Tag: Top Stories

IMPHAL, May 20: All India Students’ federation (AISF), Manipur State Council on Sunday strongly condemned the detention of 17-odd student leaders by the state police yesterday, saying the act has shown the contempt of the student society.

Saying that the attitude of the government underestimating the students who are staging a protest over the alleged murder of Loitam Richard is a sign of being an unfit government, AISF accused.

A statement from the federation said it strongly condemns the mistreatment meted out to the students by the state government.

Asking the government how far it has worked to console the people on the over one-month old case of Richard, the federation asserted that just meeting and pleading with the Karnataka Chief Minister cannot find out any concrete hint to the case.

The student society is just seeking the help of the government in punishing the culprits and that it is quite natural to launch various forms of agitations by students in the face of failure of the government to take heed to their voice, the statement added.

Thanking the government for releasing the 17 students safe and sound, the federation said it is waiting for its move that considers the wishes and sentiment of the student society.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/aisf-condemns-student-detention/

IMPHAL, May 20: The proscribed PREPAK today flatly rejected the statement of Imphal West district police which claimed to have nabbed the outfit’s chairman, Meisnam Biren alias Achamba Luwang alias Oja Biren alias Chamba Luwang.

The district police had claimed that Biren, the chairman of PREPAK was arrested on May 17 last while conducting frisking and checking at Uripok Tourangbam Leikai.

Biren, 67, son of (L) M Birmani, is not related with PREPAK in any way, said a statement signed by the outfit’s assistant secretary, publicity and propaganda, Leibakngakpa.

The statement said the claim of the Imphal West district police was “baseless” and dismissed it as an attempt to blemish the outfit. Oja Biren held the post of the chairman from May 4, 1997 and resigned in the middle of January 2000 as chairman of PREPAK, it added. He submitted the resignation letter to the outfit, therefore, now he is no more chairman of the outfit, PREPAK claimed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/biren-no-longer-prepak-chairman/

IMPHAL, May 18: The involvement of government officials from police and transport departments in the selling of stolen vehicles, preparation of fake certificate and M.V. driving license was revealed during the investigation of three detained persons said a Imphal West SP statement.

According to the release, the district police of Imphal West had detected a racket/gang indulging in selling of stolen vehicles, preparation of fake certificate and MV driving license etc.

It further said they have seized five trucks which were alleged to have stolen from other states and detained three persons and recovered huge numbers of documents i.e. driving license issued to different individuals whose particulars are factitious.

Preliminary investigation of the three detained persons reveals the involvement of government officials from police and transport departments including Simon Keishing, who is presently the DTO of Thoubal, involved in the case. A case has been registered at Imphal police station for investigation, it added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/dto-thoubal-involved-in-stolen-vehicles-case/

IMPHAL, May 16: The Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur, DESAM today submitted a 22 point memorandum to the Education Minister M Okendro Singh on the present education system of the state.

Briefing the press DESAM president Wangmayum Islauddin expressed his belief that the minister will consider the demands on the student body.

Among others the charter of demands include the constitution of a Manipur Education Commission, institution of Manipur Education Service, re-examination into the units/offices of the Education Department, re-organization of schools and rationalization process, in charge/look-after appointment against unsanctioned post.

It also asked the government to send back lecturers/teachers from the offices of Officers on Special Duty to their respective institutions and enactment of a new school recognition rules.

Other demands include a rationalization of transfer and posting policy; convergence of related central sponsored schemes; control over private schools; and orientation training of teachers in regular intervals.

Preparation of a detailed database in respect of the employees of the dept; streamlining the SCERT and establishment of text book Board and the need of taking care of the health of the students were also included in the memorandum.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/desam-demands-education-comm/

IMPHAL, May 7: Two individuals were killed in separate road mishaps in the state on April 6.

In the first incident, a pedestrian identified as Koijam Ibungo alias Sashikumar, 38 of Khurai Chaithabi Leirak was mowed down by a Tata truck bearing registration no MN 01 5532 on the morning of April 6 at around 9am.

The incident happened at Khurai Nandeibam Leikai.

