Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Dhaka, June 21 : Indian high commissioner Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty has said his country had consulted Bangladesh over the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh dam on the Barak river. He says there is no international law that could stop India from implementing the Tipaimukh dam, perceived to wreak huge environmental disaster on Bangladesh. The envoy has taken a swipe at the BNP-led alliance for opposing against the Bangladesh-India Ganges water-sharing treaty and anti-India comments, which he said were aimed at gaining "political mileage" Chakravarty has trashed the allegation that India is depriving Bangladesh of due share of the Ganges waters as an "empty political slogan". "Recently, there has been a lot of agitation on the question of the Tipaimukh dam. I would like to reiterate that it is a hydro-electric multi-purpose project to produce electricity," Chakravarty said at a seminar on South Asian connectivity at the Sonargaon Hotel on Sunday. ...

North-East could be cradle of civilization

GUWAHATI: Archaeologists and historians have stumbled upon artefacts dating back to the Neolithic Age in Assam's Morigaon and Kamrup districts while investigating the Ahom era canon balls that were recently excavated from Kajolimukh. Experts of the Strategic Research and Analysis Organisation (SRAO), a non-government historic research organisation, are investigating the remains in and around Kajolimukh and Mayong in Morigaon. It was during the excavation work that they found rock engravings, potteries and other relics at Hatishila, about 10 km west of Kajolimukh. The archeaologists feel that the artefacts could belong to the pre-historic period, while some could even belong to the Neolithic Age. "The findings point to the fact that Kajolimukh and Mayong could have been a cradle of human civilization," said Nilim Dutta of SRAO. "Many pre-medieval rock images of Hindu deities and statuettes were found from both the banks of the Kalang River. There should be extensive a...

Mizo push for Barak railway plan

SILCHAR, June 20 : A powerful social organization from Mizoram has extended support to a convention proposed to be held in Silchar, Assam on Sunday demanding immediate implementation of the much-delayed Lumding-Silchar broad gauge project. Young Mizo Association (YMA) members will also take part in the agitations to be chalked out by the Silchar-based Citizens' Forum during the meet. YMA expressed concern over the "inordinate delay" in implementing the broad gauge project, as the 221-km rail link is considered the lifeline for southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and parts of Manipur. Sources said this is for the first time a Mizo organization joined hands with its Barak Valley counterpart for the cause of the rail project. Source : Times of India

Shooting anarchy robs woman of marital bliss, twice

Imphal, June 20 : "Looking at my three children, I am trying to forget the harrowing experiences of the past". These are the words of Chitra who lost both her first as well as the second husband in the prevailing gun violence. There are hundreds of women like Chitra in Manipur who are trying to piece together their shattered lives after their life partners have been killed without any trial by the State actors, non-State actors or simply armed hooligans. When her first husband fell to the bullets of CRPF personnel, Chitra thought it was her destiny. But thinking that living under the protective care of a husband may shield herself from the scornful look of the society and put an end to the persistent nagging of her child who did not know his father, she tied the knot again. Unfortunately, her second husband too fell to the merciless bullet of unidentified armed person and she never knew why her second husband was killed. When death of a husband is something that any women wou...

State to be declared drought affected

Imphal, June 20 : With the quantity of rainfall recorded in Manipur midway to June not enough for agricultural activities, the State Government has prepared an Action Plan to combat the prevailing drought-like situation. The Government is also likely to announce the State drought-affected very soon. A meeting of the State Cabinet held today with Chief Minister in the chair seriously deliberated on the issue and formulated an Action Plan in this regard. During the meeting, Disaster Management has also been entrusted to take up necessary measures in connection with declaring Manipur a drought hit State. According to a senior Cabinet Minister, around Rs 5.11 crores would be spent on implementing the Action Plan which include preparing nursery over 1000 hectares at the estimated cost of Rs 27,000 per hectare. A sum of Rs 2.70 crores which would be set aside for purpose of preparing the nursery and the task would be given to farmers and the nursery thus prepared would be distributed among t...

Police to pull up transporter

Imphal, June 20 : Manipur police may take action against a transport agency here for failing to report the alleged seizure of a truckload of medicines by the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) in Senapati district last month. The KRA allegedly seized medicines and life-saving drugs worth Rs 70 lakh from an Imphal-bound truck on May 20 and then released the vehicle belonging to Reliable Cargo. The Manipur Chemists and Druggists Association disclosed this yesterday. “It has been nearly one month since the reported incident took place and no transporter or medicine store owner informed us about the incident till today. If reported on time, we could have acted immediately and recovered the items. We will pull up the concerned transport operator,” DGP Yumnam Joykumar Singh told The Telegraph. Senapati district SP Nishit K Ujwal said the police would take action to recover the looted items. Source : The Telegraph

'HIV/AIDS spreading in 3 hill districts'

Imphal, June 20 : Even though the spreading of HIV/AIDS in the valley area has been able to control, the same is continuing in the three hill districts bordering with Myanamar, Churachnadpur, Chandel and Ukhrul, said project director of Manipur AIDS Control Society, Dr Kh Promodkumar today. The project director observed this while speaking as guest of honour at the concluding function of the two-month entrepreneurship development programme for people living with HIV/AIDS organized by the Institute of Co-operative Management (ICM) under the sponsorship of the MACS and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Co-operative commissioner, P Vaiphei attended the function as chief guest in the function which was presided by ICM chairman Kh Borkishore. Promodkumar said, the spreading of the dreaded disease in the three districts of Manipur, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul located along the 358 km long porous international border with Myanmar is on the raise citing the main spreading agen...

