Day: November 27, 2017

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 27

The Joint Action Committee against the brutal killing of late Yumnam Basanta Singh of Mayang Imphal has temporarily called off the 72 hours bandh giving the government a deadline till December 2 to arrest and punish the main culprit. 

While speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club, JAC secretary, Y. Naocha said the JAC has postponed its proposed 72 hours bandh folowing government’s assurance to catch the culprit at the earliest.

He further said that on November 23 a memorandum was submitted to the chief minister regarding the matter and on November 25 a sit in protest was held at Mayang Imphal in protest against the brutal killing.

The JAC secretary claimed that Y. Basanta (37) son of late Yumnam Gandhar Singh was found throat slit to death on the midnight of November 19 at a stone crusher owned by one Ashanbam Suresh alias Kaka at Awang Wabagai Leikai under Thoubal district.

Naocha further said that the Sekmai police have already arrested two individuals identified as Ksh. Bungo (37) son of Ksh. Ibomcha and Khangenbam Anand (30) son of Khangenbam Thoiba as they are the main suspects behind the alleged murder.

The JAC urged to the government to take up necessary actions to help the only child of the victim who is seven years of age and since the child has also lost his mother in a delivery case 3 years back and there is no other to look after him.

The JAC has given deadline till December 2 to arrest the main culprit and to find out the main reasons behind the killing. Failing to fulfil their demands the JAC will take up strong agitations starting from December 3.

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL |Nov 27

National Highway No. 2 was blocked for several hours today at Kanglatongbi area, some 20 km north of Imphal, as protestors imposed bandh demanding the arrest of Kh. Kashinba who has gone into hiding after “raping” and attempted to murder of a school girl.

On August 1 evening this year, the girl studying in Class 9 was found in an unconscious state in a place in Senapati district headquarters. The victim is now surviving with multiple stitches in her head and hands after a month0long treatment in a hospital in Imphal. The victim is carrying eight scars in her head and hands.

Spearheaded by Liangmaipui Naga Ruangdi, Manipur (Liangmai women union), Namdilong Women Development Society, Kanglatongbi and Liangmai Naga Katina Ruangdi (Liangmai student body), protestors blocked vehicles passing the Kanglatongbi area.

As a large number of protestors blocked the national highway by piling logs and burning them, police had to resort to tear gas shelling.

In the process there were incidents of scuffle between the security force personnel and the protestors. By around 9 am the size of the number of protestors grew double.

The police personnel had a hard time handling the situation. The traffic along the national highway was completely blocked. By 11 am there was a communication from the State government to the protestors for negotiation.

Some leaders of the protesting organisations met the deputy commissioner of Kangpokpi and the director general of police of Manipur. According to the Liangmai organizations, they met the DGP at 3:30 pm. The police chief assured to arrest the culprit within one month’s time.

The DGP also told the Liangmai organizations that the cash reward of Rs 50,000 for any information leading to the capture Kh. Kashinba will be increased to 1 lakh effective from November 28. Following this assurance the agitation was called off by around 4 pm.

On November 23, the Liangmai organisations had demanded that the culprit should be arrested within 72 hours or else they would go ahead with the 12-hour total shutdown of National Highway-2 from 6 am of November 27 followed by different forms of agitation.

According to the Liangmai organisations, earlier they had planned to start agitation but owing to the requests from the chief minister and other authorities of the State government they did not go ahead with their agitation.

They said the State government had assured them the arrest of the culprit within a short period but till date nothing had happened. “Now it is almost four months but the State government could not arrest the culprit,” rued the Liangmai organisations. “It is a shame that such a high authority talking very big thing taking too long to arrest a rapist,” they maintained.

“We will wait till December 27 for the arrest of Kh. Kashinba. In the event of the failure from the State government side to arrest the culprit we will not listen to anyone but to go on with our agitation till the culprit is arrested,” asserted an LNKR leader.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 27

The central committee of Manipur People’s Party (MPP) has appointed Laishram Krishnadas Singh from of Wangjing Tentha Assembly constituency as its ‘vacancy president’ on November 25.

Speaking to media person at the Manipur Press Club, the newly appointed ‘vacancy president’ clarified the claim made by Oinam Jugindro Singh, former ‘vacancy president’, in the media as baseless.

“Whatever he claimed so far is not acceptable. We had selected him as ‘vacancy president’ on May 16 last year for a period of six months term. His actual period is expired,” said Krishnadas.

However Judindro wrongfully considers himself as party president and even sent letter to the Election Commission of India declaring that he is the party president, he added.

Krishnadas further continued that the self-styled ‘vacancy president’ Oinam Jugindro Singh was disqualified by the State Returning Officer (SRO) for forging election certificates.

Highlighting the present situation of MPP, he said the regional party of Manipur is almost in the verge of downfall. In order to revive the party we formed a development committee of MPP, he added.

