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Showing posts from December 30, 2007

Prez Rule in Nagaland

DAN weighs legal option: Kohima, Jan. 4: The Neiphiu Rio-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland geared up for a legal battle with Delhi a day after losing the political one that culminated in President’s rule being clamped on the state. Rio said the coalition partners, led by his Nagaland People’s Front, were consulting legal experts to move court against the “murder of democracy”. “We will seek justice from the court,” he said, projecting his government as a political martyr. Governor K Sankaranarayanan tried his best to calm a state that would have least expected to become a candidate for central rule just before Assembly elections. He assured Nagas of a transparent and accountable administration with focus on health, education, rural development, better fiscal management, public grievances and improvement of the public distribution system. In a statement, he said the need of the hour was to deliver better governance and services to the people. He urged civilian government employees, th...

Human Rights Sentinel

Hospital abuzz with Sharmila’s health: Imphal, Jan. 4: Hospital authorities are worried over the “deteriorating” health of Manipur’s human rights crusader Irom Sharmila who has refused nasal feeding for the past 12 days. Sharmila, who has been on a fast unto death since November 2000, is surviving only on nasal feeding for more than seven years now in the security ward of Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. Doctors and nurses attending on the crusader today confirmed that Sharmila is being fed only once at 9pm instead of the regular five times a day. “She did not give any reason for her refusal to accept the feeding,” one of the nurses attending on her said. She has not made any complaints either. “She takes a walk regularly and does yoga,” the nurse said. The nurses speculated that Sharmila could be disturbed by the death of eight bus passengers in a bomb blast at Pourabi in Imphal East district on December 16. But medical experts warned that if this continued, her health would deteri...

Manipur Ringside

Hoarding removal: The Public Works Department, Government of Manipur, has announced that the hoardings and display boards erected along the outer moat of Kangla Fort adjacent to NH-39 between Raj Bhavan traffic island to Chief Minister's traffic island would be removed on January 10. Executive Engineer of National Highways Division No.II, PWD informed that the drive would be started from 8 am of January 10.All the owners have been asked to remove the sign boards and the hoardings on or before January 9. PREPAK man held: Imphal East Police Commandos have apprehended on PREPAK activist during a cordon and search operation conducted based on specific information at Khongnang Pheidekpi in the wee hours on Friday. Identifying the arrested PREPAK activist as Thongam Poireiton alias Sunil Singh (27) s/o Th Ibomcha Singh of Kakwa Khongnang Pheidekpi Leikai, SP of Imphal East District L Kailun said that on spot verification, Poireiton disclosed that he joined PREPAK in 2002 through on Bar a...

Kang Hi Festival

Maram Khullen lifts veil off closely guarded tradition: Imphal, Jan 4: Thanks to octogenarian queen of Maram Khullen (Marameinamdi), Hinga for her permission to publish this photograph of naked wrestling, a sporting tradition now still alive but which has been a closely guarded tradition of the village till the other day. Naked wrestling is the most important event of the sportive festival of Kang Hi which is exclusively for male. It is a sport to test strength and establish heroism of the youths of Maram Khullen. The closely guarded tradition of disallowing publication of any picture of naked wrestling was relaxed on January 2. On this day, media persons were allowed to take photographs of naked wrestling held as a part of Kang Hi festival at the courtyard of the Maram Khullen queen. Even as the media was allowed to publish news stories on Kang Hi in the past, they were never allowed to publish photographs of naked wrestling. This is the first time that a picture of this unique indige...

Manipuri Film Fest

Stage set for first festival: Imphal, Jan 4: For the first ever Festival of Manipuri Cinema scheduled to begin from Sunday, all preparations have been made to screen digital, celluloid Manipuri feature films and non-feature films. In the festival being organised by the Film Forum Manipur at Shankar Talkies, Lamphelpat, 24 digital films, 10 non-feature films (including one celluloid film) will be screened. The opening function of the film festival scheduled at 2 pm of January 6 will be graced by IFC Minister N Biren as chief guest. Eminent film personality MK Binodini and film-maker K Ibohal as guests of honour and chairman of Film Forum Manipur W Lalitkumar as functional president. During the festival, various cultural programmes will be presented from 5 pm to 7 pm. By the sideline of the festival, a makeshift shed of 18 stalls christened Mami Keithel will also be opened. From January 7 to 12, there will be an open forum as a part of the Festival of Manipuri Cinema. In this open forum,...

