Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Private schools continue steal the show : Imphal, May 22: Scoring a total mark of 601, Romen Chongtham of St Joseph's School, Sangaiprou topped this year's High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) Examination 2008conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Manipur. Sanasam Sangita of St George High School, Wangkhei missed the top spot by a single mark. The third position was bagged by Chetanbala Hijam of Nirmalabas School, Imphal with a total score of 597 . The overall pass percentage is the highest in the last five years. This year's result made a considerable improvement at 58 percent over last year's 52 percent. The pass percentage for male candidates is 67 percent while that of the females is 56percent. As per the merit list, Catholic School, Canchipur and St Joseph's School, Sangaiprou performed the best producing seven and six position holders respectively in the top 25 . St George High School, Wangkhei and Don Bosco School, Imphal produced three position hold...

Legislation in place to curb Atha-phum: MLA Imphal, May 22: To prevent growing of Atha-Phum (artificially grown floating bio-masses) in Loktak lake again, a new legislation has already been enacted and implementation of the same started, MLA of Thanga Assembly Constituency T Mangibabu has informed. Mangibabu was speaking at a reception function hosted in his honour at Thanga Khoirom Hill today. The MLA has been recently felicitated with three awards, namely Bharat Excellence Award, Gems of India and North East Golden Personality Award in recognition of dedication to the service of the people. The awards have been given by Friendship Forum of India and International Penguin Publishing House, New Delhi. The reception function was hosted jointly by Thanga Artistes' Association and Reception Committee, Thanga Part-II. Addressing the gathering, MLA Mangibabu, who was also the chief guest of the function, said along with completion of the task of removing Atha-Phum from Loktak lake, Indi...

Rotarians extend help for Nargis victims : Imphal, May 22: In solidarity with the suffering of the people of Myanmar in the wake of cyclone Nargis devastating the low lying area of Irrawaddy Delta relief materials were handed over to Myanmarese authorities on behalf of 77 Rotary clubs from Rotary International District 3240 . The relief materials hand-over was initiated under the leadership of DG, Rtn Parbhat Kedia to convey solidarity with people of Myanmar in this hour of sorrow and bereavement. The items including emergency medicines were delivered at Burma Border Trade Centre (Tamu), the official point of aid centre as volunteers are not permitted to reach the affect zone physically, said a release of Rotary Club. Reports on radio, TV and official figure provided by the Myanmar authorities confirmed more than 1,34,000 killed or missing apart from a large section of the population rendered homeless, facing starvation and susceptible to disease outbreak since the cyclone hit the Delt...

40 Oil trucks damaged in stoning : Imphal, May 22: Windshields of more than 40 goods trucks including oil tankers were broken in stoning by economic blockade supporters along the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 even as most of the oil pumps closed down today due to non-availability of stocks at the oil depots. A truck transporting sand from Dimapur was also set ablaze by blockade supporters last night at around 8.30 pm at Tadubi. The indefinite economic blockade along the NH-39 imposed by the Naga People`s Organisation, NPO, Senapati district commenced yesterday in protest against the state government`s failure to take up positive action in matters of PDS items and water supply even after its 24-hour district-wide bandh on May 20. Reports said that truckers leaving Mao gate late yesterday afternoon with security escorts were caught in heavy stoning from the blockade supporters on their way from Tadubi to Senapati. Windshields of more than 40 loaded trucks were shattered, reports said. ...

Dipsubaba's thoughts: It is bizzare as well as tragic. Imagine a man suffering from HIV/AIDS would also have to face the emotional trauma of social indignity with his breasts starting to develop like that of a woman after taking ART drugs. He must have cursed himself or the fate for contracting the fatal disease and now he will have to cope with something unusual. Let's have a thought of the plight of the man, his name rightly not been disclosed by the media. A newspaper report described the insult he was subjected to by security personnel while frisking, making sneering remarks and even molested his breasts. "Although the weather is simmering with summer heat, I cannot help wearing thick jackets just to cover up my enlarged breasts," he said, adding that he has been staying aloof from all social functions and religious ceremonies for the same embarrassing reason. It could perhaps also be the first of its kind in the medical history of HIV/AIDS treatment. A study/rese...

Heirok to study JK guidelines for SPOs: Imphal, May 18: Sticking to its earlier proposition that it would oppose utilisation/engagement of SPO personnel in counter insurgency operations, the JAC formed in the aftermath of the Heirok firing incident has asserted it would closely study contents of SPO guidelines prior to accepting actual setting up of SPOs in Heirok. Despite the renewed assertion of the JAC, the Government had set into motion recruitment exercises for enrolling 300 SPOs in Heirok village of Thoubal district. Plans are also afoot to recruit 200 SPOs for deployment/stationing at Lilong Chajing. It may be recalled that people of Heirok and Lilong Chajing had demanded weapons from the Government to protect themselves from unwanted elements following incidents of gun firing some months back that claimed the lives of four persons apart from injuring a teenage girl. "The SPOs will only protect Heirok and its surrounding villages from rebels' threat. We will, however st...