“Our party is always ready to welcome each and every person. But we cannot accept someone who tries to defame the party,” he asserted.

It may be mentioned that the ‘vacancy president’ term will last for six months only. The full term president is going to be appointed by next year April. And the tenure of full term president is of three years.

IMPHAL | Nov 27

Chief Minister N. Biren urged the people of the State to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution. He was speaking as the chief guest at Constitution Day celebration held at the conference hall of secretariat south b lock here today.

While laying the foundation stone of B.R. Ambedkar Memorial in Mumbai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that from 2015 onwards, November 26 of every year, celebrated earlier as Law Day, would hence forth be celebrated as the Constitution Day, the chief minister said.

Accordingly the government of India issued a Gazette notification declaring November 26 as the Constitution Day, Biren said.

He further said that the Preamble of the Constitution states the nature of Indian State and the objectives are committed to secure justice, liberty and equality for the people and promoting fraternity, dignity of the individual and unity and integrity of the Nation. It declares India to be a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, he added.

The chief minister contended that the Constitution defines the framework of the country, fundamental political principles, establishes the structures, procedures, powers and duties of government institutions, and sets out the fundamental rights and duties of the citizens. It imparts for the constitutional supremacy not the parliamentary democracy, he added.

On November 26, 1949, the Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India after the country gained independence. A Drafting Committee was earlier formed under the chairmanship of B.R. Ambedkar.

In the early part of 1948, B.R. Ambedkar completed the draft of the Constitution and presented in the Constituent Assembly. On November 26, 1949 the draft was adopted with very few amendments and it came into force from January 26, 1950. It is the supreme law of the land made by the people of India acting through duly elected and representative body of the Constituent Assembly.

Law and legislative affairs minister L. Jayantakumar, who attended the occasion as the functional president, said that the Constitution of India is one of the best constitutions in the word. Every Section and Articles of the Indian Constitution has humane touch, he added.

Ministers, MLAs top civil and police officers also attended the function.

IMPHAL | Nov 27

Police department of Manipur, Imphal has announced a cash reward of Rs. 1,00,000 (Rupees one lakh) for information leading to the arrest of Ashin alias Kashin alias Kashinba, 50, son of (Late) Mangainanba of Nungtek, Karvangmuang village, Part-II, Noney.

A release by PRO Police has stated that the cash award shall be given to any person(s) who can provide information of the accused person and the identity of the informer(s) will be kept confidential.

Any information about the whereabouts of the accused may be given through the mobile phone numbers of the police personnel of Senapati Police Station, 9436821749 for SP, 9862741784 for additional SP, 8729842498 for SDPO and 9612509638 for OC, it added.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Nov 27

The sudden opening of Ithai barrage on July 22, because of the flood caused by Imphal river, led to caving of many land portions with cracks appearing in many places as well in Wabagai and Mayang Imphal areas, said Md Riyazuddin Aribam speaking to reporters during an inspection tour.

Riyazuddin is the chief advisor of Samaj, a social media (Whatsapp) group. He went to allege that the opening of Ithai barrage by Ithai Barrage Committee was done without any consultations with the locals of Wabagai area, he alleged.

He maintained that it had brought total damage to the roads, houses, affected community halls, schools and so on creating problems for the public.

The villages that the team visited were Sekmaijing to Irom passing through Hangul, Santhel, Uchiwa, Heibung Makhong, and Maibam.

Md Razauddin, secretary of the group said that it was all because of Ithai barrage that people have to face such turmoil and difficulties. “We want the Ithai barrage committee working under National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) to leave the soil of Manipur,” he said.

Let the indigenous people, flora and fauna and other natural resources be safeguarded from the hands of NHPC, he asserted. 

“We have voiced many times before about this case but the authority concerned and government have not paid heed,” he pointed out.

Islamuddin, who is one of the residents of the area, said that public are not satisfied with Ithai barrage. Since its commission in 1980, Ithai barrage and its committee have failed the people and disadvantages have outweighed the advantages.

All the promises that were made before the commissioning were not fulfilled and the compensation for 80,000 hectares is not received till today. Besides no proper irrigation system, the promised light bill for 30 paise per unit is never fulfilled, he alleged.

He continued that government not taking any action is condemnable and if the government did not hear their demands, soon there will be people’s movement for removal of Ithai barrage from the state.

On the other hand the road connecting Sekmaijing to Maibam under Imphal West district, which is to be completed by October 2017 under PMGSY scheme, is far from being completed but rather it is in a very bad condition without any sign of betterment.

The project was taken by HVS Construction Private Limited and has withdrawn Rs.1, 35, 00,000 so far but did almost nothing even if the completion dateline is over.

The Samaj team was accompanied by IFCD, PHED and PWD and CSOs, Irong Chesaba Development Forum (ICDF), Youth Developemnt Committee (YDC) and All Manipur Muslim Organisation Co-Ordinating Committee (AMMOCOC).

