Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

UBI strike off: The ceasework strike launched by the employees of all branches of the United Bank of India since January 8 following a heavy monetary demand from one militant outfit has been called off with immediate effect. Informing this on Friday, the co-convenor of the United Forum of Bank Unions said that the ceasework programme earlier scheduled to be held on January 14 has also been called off. The decision to withdraw the cease work stir was taken after the outfit concerned conveyed that they have withdrawn the monetary demand, said the statement and added that branches of the United Bank of India will start normal transactions from Saturday. The United Forum of Bank Unions, on behalf of all the working employees of the Bank, also expressed its regret to the customers and general public for the closure of UBI branches. It also acknowledged the support extended by the fraternal trade unions of other banks, leading civil organisations, media and news agencies. Inspection drive of...

Student body denied audience: Imphal, Jan 11: Manipur Students' Association, Delhi (MSAD) has decried conduct of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh for turning down the appointment granted even after making its delegates to await from 10 am to 5.30 pm on Friday. The delegates have reportedly gone to meet the Chief Minister to discuss the issues related to the problems being faced by the students in the light of the recent molestation of two girl students from Manipur at the National Capital. In a statement, the student body observed that recurrence of the incidents of molestation and harassing of Manipuri students at the National Capital has shown that there is no one to protect them. If the Chief Minister of Manipur himself does not respect the students of the state then who is going to respect them?, it questioned. The student body, however, expressed its gratitude to MLA Oken and MLA Bijoy Koijam for visiting their victims at their Gandhi Vihar rented house and extending their mor...

Two Manipuri girls molested by 25 men in Delhi: New Delhi, Jan 7: Two sisters from Manipur were molested by hooligans numbering at least 25 at Gandhi Vihar, New Delhi on January 5. They along with their young brother were also severely beaten up by the culprits after the molestation. Despite the seriousness of the crime Timapur police station at first refused to lodge a First Information Report (FIR). The FIR was lodged after an agonising delay of 40 hours, said NE Support Centre and Helpline. A late evening news said that one Sub-Inspector has been placed under suspension in connection with the refusal to lodge the complaints of the victims. The action of the police however came after the matter caught the attention of the media, said the Support Centre. A Fact Finding Team of NE Support Centre & Helpline rushed to the spot to extend the help and gave trauma counseling to the victims. According to a PTI report from New Delhi one teenaged boy, who was reportedly involved in the cas...

'Rebels' ready to give another push, Gaikhangam in Delhi: Imphal, Jan 7: The pressure being exerted by the rebel MLAs camping in New Delhi in pursuance of their demand for replacement of O Ibobi Singh as the chief minister of the state is likely to intensify as the rebels have started gathering at the national capital again. MPCC chief Gaikhangam reached the national capital on Sunday and two ministers, Y Erabot and DD Thaisii, are likely to join the camp within a few days, a source from the rebel camp said on Monday. A group of Congress legislators from the state, mention may be made, are demanding ouster of O Ibobi Singh from chief ministerial post and have been camping in New Delhi since November first week to press for their demands. They returned together for a brief period to Imphal and camped in here during the visit of the Union minister of state attached to the PMO during his visit to the state in the early part of December last year. Since then they have regrouped at ...

NEROCA win, NISA bite dust: Imphal, Jan 7: YWC Thambalkhong edged past NISA Thangmeiband by a solitary goal at Sekmai while NEROCA beat KFC Kakching 3-0 at Kakching. In other matches of the Manipur State League played on Sunday, ESU Wangkhei were held by PYC Phoudel at Phoudel 1-1 while MPSC drew with USA Khurai by a similar scoreline. At Rengkai, visitors SSU Singjamei whipped RACC 2-0. N Jimmy struck twice for SSU in the 67th and 80th minutes.

