Manipur News

IMPHAL, Oct 14: The Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Trade Union Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur Government Employees Organisation (AMGEO) has said that the Unemployment Day was observed at its office today.

According to a release of the JAC, the function was attended by advisor of JAC, Ch. Chandramani as guest of honour, editor of Manipur This Week, A Mobi Singh as chief guest and president of JAC, Dr. M Rajendra Singh as president.

The JAC has at the same time stated that employees working under contractual basis must be given suitable posts and regularised, salaries should be issued by October 20 before the coming of Ningol Chakouba, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/unemployment-day-observed/

IMPHAL, October 14: In a unique form of protest, wives of 61 labourers of the department of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution have threatened to boycott Ningol Chakouba festival demanding employment for their husbands from the concerned authorities. Meanwhile, CAF& PD labourers have announced a 24 hour general strike both along the NH 150 (Tiddim Road) and NH 39 (Cachar Road) from the midnight of October 16 to the midnight of October 17 demanding the same.

Addressing a press conference today at the Manipur Press Club, CAF and PD Labourers Welfare Association secretary Romendrajit Moirangcha said various democratic forms of agitations have been launched demanding jobs for the labourers from the concerned authorities but they remain silent over the issue.

Starting on October 18, the association will impose an indefinite boycott of all the loading and unloading works of FCI and other related works of CAF and PD, he added.

Speaking to the media, L Hemabati, wife of a CAF &PD labourer, narrated that their financial conditions are getting worse and they are not able to afford their children`™s education since their husbands remain have remained unemployed for six months long months.

`Since our husbands haven`™t received any salary for six months, we have decided to stay away from the auspicious Ningol Chakouba festival which is eagerly awaited by all married women every year`, Hemabati stressed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/cafpd-labours-call-general-strike-wives-to-boycott-ningol-chakouba/

IMPHAL, Oct 14: Security forces have nabbed four militant cadres including a woman cadre during seperate counter insurgency operations in the past two days from the State.

An active woman cadre of the proscribed outfit KCP (MC) was arrested by a combined team of the Bishnupur district police commando unit including women police and the 2 JAKLI during a counter insurgency operation yesterday.

According to a PRO police statement, she was arrested from the general area of Thinungei Mayai Leikai.

It has identified the arrested woman as Laishram (o) Leibaklei Leima, 68 wife of (L) L Babu Meitei of Thinungei Mayai Leikai.

Incriminating articles were seized from her possession and further investigation revealed that she was involved in extortion of money from the general public for KCP (MC), it said.

A case has been registered at Bishnupur Police station and investigation is going on.

Meanwhile, the PRO IGAR (s) has said in a press statement that troops of the 12 BIHAR of 9 Sector AR launched an operation in the general area of Uchiwa Mayai Leikai and apprehended a PREPAK cadre on October 13.

It further identified the arrested person as Mayengbam Naoba Singh alias Suresh, son of M Tombi Singh of Uchiwa Mayai Leikai.

He has been handed over to the Mayang Imphal Police Station, it said.

In another operation launched jointly by troops of the 30 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector AR along with Imphal East Police Commandos in the general area of Sekta and Yurabung Nunggoi Litan Makhong, the combined team apprehended two PREPAK (PRO) cadres on October 13 and 14, it continued.

They are identified as s/s sgt maj, Ningthonjam Sharat Chandra Singh alias Ibungo, 31, son of Ningthoujam Shamu Singh of Sekta Mayai Leikai, Sawombung and s/s pvt, Ngairangbam Chingkheihunba alias Nanao Singh, 31, son of Ng Ibotombi of Yurabung Panthoibi Leirak, Imphal East.