 Two-day inter-regional media interaction kicks off

IMPHAL | Nov 27

Through people to people interaction a positive relationship can be developed and nurtured. In spite of the world now being touted as a global village, there had been fewer interactions with neighbour Myanmar. We must seek to mend these gaps.

This was stated by chief minister, N. Biren on the inaugural day of the 2-day inter-regional media interaction programme between Myanmar and India which begun today at Sangai Hall, Hotel Imphal.

Biren recalled that Myanmar and Manipur haveshared an inseparable relation since ages. In order to retain the ties that were there during in the past, he informed that the process for bus service proposal from Manipur to Yangon via Mandalay will be speed up.

He also credited today’s meet as the result of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion of developing media interactions between the two nations, in his recent visit to Myanmar.

On the first day of the meet, editor Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam, stressed on the need for focusing on interactions at sub-regional level rather than regions, as both these countries are massive and have various dynamics within a country itself.

He also suggested the need for exchange of articles amongst the media outlets in both the countries in order to understand the nuances of each other’s actualities.

On the same theme, a member of News Media Council, Myanmar, mooted the need for training young journalists in Myanmar by their Indian counterparts. He mentioned that freedom of media in Myanmar is improving but not yet entirely independent.

That Myanmar ranks 131 in the world media freedom index. He further remarked that an attempt is being made to launch right to information in Myanmar, to ensure greater freedom of expression for journalists as well as the people of Myanmar.

In the same session, member, Press Council of India, Vivek Saxena also remarked that unfortunately national newspapers in India hardly focus on Northeast India. He also stressed the need for exchange of latest news between the two countries.

Furthermore, in the later sessions, Chit Win MG, Mizzima Media Group, Myanmar, dwelt on the need for educating the general public and organisations about media ethics. That unverified information on social media is one of the most significant issues in Myanmar, he added.

On free and responsible media in India, secretary general, Editor Guilds of India, Prakash Dubey, noted the worrying trend of targeting journalists in the country. He emphasised that there is a need to protect people who are proving news. Further, he remarked that armchair journalism is a stumbling block in striving for responsible journalism. Learning new languages can facilitate better information, he added.

On a similar note, vice president, Kosuri Amarnath, highlighted the rising intolerance towards media personnel. Citing the case of Gauri Lankesh, Sudip Dutta Bhowmik, Sanatanu Bhowmick and many others, he explained that such acts of murdering journalists are an act of censoring and impinging on the rights of freedom of expression.

The 2-day inter-regional media interaction programme is being organised by the department of information and public relations in collaboration with state level committee for Act East policy in Manipur and under the sponsorship of Manipur Tourism.

Tomorrow, there will be more discussions on promoting connectivity & trade, Act East policy, and capacity building of media personnel in Myanmar and India.

Eleven delegates from Myanmar, two representatives from Press Council of India (PCI), one representative each from Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and Editor Guild of India, along with prominent media personnel and media students from the state attended the said programme.

The chief minister of Manipur, N. Biren Singh, attended the opening ceremony as the chief guest. While chief secretary R.R. Rashmi, commissioner (IPR) K. Radhakumar and convenor of state level committee for actualisation of Act East Policy, R.K. Shivachandra also attended the function as dignitaries.

IMPHAL | Nov 27

Governor Najma Heptulla said that message of brotherhood given by Guru Gobind Singh is very much relevant till today. This was stated at the 350th Prakash Parb of the 10th Guru of the Sikhs Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj which was celebrated at Raj Bhavan, today.

The celebration was carried out with the support of the governor who is also member of the committee formed under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Sikh community.

This was the first celebration organised at Raj Bhavan of Manipur State and will continue across the country.

Heptulla expressed her happiness over the recitation of Gurbani at Raj Bhavan said that she is pleased that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made her a member of the committee of the 350th Birth Anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj.

Paying her reverence to Guru Gobind Singh, who sacrificed his whole life and family for defending and respect of the country, she said that we should respect Guru Vani.  The words of the Guru Vani should be followed and bring forth for the sake of the country, she said.

She further added that we should preserve all Religious Books and Guru Granth Sahib with honour and respect. She also said that if we abide by the words written in Guru Granth Sahib, we can say that we have done our part in honouring and respecting the Religion and our Guru.

The message of brotherhood and unity given by Guru Gobind Singh and Guru Nanak to the people is very much needed today and we should remember and follow the path laid down by the profounder of the religions, she added.

1. Khemchand, Speaker, Manipur Legislative Assembly, said that Manipur is a Mini India and with the celebration of 350th Prakash Parb of Guru Gobind Singh Maharaj, may peace prevail in the State.

The function was attended by the Sikh community of residing in Manipur, staffs and students of Guru Nanak School and invitees from other communities.