KRA’s Hangsing Murder Case

UNLF denies charge: Imphal, Jan. 4: The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on Friday denied allegations by Delhi police that the outfit was involved in the killing of Khuplam Hangsing, a senior leader of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA). Hangsing was murdered by unidentified persons on November 12 at a flat in West Delhi. According to Delhi police, the murder was carried out at the behest of W. Luwangamba, an active member of the UNLF. A monetary dispute led to the murder of Hangsing, they claimed. The “senior publicity officer” of the UNLF, Ksh. Yoiheiba, denied the outfit’s role in the murder. In a statement, the UNLF said the claim by Delhi police was false and that the “baseless story” was churned out by intelligence agencies to create ill feelings between the two outfits. The statement said Luwangamba, who was a “corporal” of the UNLF, had deserted the outfit more than three years back and since then been an active member of a gang involved in several incidents of extortion ...

Elizabeth Murder Case

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Charge sheets framed against 4 accused: Imphal, Jan 3: After over three years of intense investigation in an atmosphere far from being conducive, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed charge sheets against four persons accused in the kidnap and murder of Baby Lungnila Elizabeth before the Court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal, on Thursday. The accused named in the CBI chargesheets include Thokchom Nando Singh (25) of Khangabok Part-III, Ningombam Rome Meitei (35) of Bashikhong, Okram Deben (28) of Langthabal and the prime accused Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki (34). The CBI had a torrid time in claiming custody of the prime accused as he was detained by the NSCN (IM) before being arrested on June 10, 2007 from Dimapur, the commercial capital of Nagaland. Even though the CBI is informed to have named another accused identified as Sorokhaibam Surjit Singh in the kidnap and murder case, legal proceedings could not be initiated against the individual after unkn...

Fight Against HIV/AIDS Pandemic

2007 -- A year of new twist: Imphal, Jan 3: The calendar year 2007 ended and issues relating to HIV and AIDS surfaced every now and then throughout the year, touching the consciousness of the people. Going by the figures, this year there were 2528 new HIV positive cases reported and 177 AIDS cases and 21 deaths. This is based on the epidemiological analysis report published monthly by Manipur State AIDS Control Society. Though the report is to be published monthly, the latest report published by MSACS for the year 2007 is till the month of October. From September 1986 to January 2007 out of 1,86,095 blood samples screened, altogether 25,433 positive samples were found. The rest are males with only 5,892 female blood samples. Out of this, 3,977 people developed AIDS and 578 died. In the September 1986 to October 2007 report, out of 2,21,119 blood samples screened, the number of positive samples were 27,961 with the number of female rising to 7,106 and AIDS cases reaching 4,154. There we...

KRA Chief's Murder in Delhi

Cops crack case: New Delhi, Jan 3: A monetary dispute with banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) led to the murder of a prominent Kuki leader in the capital two months ago and 10 people were allegedly involved in hammering him to death. Out of the 10, police has managed to arrest two men from Punjab on December 21, police said on Thursday. Implicated in the case is one Luwangamba of the UNLF. The UNLF had already expelled Luwangamba from the outfit earlier, said a spokesman. Khuplam Hangsing (35), chairman of banned Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), died under mysterious circumstances on November 12 at his brother's rented accommodation in Sriniwaspuri of west Delhi and intra-group rivalry was suspected to be the reason behind the murder. The investigation of the murder was handed over to Special Cell of the city police and after probing KRA's inter and intra-group rivalries, they zeroed in on two persons who were allegedly involved in the operation. While Malkeet Singh, ...

