Day: January 7, 2018

UKHRUL | Jan 7

Autonomous District Council of Ukhrul has strongly condemned the act of throwing a grenade at Raj Store situated at Phungreitang, Ukhrul by some unidentified miscreant in the evening of 6 January around 5:40 pm.

In a press conference held at the office of ADC Ukhrul, chairman, ADC, K. Dickson informed that the ADC members of Ukhrul have paid a visit to the injured victim and also extend financial assistance to the minor victim. He also appealed to all the groups and sections of society to maintain peace and tranquillity in Ukhrul District.

Spokesperson, ADC Ukhrul, Paothing Vashum while condemning the acts, recalled the fateful death of former president of Tangkhul Shanao Long, AS. Dina, at Viewland Ukhrul in 2015. The life of Dina and her niece life were taken by a bomb explosion at Viewland while returning home from shopping. Paothing Vashum appealed everyone to contribute in maintaining peace and harmony on Ukhrul District.

In yesterday’s incident, two minor received minor injuries, one on the right foot and the other on his thigh.  One of the minor was given first aid at the Ukhrul District Hospital and later discharged.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 7

A mild earthquake measuring 5.6 magnitude on richter scale jolted the state and other part of the north eastern region today.

A statement issued by department of EarthSciences Manipur university, said that the quake was triggered at 12.17 afternoon (IST).

The epicenter was located about 98 km East of the observatory and 7 km  south east of Yele Village of Hkamti district of Sagain region on the eastern bank of Chindwin river, Myanmar. The depth of the earthquake is estimated to be about 20 km.

IMPHAL | Jan 7

Dimapur police led by additional commissioner of police-A Division busted a multi-crore racket of fruits mixed with chemical known as Calcium Carbide and arrested three person from New Market, Dimapur yesterday.

According to PRO Dimapur police, huge quantity of bananas along with three KGs of Calcium Carbide was also seized from the shop of the accused person. Police said the accused has confessed Calcium Carbide is used to artificially ripe fruits while all the fruit traders in Dimapur use this chemical.

Police said scientific reports reveal that this chemical contains arsenic phosphorous and acetylene gas which makes the healthy fruit poisonous. Sources said the seized chemical and the adulterated bananas is being sent to Forensic Lab for chemical analysis and obtaining expert opinion.

In this connection a case has been registered at Dimapur East police station and further investigation is in progress.

IMPHAL | Jan 7

The Kabui Mother’s Association (KAMA) has appealed to all the village pei’s (customary court), women societies and all the responsible persons of every village particularly situated in valley, not to attend the convention oganised by the Rongmei Naga People Organisation (RNPO) at Tamenglong on January 8 and 9.

A statement issued by the KAMA contended that the RNPO is a Nagaland based organization and its activities begun in Nagaland demanding for separate Rongmei tribe in Nagaland, without relying on the historical facts and background of people, has done great damaged to Zeliangrong family.

Despite the fact that “Kabui” tribe was recognised as one of the Scheduled Tribes and its history as old as hundreds years never claimed as separate tribe from Zeliangrong family knowing well the fact that the Zeliangrong is one, it said.

It is undeniable fact that so many persons have got employment in various government departments and sectors, got different education qualification, diploma and degrees and received other benefits under the Indian Union by using the “Kabui” Scheduled Tribe certificate, it asserted.

There is even a programme broadcasting in All India Radio for Kabui tribe and it is not new to any community on the entire globe which does not know the custom, tradition and culture of Kabui. Hence the convention will create only more division in the family, it held.

It also appealed to all responsible persons not to be part of the convention in the interest of common future of Zeliangrong people. Any decision, resolution or declaration of RNPO will not be binding Kabui people, further added the statement.

Meanwhile, coming down heavily against the convention being organised by RNPO on January 8 and 9 at Tamenglong, the Zelianrong Baudi (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) have cautioned the Zelianrong people not be part of it and abstain from attending the convention.

A release alleged that maximum efforts have been invested by the unmandated organisation called RNPO to mislead the general public on some “unrealistic reasons completely paradoxical to history and genesis of Zelianrong people.” The said convention called by RNPO is sponsored by some Naga people’s rejected and frustrated individuals so as to create an atmosphere and to get platform for them to earn electoral politics popularity through the convention, it alleged.