A .32 Pistol along with 3 live rounds, 3 demands letters of PREPAK (PRO) and a Mobile Handset were recovered from the two, it said before adding that the two arrested along with the recovered items have been handed over to the Lamlai Police Station.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/four-militants-including-woman-cadre-arrested/

IMPHAL, October 14: The Joint Action Committee formed in connection with the alleged killing of VDF personnel Md Abocha alias Ahamatullah, 28, son of Md Enayatullah of Sangaiyumpham has strongly condemned the incident.

Md Abocha who is a VDF personnel was reportedly lynched by a mob for allegedly lifting a cycle during the night of October 8.

At the same time, locals of Wangjing Wangkhei imposed a Thoubal district general strike against the arrest of three persons from the locality in connection with the reported killing.

The locals had also tried to storm the Thoubal Police Station yesterday demanding the unconditional release of the individuals immidiately. However, police had foiled their attempt by firing tear gas shells and mock bombs yesterday. Altogether 10 persons were injured in the police action.

Meanwhile, the JAC called a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today.

Speaking to media persons, JAC convenor Abdul Khalik said the last rites of Md Abocha was conducted on October 11 by the JAC and Sangaiyumpham locals in order to mount pressure on the government to take up actions and investigate the matter.

On October 8, Md Abocha was going on his scooter to discharge his daily duty, he said, adding the brutal murder of Abocha, an innocent person who would not do such thing, is intolerable.

The incident should not be taken lightly by the people of the State so that incidents like this don`™t happen again to any of their family members, he added.

The Joint Action Committee has appealed to all the civil societies and meira paibis to support the actions taken by the JAC putting on the backburner all differences of caste and creed.

Informing that few suspects have been arrested, Abdul Khalik said the JAC has urged the concerned authorities several times to solve the case at the earliest so that people get to know the truth.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/jac-condemns-reported-mob-lynching-of-vdf-personnel/

IMPHAL, October 14 (NNN): Irked by non fulfilment of various demands of the All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) led by Muan Tombing has announced to resume its agitation under the code name ROTO (Reckoning of the Other) third phase by October 21 in the form of indefinite closure of inter-State and national highways, banning of national projects including railway construction works along Jiri-Tupul and directing tribal people to stay away from the State`™s Sangai Festival to be held in November.

The announcement was made during a consultative general body meeting held at the union`™s administrative office located at Nagaram, Imphal today.

The meeting was attended by representatives of its federating units and advisory committee members of ATSUM which includes Churachandpur District Students`™ Union (CDSU), Tangkhul Katamnao Shaklong (TKS), Naga Students Unit Chandel (NSUC), Zeliangrong Students Union Manipur (ZSUM) and Thadou Students`™ Association (TSA).

Speaking in the meeting, president of ATSUM, Muan Tombing said that the culture of piecemeal recruitment drive in every department of Manipur government has led to a rift between the valley and hills in terms of employment.

He also stated that despite the understanding reached between the tribal students`™ union and the government of Manipur on November 25, 2013 at the chamber of the State Chief Minister, thousands of backlog posts in every department are yet to be filled by a special recruitment drive for Scheduled Tribe (ST) by May 25, 2014, the deadline agreed upon to do so.

He further told that even after the Chief Minister had verbally assured to fulfil their demands within six months, the time period has lapsed and will soon complete a year.

He then mentioned that the Chief Minister had told them to take up any step if he failed to realise the ATSUM`™s demands within the given time frame.

The charter of demands put up by ATSUM among the many includes clearing the disparity which exists in education sector in the hills, ramification of constitutional law by the State, executive and administrative vacuum in the hill districts, manipulation of development fund, negligence in reservation of tribal quota, exploitation of land and resources, oppressed situation of the tribals in Manipur, non-existence of State chief information commissioner and non-fulfilment of flagship programmes under MGNREGA and other schemes.

Today`s ATSUM meeting also discussed strategies to enhance the movement of ATSUM for tribal unity.

The tribal student body has also warned to intensify their agitation by shutting down all offices located in the hills or even burning and destroying them if the government continues to remain callous towards the tribal peoples` plights.