PDS Rice Shiphoning

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FCS Minister cracks whip against cheats: Imphal, Jan 3: A godown illegally storing PDS rice that had been diverted before it reached the beneficiaries was discovered in a raid conducted by the state food and civil supplies department led by the FCS minister Y Erabot at Mantripukhri. FCS Minister Y Erabot Singh along with officials of the FCS department detected more than 5000 bags of rice (50 kg per bag) meant for AAY and BPL at the godown located near the NRL oil pump at Mantripukhri along the NH-39 under Heingang police station on Thursday at around 11.30 am. A total of 42 road movement permissions issued by the Food Corporation of India, FCI from its godown at Sangaiprou to various PDS agents were also seized. No arrests were made but the minister has asked the police to seize the item for necessary action after thorough investigation. The godown belongs to Bipin Traders run by one Kewal Agarwal. It was rented to one Manglem, proprietor of the NRL retail outlet station, Mantripukhri...

DESAM Anniversary

Call for quality education: Imphal, Jan 3: Call for providing education which can ensure the livelihood of the people reverberated at the 6th foundation day of Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) was celebrated today along with participation by students, teachers and representatives of various social organisations at GP Women's College here on Thursday. The foundation day function was attended by titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba as chief guest, president in-charge of DESAM PC Newton as functional president and social worker Ningthouja Lancha and former Dean of School of Social Science, Manipur University Prof Kh Bimola as guests of honour. Giving the key note address of the function, assistant secretary general of DESAM Moirangthem Radhamani noted that since its inception six years back, DESAM has been dedicating itself to the cause of bringing about a change for the better in the education system of Manipur. The task has been a daunting one since there ...

Delimitation Issue

People's convention on Sunday: Imphal, Jan 3: A people's convention inclusive of civil organisations and student bodies has been convened on January 6 to deliberate on the issue of delimitation. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, convenor of Delimitation Watch Manipur H Nabashyam stated that any delimitation process based on the contested census report of 2001 will be opposed till the end. He asserted that the planned delimitation exercise of the Delimitation Commission of India is aimed at creating communal distrust and tension in Manipur. With ample evidence to prove that the census report of 2001 was full of flaws, a representation was submitted to the Registrar General of the Census Commission of India in 2005.Acknowledging that the census report was faulty, the Registrar General assured that the matter would be forwarded to the Home Ministry, he said. For the people of Manipur it is unacceptable that there was 100 percent population growth in some hill districts when the v...

President's Rule in Nagaland

Pratibha Patil signs decree: New Delhi, Jan 3: Nagaland was on Thursday night brought under central rule with President Pratibha Patil putting her stamp of approval on the recommendation of the union cabinet in this regard. The President, who was handed over the recommendation yesterday, signed the proclamation on Thursday evening, Home Ministry sources said. Patil, who is at present in Hyderabad, had received the decision of the cabinet taken at its unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January one. The cabinet meeting was convened at a short notice to discuss the political situation in Nagaland against the backdrop of the BJP-backed Democratic Alliance winning a controversial no-confidence motion last month. Nephiu Rio survived the trial of strength on the floor of the assembly on December 13when it was defeated 23-19 in the 60-member House after Speaker barred three independents from taking part in voting and held that the votes of nine dissident ruling NPF...

MPP Presidential Election

Chandramani set to get another term: Imphal, Jan 2: The current president of the Manipur People’s Party Dr L Chandramani Singh is set to serve for another term as chief of the MPP. Dr Chandramani was the only candidate to file nomination papers for the election to the post of party president for the term 2008-2010. Filing of nomination papers for the election ended on Wednesday. Dr Chandramani filed three sets of nomination papers with the returning officer of the elections, L Jatra Singh, on Wednesday with MLAs Dr Ng Bijoy, Dr I Ibohalbi, O Joy, RK Anand, Th Shyamkumar, ex-MP, Th Chaoba, working president Udoi Thongam, vice president Y Khemchand, and executive members Md Ayubkhan and Surchandra Notification for the MPP elections was issued on December 24 last by the returning officer. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be done at 11 am on Friday, and if the documents are found to be in order, Dr Chandramani will be declared elected unopposed, according to L Jatra. The formal annou...