The Zeliangrong Baudi suspects that even the so called separate tribe recognition is a well calculated plan of the government of India since they are fully aware of the fact that natural resources deposited beneath the ancestral land of Zeliangrong can be easily tapped only when the Zeliangrong people are fragmented into pieces, the release said. There have been records that the Zeliangrong social organisations have been strongly opposing the government of India, of their many evil designs such as oil exploration, construction of mega dams etc, therefore, weakening the Zeliangrong people by way of fragmentation which is unacceptable, the release further informed.

Any village headmen or responsible person representing the village and attend in the said convention will be amount to giving away authority or inherent rights to those individuals to freely carry out their vested interest, it continued.  Therefore, the Zelianrong Baudi appealed to all responsible Zeliangrongs to seriously think of the future, it said. Any resolutions or declaration of RNPO sponsored convention will not be binding on Zelianrong people hence it is null and void ab initio, it added.   

From Our Correspondent

KANGPOKPI | Jan 7

The proposed 36 hours total shutdown announced by KSO Sadar Hills along National Highway 2 which was scheduled to begin at 6 am tomorrow has been relaxed following the government assurance to hold talks with the student body tomorrow morning.

However, the 36 hours total shutdown will begin automatically the next morning from 6 am if the talks fail tomorrow said the student body.

The decision to relax the proposed total shutdown was taken by the student body after social welfare minister Nemcha Kipgen and YAS minister Letpao Haokip intervened into the matter and initiated to hold talks with the chief minister tomorrow morning over the demands of the student body.

The student body had decided to impose 36 hours total shutdown along National Highway 2 in connection with the controversial National Sports University which allegedly created misunderstanding among the local people of L. Tangnaum village in Kangpokpi District and its neighbouring villages in Imphal West District over land dispute.

It had announced on December 22 its decision to impose the total shutdown last so as to give the denizen of Manipur to revise their respective travel plan and reiterated its decision to go ahead with the shutdown.

Speaking to media persons late in the afternoon, Thangminlen Kipgen, president KSO Sadar Hills said the National Sports University issue has been with intent neglected by the state government which has now become a threat to the mutual understanding and love among the hill people and valley while adding that many unfortunate incident had already occurred in past over the issue and the recent one being on December 16 last year where villagers of Senjam Chirang and Senjam Khunou had burnt down the wooden bridge, the only lifeline of L. Tangnaum village.

He further said that even after that ugly incident the BJP led coalition government failed to address the grievances of L. Tangnaum village, whose only connectivity had been burnt down in broad daylight, be it on humanitarian ground or be a fellow citizen of the state even after a week of the incident which compelled the KSO to reconstruct the bridge and inaugurated on December 22.

He reiterated that the reconstruction of the bridge is a message to the state government that they are not the only source of our livelihood that we can manage thing on our own if the need arises and it is also to exhibit our protest against the government negligence and discriminatory attitude.

“To show our protest against the negligence of the state government to resolve the issue and the discriminatory attitude towards the people of L. Tangnaum village in particular and Kangpokpi district as a whole took the decision to impose the bandh in a joint meeting of CSOs” asserted Thangminlen Kipgen.

He also expressed anticipate on the part of the state government to bring amicable solution during tomorrow talks in the interest of the people.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 7

The three-day Black Day observation in connection with 289th Puya Meithaba day kick-start today at Special Regular English School, Nambol.

Students and teachers of 18 schools wearing black badge participated in the inaugural function of the observation organised by International Observation Committee on Puya Meithaba (ICOP), Kangleipak.

The black day observation was held under the theme ‘Remember, Review and Revive for Love, Peace and prosperity’.

On this function, the day when Puyas of Manipur traditions were burnt in Kangla under the reign of King Pureiromba, were recalled and condemned.

The inaugural function was attended by controller of COHSEM, Ph. Mantri as chief guest. He said burning of the sacred Puya scriptures of Manipur was a process of Hindunisation of Manipuri cultures both the hills and the plains. It hurts the integrity of the people and so it brought social, political, and administrative effect on the people for so many years.

Advisor to Manipur National Front, Kangleipak, Namoijam Tomba who attended the function as special guest said that burning of the Puyas bring differentiation in the state between the hills and the plains.

He condemned the incident that happened 289 years ago and urged the students present in the gathering that such abolishment of Manipur culture should not be let repeated. “Students being the next generation need to know, and it is their responsibility to carry forward the idea of history and how our forefathers have survived under torture with intelligence,” he added.