Meanwhile, Muan Tombing said that since Majabung Gangmei has been called back by ZSUM, he is therefore not related to ATSUM in any manner. Helien Kipgen, deputy speaker of ATSUM will take charge as interim speaker until such time a new speaker`s name is announced.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/atsum-warns-of-roto-agitation-third-phase/

IMPHAL, October 14: Film artistes showed support to the BJP candidate for the October 17 Hiyanglam by-poll for the second consecutive day by participating in an election campaign today at Hiyanglam.

Several renowned film personalities including singers Naba Volcano, Sorri Senjam, actresses Maya Choudhury, Binata, director Biswamitra and AIR approved singer Nirjit came out to support the campaign for Maibam Dhanabir.

Addressing the public during the campaign, BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba said Manipur is known for sports, arts and culture throughout the world. However, the present State government has never taken up any initiative for the welfare of the artists and sportspersons of the State, he said.

Manipur has several Padmashree awardees and National awardees in the field of arts and culture, however the State government has never honoured any film artistes of the State till date, he continued.

Congress has been ruling the State for the past 15 years, during which it has managed to ignore and neglect all talented artistes of the State, he elaborated.

Reacting to the Chief Minister`™s and the deputy Chief Minister`™s assurances that the Congress will develop Hiyanglam constituency if the party`™s candidate is elected, Chaoba said what will they do in just two and a half year when they have neglected the place for the past 15 years.

Not a single benefit or development has reached the constituency in the last 15 years even though it is part of the Chief Minister`™s own district Thoubal, Chaoba continued.

The campaign visits to the constituency by Gaikhangam and his loud claims his government would bring development to the constituency, are in fact his first visits to the constituency, Chaoba said.

Gaikhangam will be unable to tell even the number of villages in the constituency, the BJP State president said.

What can Gaikhangam do in Hiyanglam, when he is unable to provide proper health services to his own constituency, he said.

Even thought the Congress candidate is unable to have even an election manifesto, the BJP candidate has included developing the Khoidum pat and Phumlen pat if elected, Chaoba said.

If the party candidate wins, he will be the lone MLA of the party in the State Assembly, however, he will have the full support of the Centre, Chaoba asserted.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/chaoba-rues-government-for-neglecting-state-artistes/

IMPHAL, Oct 14: Zeliangrong Youth Front, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland (ZYF-AMN) has expressed disappointment on the absence of doctors in the Public Health Centres of Tousem and Tamei sub-divisions, said a press release.

In a press release, the ZYF-AMN has stated that it is unimaginable to think that not a single doctor is posted at PHSCs or PHCs of the most health care needed places like Tousem and Tamei sub-divisions.

The failure of the State government to device a mechanism to deal the ineffectiveness of the system has rendered the common people suffer like a wounded animal in the jungle and the plight of the people of Tamenglong district particularly Tousem and Tamei sub-divisions and other interior parts in different sub-divisions of the entire district has been completely neglected intentionally and deliberately in several spheres, added ZYF-AMN in the press release.

ZYF-AMN further stated in the press release that there is a reason for the doctors reluctant to stay at their respective place of posting, as there is absence of vehicle or ambulance for PHSCs or PHCs, along with no appropriate or suitable quarter, which are basic requirements, and the State Government should prioritise on a policy to provide incentives to doctors who are deputed to hills and far flung remote areas, apart from normal facilities and provisions.

The root cause of backwardness and underdevelopment of all the sub-divisions in Tamenglong district is due to complete failure in road connectivity which is vital for transportation and communication and keeping Tamenglong district under the administration of Manipur Government may never let the people of the district see the light of the day, therefore, the only measures to bail out the people of the district would be to keep the district under direct administration of Central Government for some specific years in some important sector such as health care, education, road connectivity, communication and others, stated AMN-ZYF in the press release.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/10/zyfamn-blames-govt-for-no-doctors-at-tousem-and-tamei-phcs/