Month: December 2017

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly arrested a former PRO of a cabinet minister in the present Manipur government.

The arrested individual has been identified as Sanabam Ingobi Singh, son of late Sanabam Towal Singh of Yambem Leikai, Yairipok under Thoubal district.

According to a reliable source, he was reportedly arrested on November 29 from New Delhi by following his connection with a militant group operating in the state. Ingobi was alleged to be the former PRO of a cabinet minister of the present government.

It is learnt that he has been remanded to the custody of the NIA for seven days.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reportedly arrested a former PRO of a cabinet minister in the present Manipur government.

The arrested individual has been identified as Sanabam Ingobi Singh, son of late Sanabam Towal Singh of Yambem Leikai, Yairipok under Thoubal district.

According to a reliable source, he was reportedly arrested on November 29 from New Delhi by following his connection with a militant group operating in the state. Ingobi was alleged to be the former PRO of a cabinet minister of the present government.

It is learnt that he has been remanded to the custody of the NIA for seven days.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

In one of the biggest haul in the recent past, a total of 158 gold biscuits weighing around 26.260 kg were seized by Customs officials in Imphal on Friday.

The gold biscuits which were found concealed in a Maruti Van (MNO5A/9641) which was on its way to Imphal from Moreh, a border town in the state on Thursday around 5pm, according to Deputy Commissioner Gaikhonlung Panmei of Customs Division Imphal.

The seized gold biscuits which are believed to be from foreign origin, valued at about Rs 7.7 crore were recovered from the Maruti Van which was intercepted near Lokchao Bridge along the Imphal-Moreh highway by using sophisticated equipment like video scope device, he said.

One person identified as Md Zakariya (26) son of Allimuddin of Lilong Kaleikhong who was arrested along with the seized items, was produced before the media this morning and taken to custody for investigation.

On October 1 this year, Customs Division personnel had also confiscated 12 pieces of gold bars weighing nearly 20 kg — and worth Rs 9 crore — at Yurembam area along National Highway 37.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

In one of the biggest haul in the recent past, a total of 158 gold biscuits weighing around 26.260 kg were seized by Customs officials in Imphal on Friday.

The gold biscuits which were found concealed in a Maruti Van (MNO5A/9641) which was on its way to Imphal from Moreh, a border town in the state on Thursday around 5pm, according to Deputy Commissioner Gaikhonlung Panmei of Customs Division Imphal.

The seized gold biscuits which are believed to be from foreign origin, valued at about Rs 7.7 crore were recovered from the Maruti Van which was intercepted near Lokchao Bridge along the Imphal-Moreh highway by using sophisticated equipment like video scope device, he said.

One person identified as Md Zakariya (26) son of Allimuddin of Lilong Kaleikhong who was arrested along with the seized items, was produced before the media this morning and taken to custody for investigation.

On October 1 this year, Customs Division personnel had also confiscated 12 pieces of gold bars weighing nearly 20 kg — and worth Rs 9 crore — at Yurembam area along National Highway 37.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

“It is our prime duty to treat every individual with human touch and make them avail all the essential human rights” chief minister N.Biren Singh said a state level observance of World AIDS Day, under the theme ‘ Right To Health’ held at 1st Battalion Manipur Rifles ground.

He began the invocation of his speech by praising the dedication and commitment of all stakeholders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and said that this year Manipur’s situation improved to rank 5th in HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country, down from the highest last year.

“I really appreciate the endless effort, hard work and dedication of all NGOs, Manipur state AIDS control society (MSACS). Without them we may not have been able to bring down our ranking”, he added.

He urged the member of Manipur AIDS control society to update any information related to HIV/AIDS in time to chief minister’s office. “As MACS and NGOs have in-depth knowledge about the problem of HIV/AIDS, we can bring up with more effective and meaningful welfare schemes if MSACS and NGOs inform us and discuss the current scenarios or problems of HIV/AIDS infected person.”

We should always think of giving them privilege so that they may not be disheartened at any cost, he added.

He continued that rehabilitation centre is the safest place for controlling HIV/AIDS in our state. However in many rehab centres HIV/AIDS infected person are not given admission. We should not take this issue very lightly and will investigate these centres, he said.

Dwelling on one of the major steps in tackling HIV/AIDS problem, he said since drugs addiction is the main factor of causing HIV/AIDS problem in our society, the present government had conducted a mass drive against drugs and other intoxicants.