Meanwhile, in another road mishap a man travelling on top of a firewood-laden Tata Mini truck fell down and died on the spot. The man has been identified as Mingjathang, 40 of Sagolmang.

The incident happened at Ingourok under Tengoupal PS, Chandel district.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/two-killed-in-road-mishaps/

IMPHAL, May 7: Two individuals were killed in separate road mishaps in the state on April 6.

In the first incident, a pedestrian identified as Koijam Ibungo alias Sashikumar, 38 of Khurai Chaithabi Leirak was mowed down by a Tata truck bearing registration no MN 01 5532 on the morning of April 6 at around 9am.

The incident happened at Khurai Nandeibam Leikai.

Meanwhile, in another road mishap a man travelling on top of a firewood-laden Tata Mini truck fell down and died on the spot. The man has been identified as Mingjathang, 40 of Sagolmang.

The incident happened at Ingourok under Tengoupal PS, Chandel district.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/two-killed-in-road-mishaps/

IMPHAL, May 5: In the wake of widespread protests and campaign for justice in the murder of Bangalore student Loitam Richard, Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal has invited Manipuri students based outside the state and some other representatives from the northeast region on May 8 at New Delhi.

The delegation will include Monika Khangembam, a Bangalore based Manipuri who started the ‘Justice for Richard’ campaign in the net.

The delegation is expected to submit a representation to the Union Minister with regard to the racial profiling issues of NE students studying in various parts of the country and also the harassment of NE people employed outside the region.

Even though the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had clarified in the Rajya Sabha yesterday that there is racial discrimination NE students and people, there are enough incidents to prove its existence according to civil society organizations here.

The state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is in New Delhi for the NCTC had promised the parents of Loitam Richard that he would meet his Karnataka counterpart at the sidelines of the meeting to impress upon him the need for proper investigation into the Richard murder case and also on the protection of Manipuris staying Bangalore.

However, it is yet to be ascertained whether O Ibobi met the Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda or not.

Meanwhile, public protests against the murder of Richard and other cases of racial profiling have gathered momentum with frontline student bodies joining in the protests.

Today, human chains were formed in front of different schools and colleges of Manipur to protest the Richard murder under the aegis of AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SWAK and SUK.

The main slogans of the protests are ‘Justice for Richard’, ‘Justice for Dana Sangma’, Justice for Okram Laba’, ‘Stop violence against NE students’, and ‘Protect NE students.’

The student bodies have lined up several other agitations.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/kapil-sibal-to-lend-ears-to-ne-racial-issues/

NEW DELHI, May 5 (MIC): Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh expressed the need to care for the human rights of the citizens of the country while setting up the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

Speaking at the Conference of the Chief Ministers on National Counter Terrorism Centre at Vigyan Bhavan here today Manipur Chief Minister said, “It is the bounden duty of the Government to protect the basic human rights of our people while granting unbounded powers to arrest under section 43A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.”

He suggested that the NCTC officials should share the intelligence with the State Police and carry out operations for arresting and detaining any person suspected of indulging in terrorist activities. The person arrested should be handed over to the nearest police station and interrogated jointly.

He further stated, “A similar provision in the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 whereby security forces hand over apprehended persons to the State Police has come under severe criticism for misuse and many cases of human rights abuse have been reported.”

Manipur Chief Minister said that the State Government was in-agreement with the Union Government’s decision to set up the NCTC as an institutional mechanism for independent and autonomous collection of counter terrorism intelligence and to take firm and timely action for tackling terrorism and terror related activities of subversive and anti-national elements.     

Referring to Manipur the Chief Minister said, “We, in Manipur, are facing a serious Internal Security challenge posed by a multitude of militant groups indulging in subversive and anti-national activities and terrorizing out people for extortions, kidnappings for ransom, threat and intimidation to our officials and contractors engaged in the development process.  The extortions by the NSCN (IM) cadres from transporters along our National Highways are rampant despite the deployment of Security Forces and the State Police personnel.  Work on national projects like the Railway Line from Jiribam to Tupul and Imphal has been seriously hampered by demands from the militants for extortion money.”