CM lauds role of media: Imphal, Jan 7: On the 33rd foundation day of the Manipur Press Club, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has assured a medical treatment and rehabilitation scheme for the journalists of the state, while lauding the role of the media in running a democracy. The Manipur Press Club, one of the oldest bodies of journalists in the north east completed 33 years on Sunday. The scribes celebrated the day at its office premises in the city with Ibobi Singh as chief guest. The chief minister said, "A government can not run without the media, which everybody know is the fourth pillar of democracy. My government wants to help the media to the maximum." While speaking of the efforts taken up by the government towards the welfare of the journalist fraternity, Singh assured that the government will increase grant-in-aid to the journalists pension scheme. He also instructed the state directorate of publicity and information to put up a proposal to enhance the press club main...

Bank to go on strike: Imphal, Jan 7: Manipur Rural Bank would be participating fully in the two-day all India strike being called by the Joint Forum of Gramin Bank Union (JFGBU) on January 10 and 11 in pursuance of various demands. The demand of the Joint Forum include parity in pension, provident fund and other allowances, compassionate appointment, recruitment and promotion facilities and to stop outsourcing. On account of the strike, there would be no transaction including clearance on these two days, informed general secretary of Manipur Rural Bank Officers' Association L Joychandra. Meanwhile, disclosing that some organisations have been demanding huge amounts of money from different branch offices of the United Bank of India, the United Forum of Bank Unions in United Bank of India has decried the unaffordable demand. A press release issued by the Forum stated that it is beyond the individual capacity of the employees to fulfil the monetary demands. The UBI being a Government ...

Two businessmen, van driver abducted near Maram: Imphal, Jan 7: Three persons, including two local businessmen and a van driver have been missing since they were abducted by unknown gunmen on January 5 near Maram along NH-39 in Senapati district. The abducted persons are identified as P Rajendro, 40, of Chingmeirong, one Tomba from Hatta, and driver Elam Priyo, 41, of Keishamthong Hodam Leirak. According to official sources, the three were reportedly abducted by armed miscreants along with the van they were riding in on January 5 evening near Maram while travelling to Dimapur. The white colour Maruta van, registration no. MN01/K-9633, which the three had been riding in was found abandoned at a deserted spot in between Changoubung and Kangpokpi on Sunday afternoon. It was recovered by the Kangpokpi police, and is currently being kept at the Kangpokpi police station. It is suspected that their abduction was for purposes of collecting ransom, and a case has been registered by the Kangpokp...

RPF penalises mithamana sellers: The proscribed outfit RPF has tonsured two women as punishment for defying the ban on selling Mithamana, even as another woman Mithamana seller surrendered to the outfit. The two women are identified as Nongmeikapam Lalita (25) d/o late Indrajit and Irengbam Ongbi Pramo (35) w/o Muhindro while the other who surrendered as Irengbam Ongbi Lily (35) w/o Ningthemjao. All three of them are residents of Irengbam Makha Leikai and operate Pan Dukan at Irengbam Kangjeibung Parking. Before meting out the punishment, they were produced before mediapersons somewhere in Churachandpur district on Sunday. A spokesperson of the department of communication and publicity of the outfit informed that all three of them would be handed over to their respective family members after giving the lenient punishment. However, their Pan Dukan should remain close for two months. Rs 100 lakh released for Manipur SSA: Union Ministry of Human Resource Development so far released a sum ...

Protest lined up: Imphal, Jan 7: A people's convention held here under the aegis of Delimitation Watch Manipur decided to observe a day of protest on January 10 to send out a loud and clear message to all authorities including the Government of India and the Delimitation Commission of India that the people of Manipur would not accept delimitation of the existing Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies based on the 'fictitious' census report of 2001. After a detailed deliberation on the issue, the convention held with Heikrujam Nabashyam, Naorem Dinachandra Singh and Ng Jugeswor as presidium members came to the conclusion that the census authority had flouted all norms while taking the census report of 2001 in Manipur and published a highly erroneous census data. The convention noted that in the districts of Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul, the population figure has been recorded unbelievably high to the extent of doubling the actual figure whereas in the four districts of Im...