Women in Uniform

Commando unit to be raised: DGP Imphal, Jan 2: Manipur Director General of Police Yumnam Joykumar has affirmed that the Manipur police is raising a women police commando unit to help it in effectively dealing with frequent public agitations involving women. The DGP, who spoke exclusively to IFP at his office on Wednesday, also affirmed that all-women police stations are being set up, and disclosed that altogether 333 women police of various ranks would be recruited during the month of February. The DGP pointed out that most public agitations in the state involve women, or are spearheaded by women, and bringing such agitations under control is not an easy task, particularly when the police force is predominantly male. To deal effectively with such agitations, the large-scale recruitment of women police is being taken up as one of the components of the action plan for reduction of violence in Manipur drawn up by the home department, the DGP informed. Giving details of the planned deploym...

Sports in Manipur

International Tent Pegging Meet: Ten riders have been selected (nominally) to participate in the International Tent Pegging Championship to be held at the Imphal Pologround from Janaury 10 to 14. The shortlisted players are: HC Jaswinder Singh (BSF); SI Jaswinder Singh, Insp Jagdish Singh, ASI Youngbir Singh, SI Talwinder Singh (Punjab Police); HC Suresh Kumar, HC Sashidharan (ITBP); Maj Vivek Rehni, Sub Omprakash (ASC-N); CHM Jitender Singh (ASC-Bangalore). Police equestrian meet from Friday: The 26th All India Police Equestrian Meet 2008, organised by Manipur Police, will be held at Pologround, Imphal from Friday. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren will grace the opening function as chief guest and president respectively while Education Minister L Jayantakumar and PDA Chairman Dr Kh Loken will be the guest of honour. 196 men and 106 horse will participate in the meet. The participating teams are: UP Police, ITBP, Assam Rifles, Punjab Police, Bord...

Smell of a Scam

Fund misuse cloud on Power Deptt: Imphal, Jan 2: Serious doubts have been raised over whether the Power Department had misused a sum of Rs 22 crore and the State Government has already started an inquiry to get to the bottom of the matter. During the course of an investigation conducted by The Sangai Express it came to light there is a strong possibility that a sum of Rs 22 crore may have been diverted for other purposes which are not included in the State Plan and out of the works approved under the Budget. It is learnt that the Rs 22 crore was meant for transmission work of 132, 32, 33, 220KV sub-stations as well as for constructing some sub-stations. A rat was smelt after it came to light that the Power Department had submitted a report to the Finance Department seeking the approval of the utilisation of the Rs 22 crore in November last year. The approval was however turned down by the Finance Department and the Power Department again submitted another report with minor modification...

Long Arm of Law Catches Up

Medical scam accused convicted: Imphal, Jan 2: In a landmark judgment, the Special Court (No 1, Manipur West), has found two doctors guilty of swindling government money while purchasing medical equipment. The case stretches back to 1981 and involves the present Medical Superintendent of State's Tuberculosis Hospital Gurumayum Mani Sharma and Chief Medical Officer, Imphal Ayekpam Gojendra Singh. The verdict on the case was pronounced by the Special Judge (No 1, Manipur West) Th Surbala Devi on December 29 last, who held the duo guilty under various sections of the IPC related to abetment of conspiracy, cheating, forgery and prevention of corruption. As per case dossiers, the then Medical officer Mani Sharma in collusion with A Gojendra who then held the post of MO in-charge of Sterilization and Stores in the Family Welfare Department procured 40 electrical cauteries, equipment for healing skin etc at exorbitant rate of about Rs 2 lakh using forged bills. Appearing on behalf of the ...