He announced policies and programme that the government is planning to take up in the near future. “The government is planning to launch a financial support schemes to reach all needy people, such as orphanages and old age homes, specially-abled or differently-abled people and widows,” he declared.

With the aim of lowering Hepatitis-C cases, which is very prone among HIV/AIDS infected persons, the state government has taken up an initiative of acquiring Hepatitis-C testing equipment by January next year, he added.

Till today the state government is providing free diagnosis for 57 different items in government medical institution and result is more or less similar to private diagnosis centre, he pointed out.

Later he urged the government doctors and official concerned to advise the public that the test result from government diagnosis centre is trustworthy and not inferior to that of private centre.

He further advised all to lodge any kind of complaints with proof at the Grievance Cell and Anti-Corruption Cell open at CM’s secretariat from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. if they face any form of abnormalities from government employees’ side.

In his presidential speech Health and Family Welfare minister L. Jayanta Kumar said that HIV/AIDS is the greatest enemy of right to life which is the fundamental right guaranteed by the Indian constitution.

Strong and collective effort with determination can fight the menace of HIV/AIDS at grass roots level, he suggested.

The other dignitaries who participated were Forest and Environment Minister Th Shyamkumar, Manipur Industrial Development Corporation (MANIDCO) Chairman Yumnam Radheshyam, Manipur Pollution Control Board (MPCB) Chairman Laishram Radhakishore, MLA of Tamenglong constituency Samuel Jendai, MLA of Naoriya Pakhanglakpa constituency S Subhaschandra, Chief Secretary R.R. Rashmi, administrative secretaries and heads of departments.

The programme started with a mass rally from Hao Ground Pishumthong and was flagged off by project director of MACS Valentina Arambam.

As part of the occasion a food testing laboratory called food safety on wheels was inaugurated followed by a released of a book entitled, ‘The Pink Book : Your Guide for Safe and Nutritious Food at Home’.

In relation to today’s observation ceremony prizes were also distributed for spot painting competition held in connection with the World Aids Day. A shumang leela titled Yaifare Yaifare by artistes of Manipur Youth Cultural Organisation titled was also staged.

Opening song by children of Manipur Network of Positive people (MNP+) and closing song by children of Carmel Jyoti, Koirengei were also performed.

At the end of the programme, all the dignitaries lead by Chief Minister visited all the 14 self-help group stalls displayed as part of the programme.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Dec 1

An interaction programme amongst few senior journalists from the state, the staffs of Imphal Free Press and several Myanmar journalists and students from Yangon Journalism School, Myanmar, was held today at the office complex of the Imphal Free Press.

The interactive session was also joined by Bertil Lintner, a noted Swiss author and journalist who has written extensively on political issues in Asia for the past several decades.

‘Land of Jade’ and ‘Great Game East’ are some of his notable books which critically engage with the various political struggles in the region, including Manipur.

His latest book, ‘China’s India War’ will see an Indian release at the Nehru Museum and Library, New Delhi on December 6.

Drawing on his vast experience in the region, which includes several correspondence with leaders from various revolutionary groups, he observed that situation in the Northeast is not as turbulent as it was in the past. But he remarked that new issues have cropped up with the influx of massive money in the region, and that civil societies have to be more vigilant in countering the corrupting tendencies that such influx can lead to.

On the attempts of India to reach out to Burma and other Southeast Asian countries, he stated that there is no such infrastructure in the Northeast region which can compete with the kind of infrastructural developed by China on its side of the border and even within Myanmar.

Aung Htun U, leader of the visiting journalists from Myanmar mentioned that besides building roadways, industries etc., China is now focussing on nurturing people to people connections.

“China has been organising tours for civil society leaders, support groups, and artists from Myanmar in various parts of China.  India should also be more proactive with such initiatives to strengthen the relationship between the two countries,” he added.

Editor, Imphal Free Press, Pradip Phanjoubam, who was also the host of the interaction session, quipped that the much-hyped Act East policy is more of a countermeasure against China’s policies in the SE Asian region, rather than a well-thought strategy to bring wholesome development in Northeast India.

Further, Bertil and the attending journalists from the state as well as from Myanmar shared each other’s experiences, and probed issues pertaining to the Northeast region, Myanmar, and the larger Asian context too.

The constructive session ended with exchange of contacts and assurances of further interactions in the future.