University locked down Manipur University administrative block in the afternoon demanding to put admission process in abeyance till their demands is made.

Later, police intervene and brought the situation under control.

On the other hand, Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU) demanded the MU authority to declare null and void of all the recently held admission test results alleging that the results is defied the High Court order of August 21, 2017.

In a statement, MUTSU general secretary T. Kailen Haokip alleged that MU have been deliberately discriminating and depriving the tribal students’ rights in the admission reservation since the inception of MU into central university since 2005.

Kailen Haokip demanded that the tribal students should get 31 percent reservation in admission out of the total intake, but MU authority had once again manipulated the quantum of reservation by giving only 20/21/22 percent out of the total intake.

MUTSU appealed to the higher authorities and MU authority to deliver justice to the tribal at the earliest.

Further, MUTSU called tribal civil organisations, human rights, students’ bodies and others to support their demands to deliver justice.

IMPHAL | Aug 28

The agriculture department, government of Manipur is inviting feedbacks from the public on the “Manipur Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Felicitation) Bill 2017”, which has been uploaded in the web portal www.agrimanipur.gov.in.

Interested persons can easily access the website and give their feedback to the department at amdmn@nic.in within September 3, 2017, said a release issued by director of agriculture.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 28

In the next few decades, indigenous people of Northeastern states will be replaced by Bangladeshi Muslims, warned cultural activist, Ningthouja Lancha while addressing 36th foundation day of Union of Social Upliftment today at Sangeet Kala Sangam, Khurai Lamlong Keithel.

The foundation day is organised by foundation day celebration committee, 2017 and will be celebrated for a month beginning today.

In the keynote address general secretary of the club Khumukcham Ronex Khaba said Union of Social Upliftment is an apex body form by 25 clubs of Imphal East district. It was established in August 28, 1986 in order to bring a united body of various ethnic groups for the welfare of the society as well as the state.

He listed various achievements of the club last year.

A one minute silence was observed in the memory of former members of the club.

Assembly Speaker, Yumnam Khemchand said people are facing lots of problems. The issues are to be solved by the representatives of state. He appealed to the people to elect right representatives.

To bring a good and welfare society people need to be united. Problems in the state are not caused by public but by administrators, he charged.

Lancha who was the guest of honour said many non-locals are entering the Northeast especially from Bangladesh at the rate of 3 lakhs per year. Like Tripuris are becoming endangered the Assamese population is now only 20 percent.

With global warming becoming a serious problem half of Bangladesh may be underwater. If this happens there is a possibility of Bangladeshi Muslims shifting to forests areas of the reason, Lancha said.

He said if the government fails to stop the intruders then the non-locals should be distributed all over the nation equally.

He suggested digital mode of thinking, which is the advanced thinking that supports each other’s thoughts and shares ideas. If people starts digital mode of thinking by being united the indigenous people can be saved, Lancha added.

President of the union, Thoudam Ruhinikumar, Sekmai MLA, Heikham Dingo Singh, councillor, IMC ward number 23, Loushanmbam Romola Devi and social scientist, Dhanabir Laishram also attended the function.

A newsletter named Union Newsletter was published by Khemchand.

IGP called meeting of ‘concerned’ policemen to discuss EEVFAM case

By Paojel Chaoba

IMPHAL | Aug 28

The Manipur police department allegedly collected funds from majority of its junior and senior ranks to fight the impending case of fake encounters. The funds collected are meant to engage expert criminal lawyers to defend the police personnel who can be implicated in the ongoing CBI inquiry directed by the Supreme Court.

 According to confirmed sources, the directive given to collect funds was given from senior level officers and every police station collected the ‘taxes’. A constable has to fork out Rs. 500 and upto Rs 1000/2000 from the assistant sub-inspector level to the sub-inspector level. The figure escalates as the ranking of the police official rises. The source mentioned that the collected money is taken charge by a senior ranking police official.

The collection came in the light of the Supreme Court judgement on July 14 last directing an inquiry into 85 cases of fake encounters perpetrated in the state, which involved the armed forces and state police.