JAC Succeeds at Last

Salam Indrajit released: Imphal, Jan 2: Salam Indrajit, Section Officer in the Engineering Cell of state's Education Department, whose whereabouts remained unknown after he was reportedly abducted by some unidentified persons on December 15 last, has returned home safe and sound on Tuesday. According to information, Indrajit was set free at Singjamei Parking at around 8 pm on New Year's day. The JAC formed in connection with the abduction has consequently dissolved the body and cancelled all its agitation programme. Interacting with mediapersons at his Chingamathak Manipur College Road residence on Wednesday afternoon in the presence of family members, local elders and functionaries of the JAC, Indrajit disclosed that he was asked to get into a vehicle by the unidentified persons who were reportedly waiting for him close to his office gate. He disclosed of the abductors asking him to accompany them for some talks on matters concerning contract works in the Education Department....

Fed Up of UG Tantrums!

Sajik villagers reel under threat: Imphal, Jan 2: The villagers of Khullen Khailet at Sajik Tampak are today living under a cloud of fear and apprehension after an ethnic based underground outfit served demand notice on its chief and barred them from acquiring the job card under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as well as from opening bank accounts. Moreover members of another community have allegedly asked them to leave their homesteads. A team of reporters which went to the said village to interact with the villagers on Thursday were informed that an underground outfit has not only debarred them from opening bank accounts but have also banned job cards under the NREGS to be issued to them. A demand notice was also served on the village chief. The villagers said that members of another community have threatened them to vacate the village or else fire dire consequences. The Assam Rifles which have opened its post at Sajik Tampak have been informed about the threats issued...

Conqueror Against HIV/AIDS

Mr Manipur shows there is life after HIV: Imphal, Jan 2: Being a dream for every body builders, winning the Mister Manipur Contest, is undoubtedly no mean achievement, and it is all the more so in case of Khundrakpam Pradipkumar, who has been living with HIV for the last seven years. ''I have been living with HIV for the last seven years. However, in these seven years I have worked hard to prove that HIV is not an obstacle in our endeavour'', said Pradipkumar, who is still in euphoria from winning the title of Mister Manipur contest in the 60 kg of the State Level Mister Manipur Contest organised by All Manipur Body Building Association here recently. ''Most of the time, people living with HIV always under estimated themselves and they think that they are not capable of anything in life which is not true. We are capable of many things and in order to prove this we have to come out'', he exhorted. He said, ''Winning the Mister Manipur contest has ...

Rights Warrior’s on Pourabi

Sharmila refuses regular feeding: Imphal, Jan 2: Irom Chanu Sharmila has reportedly refused regular nasal feeding since December 17 a day after the Pourabi bomb blast. According to a statement issued by the Human Rights Alert, its executive director called on the hunger striker on December 31 during which Sharmila recounted images of the blast victims when brought to the JN Hospital and her subsequent refusal to forgo all artificial feedings into her body. Informing that only after insistence by the hospital authorities she accepted at least one feeding a day against the normal dose of five, the rights body conveyed that Sharmila had actually desired to meet the Chief Minister. With the CM not turning up, Sharmila endured the minimal feeding for over two weeks and had become visibly weak and lost considerable weight, said the HRA release. Quoting sources, the HRA informed of the Chief Minister calling on Sharmila on January 1 afternoon but conceded that it has no information. Sharmila,...

Manipur Ringside

Kangleipakki Meira's foundation day: The 27th foundation day of the Kangleipakki Meira daily was celebrated at its office premises at Keishampat Junction, Imphal on Wednesday. The celebration was graced by founder member of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union Yumnam Ajit and secretary of Dimapur Meitei Union Binod Khaba as chief guest and president respectively. On the occasion, the daily's chief editor Wangkhemcha Samjai presented a brief history of the daily since it was established 27 years ago. MACS Director row resolved: Following a judgment of the Gauhati High Court issued on Wednesday, the impasse over the post of Project Director for Manipur AIDS Control Society has been settled. According to the judgment passed by a single bench of the Gauhati High Court, Dr Kh Pramodkumar has been reinstalled as Project Director of MACS. Dr Pramodkumar held the post of MACS project director before he took over as State Opthalmic Officer. In the meantime, Deputy Director TR Kom ...

