Manipur News

KANGPOKPI, April 29: The Kuki Women Organization for Human Rights Sadar Hills condemned the alleged hostility of 35 Assam Rifles towards the people of Twilong Kun area in the strongest term today.

Hahat Touthang, President KWOHR Sadar Hills alleged that personnel of 35 Assam Rifles, D-Coy, Hengbung post under the command of Maj. Golapi apprehended four innocent civilian identified as Kamboi, son of Lamkhochon of J. Songtun; Jangkholal, son of Ngamkholam of Hengbung; Haokhohen, son of Lamkhohao of Hengbung and Haogin, son of Paokhoseh of Hengbung at Hengbung village yesterday at around 6 pm without any arrest memo and immediately frisked them away to Lairouching HQ.

On learning of the incident, women folk spearheaded by KWOHR and KWU Sadar Hills approached 35 AR Hengbung post where the AR personnel on duty at the main gate fling a heavy water container on the women which is also a kind of complete harassment towards the women folk alleged Hahat Touthang.

She continued that despite repeated plea to provide the arrest memo the AR personnel detained the women folk up to 2 am in the morning saying that the post commander was out of station.

In the morning it was learnt that Maj. Golapi who is responsible for the arrest remain stationed at Lairouching and another AR officer identified as Lt. Col. L.T. Shekhawat came to Hengbung AR Post to meet the women folk alleged Hahat while adding that the AR officer failed to produce the arrest memo on that particular time.

Later, addl. SP of Senapati PS along with an IO who came to the AR Post Hengbung were asked to write that the four apprehended persons were arrested only on suspicious ground without any illegal items in their possession in the FIR report by the AR officer and told them to sign on the report but the police officer flatly denied the AR officer saying that those apprehended persons were not arrested by the police she further alleged.

She further alleged that later in the evening another FIR report was submitted at Senapati police station stating that the four apprehended persons were arrested along with 40 Kgs. of Ganja, one AK-47 rifles with live ammunitions and one country made rifles with three live round.

While categorically denying the FIR report of the AR personnel the women leader said that the AR personnel found nothing in the possession when they arrested them and it was also confirmed by the Lt. Col. in his earlier FIR statement before the Addl. SP Senapati and the concern Investigation Officer.

Condemning the hostility of the Assam Rifles personnel the KWOHR and KWU Sadar Hills including it units warned the AR to stop their enmity towards the innocent people in the area or else face the music.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/kwohr-sadar-hills-condemns-35-ar/

IMPHAL, April 29: `NSCN-IM has threatened that only fresh non- Congress candidates will be favoured during the Autonomous District Council election in the State, which is a direct threat to Congress candidates` deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said today reiterating a statement he had made at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute earlier today.

Gaikhangam was speaking at the Souvenir release function of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel which was held at Hotel Imphal today.

On the positive side, this seems to indicate that they (NSCN-IM) would like to partake in the mainstream democratic process of this country, which implies a deviation from their earlier political position.

We welcome such gestures to give up violence and join mainstream politics, he remarked.

Earlier in the day, the deputy Chief Minister told media persons at Shija Hospitals and Research Institute that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) has dictated all aspiring candidates of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections, that they cannot represent the Congress party in the hill districts.

The enforcement is particularly effective in Ukhrul and Senapati district, he continued.

Replying to media queries, he said according to the NSCN (IM) dictum candidates cannot contest for the ADC membership with Congress ticket but there is no ban on other parties, the Naga People`™s Front regional party is endorsed by the NSCN (IM).

High proxy voting is expected in remote areas of the hill districts as the NSCN (IM) will surely enforce and intimidate voters to vote for the (IM) sponsored candidate only. Lots of disturbance is expected at the June 1 polls, he continued.

The deputy Chief Minister who also holds the Home Department portfolio mentioned that the State intelligence has received infomation about the outfit`™s ban on the Congress party in the hills.

He stated that the outfit appears to be non-believers of the Indian Constitution, but engages in the prcess of democratic exercise of voting, though by using force.

The matter is clear that they no longer have any belief in their objective and seeks to join the mainstream again through elections, he continued.

`We in the government do feel happy in one way, they have realized the true nature of things and that they are going in the wrong direction. So, directly or indirectly, it is a surrender of sorts.` Gaikhangam had said adding that it is a welcomed stance, but selection of candidates should not be forced upon the people.

At the souvenir release function at Hotel Imphal, Gaikhangam said it is a birthright to partake in the election.

`This souvenir is the photographic evidence of the MDCs`™ performance in the last five years` he said congratulating the ADC members.

The function was also attended by D. Korungthang, MLA and Lhukhosei Zou as the guest of honour and president.

Autonomous District Councils were revived in 2010 after 22 years of defunct period, owing to the demand for Six Schedule, he said.

The present government strives to develop the hills and the plains equally but some parties are flaunting wrong message that we do nothing. Under the inclusive infrastructure development in hill districts we have constructed the mini secretariats in the district head quarters and have completed in the block levels too, he said.

The minister also uphold the people of Chandel district for maintaining a cohesive peaceful inter community relationship despite the fusion of multiple tribes.

Chandel is opening up to the international trade with Moreh becoming the ultimate tourist destination now, he said in a hopeful note.

The souvenir has profiled all the 26 members of District Council from Chandel District. It highlights the achievements of the Autonomous District Council Chandel in the last five years in primary education, health services, agriculture, veterinary and public works.

In Primary Education the report shows 172 vacant posts against the sanction post of 1077. Interestingly, despite this discrepancy five teachers were utilized in ADC office and another three by the Education minister.