He further stated, “The porous India-Myanmar border, scantily guarded by the Assam Rifles, enables the militant groups to induct sophisticated arms and ammunition undetected.  These arms and ammunitions are used for threats and intimidation of contractors, suppliers, engineers and officials to extort money.  Almost no one in the State is left untouched by this malaise which impacts adversely on our ability to implement development and welfare schemes to our people.”

“In the given internal security scenario, the role of intelligence and an institutionalized and effective means of generating and sharing Intelligence on a real time basis is an absolute necessity”, he added.

Referring to NCTC, Manipur Chief Minister pointed out that under section 2(e) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the State Home Secretary was notified as the “Designated Authority”.  As such, Manipur Chief Minister disagreed with the MHA’s proposal to confer such powers on the Heads of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as it took away the element of independent assessment and rendered the State Govt. to the margins.  The primary responsibility should remain that of the State Government, he added. He made the suggestion that all such operations should be undertaken jointly with the State Police.

He drew the attention to para 3.4 of the Memorandum constituting NCTC empowering it to requisition the services of the National Security Guards (NSG) or any other Special Forces.  He opined that it would be appropriate for NCTC to obtain State Governments’ concurrence in all such cases.

However, he endorsed the proposal to constitute a Standing Council with representation from all the States.  As laid out, it would be able to evolve ways and means to ensure coordination of all counter terrorism measures and synergy in response.  Setting-up of Special Teams to pursue specific Intelligence inputs or targets involving more than one State would be useful when dealing with organizations active across State borders, he added.

He believed that the NCTC was a credible step in the direction to provide institutional capability to negate and neutralize terrorist and anti-national forces from within and outside the country. 

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam, Chief Secretary D.S.Poonia and Director General of Police Ratnakar Baral also attended in the conference.

In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “Terrorism is today one of the most potent threats to our national security. There can be no disagreement on putting in place an effective counter terrorism regime with efficient mechanisms and response systems both at the national level and at the State level. Neither the states nor the Centre can fulfill this task alone. The closest cooperation and coordination is therefore necessary to meet the threats that emanate from within and outside our borders.”

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said that counter terrorism is a shared responsibility to make the country safer and more secure for which the country needs to work together.

Union Defence Minister AK Antony and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran also took part in the day-long conference.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/cm-ibobi-supports-nctc-with-rider/

IMPHAL, May 5: A BSF jawan reportedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service rifle at the post of 13 Battalion, BSF at Mantripukhri under Heingang police station, Imphal East in the early hours of Saturday.

The incident occurred around 5:15 am when Constable Praveen Kumar, 43, a native of Bandera village, Samastipur district of Bihar, shot himself in the jaw with an INSAS rifle issued to him inside the barrack. He was found lying in a pool of blood on his bed.

Praveen, a jawan of A Coy, 13 BSF Battalion, reportedly committed suicide after returning from sentry duty at High Court Complex, Chingmeirong.

In an unrelated incident, a team of 30 Assam Rifles on a routine patrol recovered a powerful roadside bomb at Mantripukhri Bazaar today.

The AR patrolling team found the bomb close to a Community Hall around 7 am, police sources said, adding that the AR personnel removed the bomb safely.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/bsf-man-commits-suicide/

NEW DELHI, May 4: Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday gave an assurance to Rajya Sabha members on the safety and security of students from the northeast, saying he would write to the State governments to ensure “zero tolerance” of crimes against people from that region. He denied any discrimination and racial profiling of the students in any part of the country.

“I wish to state categorically that any citizen belonging to the north-eastern States is free to travel and reside in any part of the country. Governments are obliged to ensure their safety and security and I am confident that all State governments will discharge their constitutional responsibilities to ensure the safety and security of all people residing within that State,” he said.

Mr. Chidambaram was responding to a calling attention notice by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley in the wake of deaths of two students from the northeast in Gurgaon and Bengaluru.

Mr. Jaitley said, “I call the attention of Home Minister towards issues of racial profiling and discrimination against students of northeast, who go to different parts

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/zero-tolerance-of-crime-against-ne-students/

IMPHAL, May 5: The efforts of state Power department to ensure regular power supply to the consumers of the state encountered a hiccup, with the circuit-breaker blowing up at the ill-maintained Iroisemba power station at around 11 am today.