National Tent Pegging

ITBP emerge champions: Imphal, Dec 31: With the quartet of HC Karan Singh, HC Shasidhran, HC Babulal and HC Sureshkumar bagging gold medal in the Team Tent Pegging (Indian File) event on Monday, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police emerged champions of the National Tent Pegging Championship 2007 with a total haul of four gold medals and four bronze. In the other event of the day at Mapal Kangjeibung, ITBP won another gold in the Tent Pegging Lance Team event. The runners-up position of the Championship went to Punjab Police with one gold and four silver while ASC (North) have to settle with third position. The ASC (N) won one gold and two silver.

Jiri-Tupul rail Line

Work on in full swing: Jiribam, Dec 31: Works on the Jiri-Tupul rail line have been on full swing since November 24 with the survey conducted by the Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) at its final leg. Already land for laying 10 km of the rail track has been acquired by the North East Frontier Railway in Jiribam sub-division. The rest of the land needed for laying the track will be acquired from Tamenglong district. Presently work for a distance of 15 km from Jiribam to Dholakhai is on with three private companies engaged in the said work. The three companies are CC Company, Bharatya Company and Triveni Company. The 15 km, for which work is presently underway, have been divided equally among the three companies, 5 km for each company. Speaking to this correspondent, the Officer-in-charge of CC Company, BM Sharma, said his company has undertaken the works from Jiribam station to Phaitoul covering a distance of 5 km. The construction works include cutting, leveling and b...

Imphal Sewerage Project

Pipe laying to be over by mid-Jan: CM Imphal, Dec 31: The ongoing pipe-laying work on major roads of Imphal city, being taken up as part of the Imphal sewerage project, will be completed by the middle of next month, chief minister O Ibobi Singh said on Monday. The CM made the statement while taking a tour around the Imphal municipal areas on Monday morning to inspect work being undertaken at various places as part of the sewerage project. The chief minister also stated that restrictions on construction of private buildings higher than three stories within the Imphal municipal area will be strictly prohibited, and has warned owners of buildings violating this norm to tear down the excess stories at the earliest. The chief minister during his trip also inspected the site at Thangmeiband Lilashing Khongnangkhong where the official bungalows of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly are planned to come up as part of the Capi...

Fuel Adulteration

Slur casts on marker tests: Imphal, Dec 31: Without the requisite marker test for finding out adulteration in Petrol and Diesel, some of the oil pumps in Manipur have been allowed to sell the fuel after taking Rs 1000 each. In spite of being an approved private company of the Government of India for conducting the marker test, the officials of the SGS India Private Limited who came to Imphal in June 2007 did not conduct the requisite test and instead charged Rs 1000 from three oil pumps for issuing certificate of clearance. Disclosing this during a press conference at its Keishampat office here on Monday afternoon, UPF general secretary Oinam Bikramjit informed that the matter came to light after some of the personnel in these oil pumps brought the same to the notice of UPF. Bikramjit said that the Government of India introduced the marker test in 2006 and the same was implemented all over the country by 2007 with the main objective of checking adulteration of petrol and diesel oil mad...

New Year 2008

Dr Sidhu greets people: Imphal, Dec 31: On the occasion of New Year's Day 2008, Governor Dr SS Sidhu has conveyed best wishes to the people of Manipur. In his message, the Governor said that New Year's Day is not only an occasion for introspection but also for searching and evolving new resolutions for the coming year. Dr Sidhu also wished every one a new year full of peace, happiness, contentment, progress and prosperity. Greeting the people on the occasion of New Year's Day, Chief Minister O Ibobi called upon all to make a firm resolution to fight and defeat the evil designs of divisive and disruptive forces. The Chief Minister further appealed to the people to join hands in the noble task for restoring peace and prosperity in Manipur. MPCC president Gaikhangam wished that the New Year may bring about peace, harmony and prosperity for all. "Let violence and conflict give way to love and peace in the State with the arrival of 2008," said Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya ...