Only three staff comprising of an assistant engineer and two section officers run the PWD/ADC Chandel along with a contractual road mohhorer and a driver.

In Veterinary department, existing staff strength is only nine against 18 approved sanction posts, since nine retired and expired staff are yet to be replaced.

These nine staffs cover the whole district through the eight veterinary dispensaries/centres including two buildingless veterinary dispensaries at Purum Khullen and Longja.

In Medical department 11 posts were sanctioned including the ambulance driver, nine post are filled and three remains vacant with an additional 14 shortfall posts, according to the report.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/intel-reports-point-to-nscn-im-threatening-cong-candidates-from-contesting-adc-polls-gaikhangam/

IMPHAL, April 29: A fierce gun fight reportedly broke out between heavily armed cadres of two underground outfits based in the hills in a bushy place adjoining Oktan and Ijeirong village in Tamenglong district today around 1 pm.

Though the area where the gun fight took place falls under the jurisdiction of Tamenglong Police Station, it is situated just 14-km northeast of Noney Police Station, Tamenglong district.

The shootout site is not too far from 9 Dogra Regiment camp.

Meanwhile, an unofficial source claimed that the gun fight took place between cadres of NSCN (IM) and ZUF.

There were severe casualties on both the sides, the unofficial source claimed.

Cadres belonging to one of the outfits also took away sophisticated guns and bullets from the other outfit.

Official confirmation of the shootout and casualties inflicted could not be ascertained till late evening as State police forces could not rush to the site.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident a combined security force team recovered 100 live rounds of AK rifles, 1 kg of iron nail and explosive materials weighing around 200-400 gram during a search operation conducted at Nongren Chingjin under Lamlai Police Station in Imphal East this morning around 9.15.

Police sources said the search operation was conducted by a combined team of 49 BSF `E`™ Coy and Lamlai Police on receiving reliable information that a bag containing explosive materials is being kept concealed at the area. A case has been registered at Lamlai Police Station in connection with the incident.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/zufnscn-im-clash-reported-at-tamenglong/

IMPHAL, April 30: The model code of conduct for the Autonomous District Council in the State has been imposed with immediate effect from today with the State Election Commission officially issuing the election notification today.

Briefing media persons at the commission`™s Lamphel DC Complex, State Election Commission, Manipur secretary Th Chitra today said the date for the election to the 144 seats of the six Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) of Chandel, Churachandpur, Sadar Hills, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul has been fixed for June 1.

According to the official notification, the last date of nomination filing has been fixed on May 6 and scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on May 7 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature has been fixed for May 11.

It is also informed that any repoll if necessary will be conducted on June 6 and counting of votes will begin on June 10.

All process of the election would be completed by June 17 according to the official election notification.

Chitra said the timing for the polling has been fixed from 7 am to 4:30 pm of June 1.

The election will be conducted in a single phase unlike the previous ADC election which was conducted in two-phases, she said adding that with the issue of the election notification the model code of conduct comes into immediate effect.

There are altogether 1163 polling stations in the six ADC `“ 172 polling stations in Sadar Hill District; 290 polling stations in Churachandpur; 144 polling stations in Chandel; 206 polling stations in Ukhrul; 186 polling stations in Senapati and 165 polling stations in Tamenglong, she said.

Chitra also said that a total of 688410 electors including both male and female will cast their votes in the polls `“ Ukhrul has 11492 electors, Senapati has 135395 electors, Sadar Hill has 96688 electors, Churachandpur has 181494 electors, Chandel has 87619 electors and Tamenglong has 85722 electors.

Altogether 5851 polling officials will be detailed for election duty during the poll, while the concern district DCs who are acting as the returning officers will collaborate with the concern SPs to look into the security cover, she said.

Polling stations will be classified as normal, sensitive or hyper sensitive and security cover will be provided accordingly.

The ROs and their field officers are surveying the situation in their districts concern and if there is any complain during filing of nomination by aspiring candidates, the election commission will open alternative venue for candidature filing, she said.

She said an all political party meeting will be convened tomorrow at the commission`™s office regarding the election.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/adc-election-notification-out-model-code-of-conduct-comes-into-effect/

IMPHAL, April 30: The Manipur Trucks Owner Welfare Association has demanded a CBI investigation over the Barak Bridge construction.

Speaking to media persons at the office of the Truck Drivers`™ Council at Mahatma Gandhi Avenue, MTOWA president H Ranjit said additional chief engineer (I) Nongmaithem Noren has restricted trucks loaded above 40MT from crossing the Barak Bridge since yesterday.

The construction of the bridge was completed in November 2014 and inaugurated in the same month and how is it possible that the clams of the bridge have started to snap, he demanded.

He queried whether quality was not properly maintained during the construction of the bridge or BRTF constructed bridge are of third class quality.

Ranjit also questioned the State PWD`™s silence during the construction of the bridge and further demanded that the PWD must initiate steps to invite a CBI investigation.

He continued heavy vehicles don`™t cross the bridge everyday, but just twice or so a week.

The NH 37 is under BRTF and not under the control of the State PWD control and so officials of the PWD should not be the voice of the BRTF, he continued.

He said if the Barak Bridge is truly about to snap or fall, than the MTOWA will invite fresh tenders from experts who could repair the bridge and the association will bear all cost.

Ranjit also said that report of the clams of the bridge snapping is a misleading report and could only give more advantage to the business section of the society.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/mtowa-demands-cbi-investigation-in-barak-bridge-issue/