Meanwhile, the Principal Secretary (Power) L P Gonmei and the Chief Engineer (Power) N Sarat Singh has left Imphal today for New Delhi for an appointment tomorrow with RM Nayak Chairman of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGC), the central transmission utility.

The two officials will assist the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who also holds the key Power portfolio in the meeting with Chairman Nayak at Manipur Bhavan at New Delhi.

The corporatization of the Power department is likely to figure in the said meeting. The Chief Minister has mooted the idea of corporatization under the public-private partnership model and he is likely to seek suggestions from the Power Grid chief in this regard.

According to sources in the Power department, the circuit-breaker could have been blown due to increased power supply in the last few days.

After the state cabinet gave 3 months’ time to the department for ensuring regular power supply to the consumers recently, the department has been putting all-out efforts to tap every available sources of power in the last few days.

The power supply from Yurembam sub-station is received at Iroisemba sub-station which in turn sends to various other sub-stations.

Mechanics and engineers have been working since forenoon today to repair the damage to the circuit-breaker. The power supply resumed at around 10 pm this evening.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/blackout-in-imphal-city-as-circuit-breaker-blows-at-iroisemba/

IMPHAL, May 5: A 27-year-old woman who was about to marry in 20 days died under suspicious circumstances in a hotel room in Rajasthan. Sources from her friends in Rajasthan reportedly told her family that she committed suicide along with her fiancé by consuming poison, but the fiancée’s family suspects foul play.

Naorem Reshma, also known as Bindibala, daughter of (L) Manitomba, a resident of Chingmeirong Lei Inkhol, Imphal East was working with a message company named SPA at Hotel Sheraton in Udaipur district of Rasasthan for the last three years, her family said. Her fiancé is identified as one Souraisam Shantikumar, also known as James, 29, son of Brajamani of Ningthemcha Karong in Imphal West.

They had eloped in August 2010 following which their marriage ceremony was fixed late May this year.

The body of Reshma was brought back to her native place on Saturday after conducting autopsy at a hospital in Udaipur.

According to her mother Shantibala, she received a STD call around 10:30 am of May 2 from Udaipur telling her that Reshma and Shantikumar attempted suicide by taking poisonous substance and they were in critical condition. The person on the phone was one of the friends of Reshma. She also told Shantibala to come in Udaipur immediately and inform the family of Shantikumar about the incident, and then Shantibala accompanied by two family members of the fiancé left Imphal for Rajasthan in the afternoon the same day.

Upon reaching in Rajasthan, they received another phone call speaking in Hindi which told them not to go to the hospital, but asked them to go to the police station. Later, at the police station, they were told that Reshma was dead while Shantikumar was in their custody for further interrogation, Shantibala further said.

She also said the police have already registered an FIR under IPC 306, 309 in connection with the alleged suicide case.

Reshma and Shantikumar had a quarrel on May 1 around 10:30 pm inside their room in the hotel; Rajasthan police quoted a source from the hotel as saying.

The FIR mentioned that the fiancés attempted suicide by consuming drugs. However, the mother rejected the FIR report, saying she suspected foul play over the death of her daughter.

The last rites of Reshma were held in the late afternoon today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/another-suspicious-manipuri-death-in-rajasthan/

IMPHAL, May 2: As celebrated around the world, International Labour Day as known as May Day was also celebrated in Manipur by the Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur Trade Unions (AMTUC) and All Manipur Govt Employees Organization (AMGEO) and also by the Manipur Domestic Workers’ Movement Organization.   

In releases of the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO said that the JAC has celebrated May Day at its office at Babupara with the attendance of the executives of the JAC, representatives of other departments, Manipur state pensioner Union executives and pensioners.

In another release of the Manipur Domestic Workers’ Movement Organization (MDWMO) said that domestic workers from different parts of Manipur gathered together on May 1, 2012 and celebrated the achievements of the domestic workers movement in general, and commemorated all those who have given so much in the cause of justice, equality and human dignity.

It also said that MDWMO marked the day at DSSS hall, Mantripukhri, Imphal under the theme “Decent work for Domestic workers”.  Around 200 Domestic workers and children of domestic workers took active participation, it added.      

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/may-day-celebration/