Manipur Ringside

Scribe assaulted: Acting president of All Jiribam Working Journalists Union N Priyobrata was severely assaulted by one Mutum Dilip Singh, son of Babatombi Singh of Babapara, near rail crossing on the night of December 29 last. Blaming that no action has been taken despite a complaint on the incident was lodged to the Jiribam police station, the Union has requested the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union for necessary action. According to a statement of the AJWJU, Jiribam, its acting president was beaten up on his way home without any reason and suffered severe injuries at left eye, face and other parts of the body. KCP executes ex-cadre: Deputy Commander of KCP (MTF) Capt Kesho has informed that an ex-cadre of the outfit, identified as Santosh Sharma of Tentha Khabam, has been awarded capital punishment at an adjoining place of Mayang Imphal-Uchiwa at around 8.10 pm on Monday for allegedly swindling party fund. Capt Kesho informed that in 2006, Santosh was punished for his involveme...

Oust Ibobi Campaign

Rebel Cong MLAs strike confident pose: Imphal, Dec 30: Striking a confident pose, the dissident Congress MLAs who have been demanding a change in the leadership of the Congress Legislature Party have claimed that the AICC may soon take a decision in their favour within the next couple of days. The rebel MLAs, who have raised the banner of revolt against the leadership of Chief Minister O Ibobi for the last few months claim the support of 19 MLAs out of the 31 Congress MLAs in the House of 60. Apart from the deteriorating law and order situation, the rebel MLAs have launched the anti-Ibobi drive on the 'total failure to govern' plank. Significantly, the claim of the rebel MLAs that the AICC may soon take a decision within the next couple of days came after the AICC secretary in charge of North East Prithiviraj Chauhan submitted his report to the AICC leadership after his visit to the State about two weeks back. Apart from getting a first hand account of the law and order situati...

Sangai Endangered?

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Second home for Sangai suggested: Imphal, Dec 30: After making a detailed study on the survival and prospect of propagating the endangered Sangai at its natural habitat in Keibul Lamjao National Park, the Wildlife Institute of India has perceived a great threat to the lives of Sangai there. Subsequently, the Wildlife Institute of India has recommended the State Government for a second sanctuary for the Sangai. The Wildlife Institute of India based at Dehradun has been studying the lives of Sangai and the bio-diversity and physiography of the Keibul Lamjao National Park for the last few years. The Institute also undertook head count of the Sangai now existing in Keibul Lamjao. In the event of outbreak of any epidemic or any contagious disease in its natural habitat, all the Sangai population may be wiped out as the rare species living in Keibul Lamjao belong to the same stock (in breeding), mentioned a report submitted by the Institute to the State Government, informed a reliable source...

Sports in Manipur

2nd Manipur State League: NISA, Thangmeiband and NEROCA, Laipham Khunou recorded identical 3-0 victories as SSU, Singjamei and AMOFA, Moirang scripted hard fought wins, and KFC, Kakching held MPSC to a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s matches in the 2nd Manipur State League Football tournament. A brace from Th Sankar (37th, 60th) and Charan Rai's 79th minute strike fetched maximum points for visitors NISA against ESU, Wangkhei, while NEROCA steamrolled PYC on goals from T Dhiren (39th), Benjamin Kamson (43rd) and H Rohen (49th).Playing at Kakching ground, MPSC surged ahead on N Deshkumar's 23rd minute goal as L Enel levelled for the home side late in the second half. SSU, on the otherhand won its home match against YWC, Thambalkhong on N Jimmy's 75th minute goal. Playing away from home AMOFA blanked USA, Khurai with S Stephen Hmar (37th) and L Bikram (78th) scoring one apiece. Tent Pegging championship: Army Supply Corps-Bangalore opened its medal account with a gold while BSF added a ...