The CBI has already started processing the paper works, the final conclusion of its investigation report is due to be submitted by December 31 this year. The special investigation team is also authorised to charge-sheet any personnel if deemed necessary.

Before the collection started, an urgent meeting was convened at the conference hall of the SP Imphal West in the morning of August 10. The meeting was called by an IGP rank police officer and the discussion was about the Supreme Court case filed by Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association Manipur and Human Rights Alert.

The IGP had directed authorities concerned of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, Tamenglong, NAB, 1 MR, 2 MR, 8 IRB to instruct the personnel to be present at the meeting.

The senior police officer asked 31 personnel of Imphal West to be present. They include subedar I. Khaba Singh, SI RK Binojit Singh, SI P. Tarunkumar, SI N. Jateshore, SI L. Lenin, SI RK Brojen, SI Kh. Inaobi, jemandar L. Bebekananda, ASI Kh. Somendro, ASI L. Sarat Singh, ASI S. Kirankumar, head constable (HC) Md Aktar Hussain, HC Md Ajit Singh, HC L. Naba Singh, self-confessed assailant of Th. Sanjit in the BT fake encounter case head constable Thounaojam Herojit Singh, HC L. Chingkheihunba Meitei, HC Yengkhom Keshorjit Singh, HC Victor Chabungbam, HC Elangbam Abung Singh, HC James Palmei, HC Kh. Sushilkumar Singh, HC Paominlun Singson, HC I. Dinachandra Singh, havildar L. Premkumar Singh, havildar L. Romesh Singh, HC Akhub Luther, HC Md Ibomcha, HC L. Lenin Singh, HC S. Premjit Singh, HC Y. Ibocha Singh and HC S. Thouba Meitei.

Another 10 personnel of Imphal East were also informed to attend the meeting. They are, Inspector P. John Singh, Inspector H. Surkumar Singh, SI Md Rajib Khan, jemandar A. Sunder Singh, SI M. Anandkumar Singh, havildar Priyokumar Singh, HC Th. Brojen Singh, HC Th. Amarjit Singh, HC Abdul Khalil and HC B Usharanjan.

Similarly, for Thoubal district police, Inspector N. Sadananda Singh, SI Md Saukat Ali, HC Kh. Rakib and haviladar Bronson Thanga were notified to attend the meeting.

Bishnupur police was notified for Inspector T. Khogen, Kakching police for HC H. Sakthi, Tamenglong police for SI Kh. Sunilkumar Singh, Narcotics and Affairs of Border for SI Kh. Utamkumar Singh and SI M. Goverdhon.

The 1 MR for havildar Kamei James, 8 MR for Hollal Haokip, CO 8 IRB assistant commandant Th. Krishnatombi Singh and subedar Md Soukat Ali of Home Guard.

It is learnt that the Manipur police department is taking the CBI investigation with all seriousness and preparing for any legal entanglements. Which police personnel will be implicated in the CBI investigation will be unfolded after the report is submitted on December 31. The Supreme Court is monitoring the developments as per its judgement passed.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Aug 28

The statistics of road fatality in the state in 2017 (January-June) increased by 61.7 percent as compare to 2016 (January-June), said transport, joint director, B.K. Sharma.

He was speaking as chief guest during a “One-day road safety awareness programme for students” today at Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School. It was organised by Institute of Driver Training and Research Centre under the ministry of road transport and highways.

Sharma said that in order to prevent road accidents it is necessary to know the road safety measures and such awareness programme will be helpful in checking road accidents.

Earlier such awareness programme was conducted at Leimakhong army camp as many central forces are found breaking the traffic rules in the city, he added.

Sharma announced that from September 1 a fine of Rs. 700 will be imposed if anyone is found breaking the traffic rules and if the same person is found repeating the same offence, the person’s driving license will be suspended for three months.

The chief guest said if everyone follows the proper rules and regulations of driving given by the government, then the cases of road accident will be very rare.

He appealed to all the stakeholders of the state to help in spreading awareness of road safety measures in order to make an accident free state.

The function was attended by Ram Lal Paul Higher Secondary School, principal, A. Rajmata Devi as president and Imphal city, traffic control wing, superintendent of police, Khoisnam Sarma as guest of honour.