DESAM demands white paper on Prof Islamuddin killing

Imphal, June 20 : The Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has demanded 'white paper' from the government on the killing of Professor Islamuddin and urged to immediately release the five students who were detained under National Security Act (NSA) in connection with the killing. In a statement the Publicity and Propaganda Secretary of DESAM, KC Ibomcha made clear the position statement of the students' body on the detention of some students under NSA while also pointing out the achievements of the students' body since its inception in 2002. DESAM has conducted survey in educational institutions and detected the ailments of the education system, the statement stated. Remedial measures to address the defects have also been suggested with due consultation with experts, teachers and concerned individuals, and the fruits have already been enjoyed by the state, it added. The students' body has also achieved in checking and eradicating the rampant practice ...

Ranbir Thouna takes forward 'Save Loktak' campaign

IMPHAL, Jun 20 : An audio and a video cassette were released in connection with the “Save Loktak - our life,’ a mass campaign started by singer Ranbir Thouna in order to save Loktak lake, the only fresh water lake in the north eastern region, which is also a lifeline for the Manipuri people, at a function held this evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal. The release function was attended by state tourism minister, TN Haokip as chief guest and education minister L Jayentakumar as the president. The state IFCD minister N Biren, T Mangibabu the chief whip of the Congress, Dr. Kh Ratankumar, chairman of the MANITRON, MLA M Prithiviraj and RK Jnanranjan, general secretary of the AMMIK were the guests of honour on the occasion. TN Haokip said he felt that only the state government’s initiative was not enough to save the Loktak, but it required the cooperation and support of the people too. He appealed to the public of the state to work jointly to save the Loktak whic...

Meinya calls for new law on child labour

IMPHAL, Jun 20 : The present trend of hiring children as domestic servants by the high society people should be immediately stopped and a new law need be set up in order to control child labour in the state, said Member of Parliament from Manipur, Dr. T Meinya at the inaugural function of the 5-day long seminar on ‘Child labour and wages trend of unorganised workers section Manipur.’ Dr. T Meinya who graced the function as chief guest further noted that child labour is a very critical issue in a state like Manipur and it would be very wrong if we consider the issue minor. In order to control it, the state government along with the people of the state, need to work together to stop child labour immediately, he said. Child labour is against the law but people keep flouting the law. However, instead of giving punishment to the culprits we should try to make them understand the fact that children are the future of the nation and they should receive the rights of education and childhood lif...

Facing extortion truckers boycott Nagaland

Dimapur, June 20 : The threat of shortage of essential items and consequently price hike in Nagaland, is looming with transporters in Assam finally calling for an indefinite ‘Chakka Jam’ from 5 AM this morning. The consequences of rampant extortion are finally taking effect with the truckers and transporters refusing to enter the state. The strike is in protest against the rampant extortion and collection of “unauthorized tax” by various Naga and non-Naga underground organizations in Nagaland and also assault on drivers. The truckers under the aegis of the All Assam Truck Owners, Driver, Handymen Association have decided not to cross “all Nagaland entry points” like Bokajan, Mariani and Amguri. This means all districts in the state will now face shortage of essential commodities, if the state government does not intervene with strong political will. More than twenty heavily-laden trucks with essential and perishable commodities are halted at Bokajan in view of the ‘Chakka Jam’; more ...

Shija's unique operation restores man's eyesight

Imphal, June 20 : Shija Hospitals and Research Institute (SHRI) has accomplished yet another medical milestone with the restoration of a man's eyesight through the use of amniotic membrane transplant. According to Dr Sachindra Laishram of SHRI's Eye Care Foundation, one PL Benjamin (47) of Senapati Bazar was on June 5 evening brought to the private medical centre with burns on the right forearm and both eyes which the individual suffered from lime bubble bursts while he was preparing to white-wash his house. After examination of the patient's condition by a team comprising himself and one Dr Noornika Khuraijam the latter on further studies strongly suggested application of the amniotic membrane transplant method in the restoration operation of Benjamin's damaged cornea, recounted Dr Sachindra who explained amniotic membrane as thin innermost membranous sac enclosing the developing embryo of higher vertebrates such as reptiles, birds and mammals. It is informed that Dr N...