It is the also responsibility of every individual to preserve the traditional remains, be it culture, clothing, religion, language and so on, he stressed.

The inaugural function was also attended by councillor of Ward No.10, Nabol Municipal Council Heisnam Somendro Singh, principal of the school, Maisnam Kenedy Singh and convener of ICOP, Moirangthem Naokhamba Meetei as presidium members.

The valedictory function of the observance will be held at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen and Kangla Uttra Shanglen on January 9.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 7

President of All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) Wakhemcha Samjai has announced to launch one-time pension for journalist next year during the 43rd foundation day celebration of Manipur Press Club on Friday.

He also asked the concerned department to increase the amount of the Pension Scheme of the journalist.

The observation recalled the history of how the club came into being, and its office came to be at  present location at Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul.

Khemchand Singh acknowledged the role of media in a democratic society and at the same time urged the journalists present at the gathering to take active role in making the state a true democratic state.

He urged the media fraternity to help change the electoral system of the state to make elections transparent. He said election commission minutely commissioned the expenditure of political parties in the state but the expenditure outside the state is not.

Realising the plight of scribes in the state, he requested his assembly colleague, Th. Shyamkumar, who was also present at the function as guest of honour, to bring the demands of journalists on the agenda in the next cabinet meeting.

MAHUD minister Shyamkumar also lauded the contributions of journalists for the society and the state as a whole. He pointed out that media is the eye and ear of the government and the strength of the media is the government. The country and particularly Manipur will develop when the media is strong enough to report the truth only, he added.

He said that mediapersons should have the courage to report boldly and appealed the media persons, on a friendly note, not to work on assumption but to find the facts first and report with documents regarding government departments.

Shamjai said Press Club has improved a lot and is now planning for a Solar Roof topping in collaboration with MSPDCL to provide uninterrupted power supply.

Brave-heart Journalist Award was handed over to four media persons for instant coverage of the accident news that happened on November 16, when escort personnel accompanying the Chief Minister and his ministers met an accident from Tamenglong-Imphal road, while returning back from Tamenglong district headquarter for cabinet meeting.

 Former presidents, secretaries of the journalist union and newly affiliated district correspondents were felicitated during the function.

Media persons from all media firms of the state also took part in the observation of the 43rd Foundation Day of Manipur Press Club.

A musical concert entertained a gathering in the evening at the Press Club complex where the journalist enjoyed singing amid professional singers.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Jan 7

Chief minister, Nongthombam Biren Singh has announced that the government is all set to distribute loans to around 300 beneficiaries on January 11. He also said works are in the process to turn national highway-2 running into 4-lane highway.

The chief minister made these announcements during his reception ceremony at Luwangpokpi Cricket Stadium, Luwangsangbam, the constituency organised by Bharatiya Janata Party, Heingang Mandal.

The chief minister claimed that a number of visitors during Meeyamgi Numit has declined as the government has introduced many new schemes which are able to meet the needs and demands of the public.

Stating that the Imphal-Jiribam road which was not even adequately black-topped in 15 years has now completely blacktopped all within eight months, adding that the current government works practically and not theoretically.

The state cannot be call ed developed unless and until there is even development in the valley and the hills. This is why his government has been focusing on the hills as many hill areas have been left far behind in development, said Biren.

He lambasted the previous government for not having given extra focus on interior area of the state where people really need the help of the government.

The law and order situation in the state is becoming stable; number of tourists visiting the state has increase a lot, said Biren Singh. He asked the public to be friendly to tourist.

Mentioning that the government has introduced many beneficiary schemes and policies for the welfare of the poor, the chief minister asked the needy people to take the opportunities provided by these policies.

“Helping the needy is the greatest service as a human” so the government has committed to working only for the welfare of the public in public interest and not for self-interest, he added.

The chief minister said he will not foresake the trust of the public and the Central leaders towards the government and assured to bring a great positive change in the state before the present government completes its five year term.

Naga group claims hand, says part of ILP campaign

Tennoson Pheiray

UKHRUL | Jan 7

A teenaged boy was hurt when miscreant exploded a hand grenade inside a shop last evening at Ukhrul town.

The bomb explosion took place around 5:40 pm at a grocery store situated at the heart of Ukhrul Town at Phungreitang. The store is owned by Raj Kumar from Bihar.

The Volunteer of the Innocent People of Naga (VIPN) has claimed responsibility for the grenade attack.