Manipur Ringside

Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya silver jubilee: The silver jubilee of the DM Dev Sarma Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya was celebrated on Sunday at Hotel Imphal under the aegis of Manipur Sanskrit Parishad. The event was graced by L Jayantakumar, president of Manipur Sanskrit Parishad RK Jhaljit and noted poet Laishram Somorendro as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively. Jhaljit said the Sanskrit Parishad shall soon produce a Sanskrit-Manipuri-English dictionary. A symposium on legendary poet Kalidas was also held. During the symposium moderated by principal of DM Dev Sarma Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya L Narayan, G Tombi spoke on 'Life and Time of Kalidas', RK Jhaljit on 'Raghuvansa'. Journal 'Heritage' released: The first edition of the journal 'Heritage' to be published in Manipuri bi-annually by Cultural and Historical Research Trust was released during a function at Manipur Press Club at Imphal on Sunday. Another book titled 'Meitrabakki Yotthangi Chak ...

Cross Border Drug Smuggling

Myanmar, India to step up vigil: Imphal: India and Myanmar on Friday agreed to step up vigil along the international border to curb cross-border smuggling of narcotic substances and help each other in dismantling drug factories. An official source said field officials of the two countries met at Moreh on Friday. The meeting focused on the problems of cross-border drug smuggling and measures to tackle the problem through co-operation. “The meeting agreed to step up vigil along the border and also share information on drug smuggling activities. We also agreed to help locate drug refineries and dismantle them,” the source said. The Myanmarese delegation was led by Lt Col Aung Ten, political in-charge of Tamu district. The Indian delegation was headed by superintendent of police, narcotic and border affairs, Manipur. Senior officials of the Assam Rifles, Narcotic Control Bureau and state police were present at the meeting, held at the office of the Customs Preventive Force. The meeting al...

Bungling in Khuga Project Contract

Cabinet to probe faulty contract process: Imphal, Dec 29: Along with revising the cost of Khuga Multipurpose Project which has been under construction since Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was the Deputy Chairman of Union Planning Commission about 20 years back, the State Cabinet has decided to initiate an enquiry into awarding contract works worth Rs 29 crore which were out of the purview of the project and fix responsibility under Manipur Public Servant Personnel Liability Act. The Cabinet meeting held this evening with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in the chair decided to take up action against the engineers involved in awarding the contract works by invoking the provisions of the Act after an enquiry. Out of the contract works of Rs 29 crore which were awarded out of the purview of the project during 2005-06, Rs 11 crore had already been withdrawn while the work orders for over Rs 6 crore had been frozen by the Government after it got wind of the matter. The Cabinet meeting decided...

Delimitation Issue

Will wait for completion in four NE states: New Delhi: Following a lengthy meeting of a Group of Ministers chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier this week, the Government appears to have put implementation of the Delimitation Commission report on a fast-track. The GoM meeting took place days after the Supreme Court stayed the conduct of the delimitation operation in four Northeastern states and also questioned the delay in implementation of delimitation in 25 states for which notifications have already been issued by the Commission. Two decisions appear to have been taken at the GoM’s last meeting. One, that the President should be sent the consolidated delimitation report for final notification (with Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur) and despite the 25 notifications being placed in Parliament, Members of Parliament needed to be further sensitised on the result of the delimitation exercise in their individual constituencies. The Law Ministry, has,...

National Drama Festival

Thiyam’s Wahoudok to kick off festival: New Delhi, Dec 29: In the recent 38th International Film festival of India held in Goa, Manipuri cinema had been able to show its vibrancy with the entry of three films in the Indian panorama section at a time. And again in the field of theatre, the Manipuri theatre has proved its excellence with the entry of five Manipuri plays in the forthcoming 10th Bharat Rang Mahotsav to be organized from January 3 to 20 in Delhi as a grand event to mark the 50 years of National School of Drama (NSD). It is also a rare honour to Manipuris that the Manipuri play Wahoudok (Prologue) directed by world-renowned theatre personality from Manipur, Ratan Thiyam will be staged as the inaugural performance of the engrossing Indian international theatre festival to be held in Delhi and a satellite festival in Mumbai from January 6 to 17. Apart from Ratan Thiyam’s production, four other Manipuri plays -- Kshetri Jugindro`s Ghashiram Kotwal, L.Kishworjit`s Thouna Phabi I...