According to Gopal Rizal, who is overseeing the store, informed that the blast happened when they were closing down the shop.

The injured boy has been identified as one Anish Kumar (16 years) s/o Amarnath from Rajepur, Motihari District, Bihar.

He revealed that the grenade hit him in the left arm while he was busy arranging the commodities in the store.

Anish further revealed that he mistook the grenade for a stone thrown by a passersby. But, after a few seconds there was a loud explosion and the store was filled with smoke, he added.

He was hit by bomb splinters on his right foot and rushed to Ukhrul district hospital.

Doctors informed that he suffered minor injuries and was later discharged after first aid.

The owner of the building AP Adis w/o (Lt) Augustine Awugshi Phungthar of Nungshong Khullen who stays in the first floor with their children recalled that there was a loud explosion followed by massive vibration.

She informed that they (store owner) have been staying in Ukhrul since 1994 and rented their ground floor building to Raj Kumar since 2015. There was no report of threat or demand to the house owner and shop owner.

According to a police officer, who was at the crime scene, informed that the impact could have been fatal had the grenade landed in open space.

He informed that the grenade fell between the sacks of atta, potato and tin of ghee which absorbed the blast impact.

It is worth mentioning that on December 22 last at around 5:45 pm a grenade was hurled inside a shop at Viewland, Ukhrul. Fortunately, the grenade did not explode.

The district has been facing acute shortage of police personnel. Adding to the woe, frequent transfer of police personnel after being posted at Ukhrul, the police department is facing problems in maintaining law and order.

The total sanction of Police personnel for Ukhrul District is around 1000. However, the actual force for the district is around 300 only informed a police officer under the condition of anonymity. Ukhrul PS and Reserved Line have one gypsy each to manned the district headquarter. There are around 40 police personnel in Ukhrul PS.

A statement issued by S. Shirat publicity secretary VIPN, said that the blast was part of Inner Line Permit (ILP) campaign in the district.

It asked all the non-local businessmen or shop owners to refrain from carrying out their business activities without registering to the VIPN.

It further warned the businessmen of dire consequences if they fail to get themselves registered to the VIPN at the earliest.

IMPHAL | Jan 7

Education minister Thokchom Radheshyam today laid the foundation stone for construction of the main building of two higher secondary schools. The schools are Kakching Higher Secondary School, Kakching and the Heirok Higher Secondary School, Heirok.

The infrastructural construction of the school buildings should be carried out with a view and belief that ‘the school belongs to one and all, to us’, the Minister said, the structure of the new school buildings will be carried out with proper planning by developing a ‘master plan’ for the structural development keeping in view the future strategies.

Briefing the media persons, Th. Radheshyam elaborated that in student’s life, the phase of Higher Secondary’s i.e., the eleventh and twelfth class are the most crucial stage. Therefore, providing students with better infrastructure and environment is a must. Thus, certain Higher Secondary Schools with high students’ population located at the main centers of the town or districts is being identified to start infrastructural developmental work under the Model School Scheme.

The schools namely the Langmeidong Higher Secondary School, Kakching Higher Secondary School, the Heirok Higher Secondary School, Ukhrul Higher Secondary School, Moreh Higher Secondary School, Tengnoupal and Tamenglong Higher Secondary School is to be improved as model schools in addition to the already existing eleven model school.

Further Education Minister added that some High Schools are also being chalk out for ‘facelift’ in the coming years. These listed schools will be renovated with flooring and tin sheets on regular basis, targeting for higher enrolment of students in the government schools.

Schools, he explained, is the place where all answers of the problems and issues prevailing in the society or a nation lies. Students are the pillars of the future and the place of their education should be made with great care and sense of responsibility. The students need to be encouraged and make them feel attracted towards the school and education, which hold the key of their expectations, he added.

It may be mentioned that he has been visiting various government schools in different parts of the state since he assumes as Minister of Education Department.

MLA Kakching A/C Y. Surchandra Singh also assured that whatever helped needed will be extended in order to check the progress of the construction work being carried out in the school premise of Kakching Higher Secondary School. He also appealed the Minister to build a hostel at Kakching as it is one of the main centers in the southern part of the state.

Director Education (S) Th. Kirankumar urged the principal and teachers to take initiative to provide better education and attract more students.

The function was attended by officials of the Education Department Engineering Wing, Principal, teachers and students of the school.