Hero's welcome accorded to Suranjoy

Imphal, June 19 : Asian Boxing Championship gold medallist Mayengbam Suranjoy Singh was accorded a warm welcome by the people of Manipur on his arrival at Imphal today. Suranjoy, who clinched the flyweight category (51 kg) gold medal at the Asian championship held at China's Zhuhai from June 7 till 13, arrived at Tulihal Airport at around 9.15 am from where he was accompanied by a large number of enthusiastic supporters to SAI SAG Centre, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex. At the felicitation programme hosted by SAI NERC, Imphal and attended by many SAI officials and sportspersons, Mayang Imphal Assembly Constituency MLA Dr Kh Ratankumar, who is also the chairman of MANIDCO, formally handed over a cash reward of Rs 50,000 in recognition of the 22 year old's accomplishment at the international arena. Later in the day, Suranjoy also attended another reception programme jointly organised by Mayang Imphal Khuman Youth Association and All Uchiwa Development Association at Uchiwa Pakhangb...

Scribes decry threat from militant

Imphal, June 19 : The All Manipur Working Journalists' Union has strongly condemned the threat issued to the media by an individual who identified himself as one Taiwan of PULF for not publishing a press release issued by an organisation which has never been heard of before. In a statement, the scribes' body said that Taiwan had called up a newspaper house and informed that a bomb has been lobbed at the office of The Sangai Express and further warned that such attack would be launched at other newspaper offices. Besides this another person who identified himself as one Khamba Luwang of the KCP also called up newspaper houses today morning and demanded to know why the statement was not published. AMWJU and Editors in a meeting discussed the issue at hand and appealed to the Government to ensure security so that the media persons can work freely without fear. An emergency meeting of editors and the All Manipur Working Journalists Union, AMWJU, held at the Sangai Express, condemne...

Manipur's first test tube babies

Imphal, June 19 : That medical science has gone a long way in ameliorating the suffering on mankind besides bringing a smile on the face of many has been proven in many cases and Manipur today has a couple who can be inlcuded in the list of those blessed by medical science. Yumnam Jakendra and his wife Niengboi Haokip were a heart broken couple after their first born daughter Y Mangalleima was killed in a militant ambush at Assam's Karbi Anglong district five years ago. What fate had cruelly robbed them, medical science has stepped in to apply the needed balm, courtesy a bonny test tube twin girls, the first test tube baby in the State, that too twins. Not surprisingly today they fit the bill of the happiest couple in the world. Not only have the twins come as a blessing for their parents, but it is also a testimony of the expertise of the team of doctors behind the babies. The two babies were born through the Invitro Fertilization Technology on Thursday at Suba Hospital and Assist...

JAC disapproves transfer of Kishan murder case

Imphal, June 19 : Disapproving the move for transfer of the case related to the murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Thingnam Kishan and his two staff��Y Token and A Rajen by NSCN (IM) men led by Lt Col Hopeson Ningshen from Manipur to Delhi, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Th Kishan, A Rajen and Y Token asserted that the conveniences of the parties and witnesses should be given foremost priority. The JAC, in a press release, pointed out that the crime took place in the State and that the victims, the culprits and witnesses are inhabitants of Manipur. The case should not be moved from Manipur to Delhi merely on the apprehension of the State DGP about ethnic clash between Meiteis and Nagas which is unfounded considering the spontaneous outcry made by every section of the society both in the hills and valley against the triple murder. The transfer of the case is to be moved by the parties only after the submission charge sheet by the investigating agency. In the present case, the investi...

The mystique of women’s movement in Manipur

The women in Manipur as in certain other parts of the country have been glorified and extolled as those occupying a high position in society, as a section of the community that has a voice that is heard and taken into account. In Manipur for instance, Meira Paibis amongst the Meiteis are given near sacred positions in the public sphere related to uprisings against excesses committed by state armed forces. The same goes for various other women groups in the hills. Khasi women in Meghalaya are portrayed as following matriarchy though it is only the matrilineal system that they follow: in terms of property rights. Here again, there is a wide gulf between what is perceived and what actually is. For instance, any property arrangements in terms of its sale, is not in the hands of the woman. Rather, it is only with the sanction of the maternal Uncle that decisions can be taken. The ‘Dorbar” which is the traditional decision making body of the Khasis do not allow the participation of women in ...

Manipur migrants leave camp, workers trickle back

Imphal, June 19 : With no further reports of attacks on non-Manipuris, migrants workers in the state have started leaving the two relief camps since yesterday to resume work. An official source today said only 20 of them were left at the Kalibari relief camp and as many at the dharamshala one in Imphal city. “The migrants reported to police stations at their work sites. This is for their safety,” the official said. Prabhu Prasad, a cobbler from Bihar, was the last migrant to be attacked. On Monday night, an unidentified person hit him on the forehead at Lamphel in Imphal West district. Prasad said the man had hit him on the face with a stone while he was returning from work to his rented house in Lamphel, on the outskirts of Imphal town, around 7pm. The relief camps were opened after the attack on six migrants at the Central Agricultural University at Eroisemba in Imphal West on June 11 night. Two gunmen had called out six labourers, all from West Bengal, from their hut on the universi...

Krishnadas killing accused in police remand

Imphal, June 19: Seram Ashalata, the woman who was arrested by the police for her alleged involvement in the murder of Yengkhom Krishnadas, has been further remanded to police custody for four days after being produced before the CJM, Imphal, BK Sharma, on Friday. She was produced before the court this afternoon around 2 pm. The court also directed the police to give medical treatment to the accused immediately in view of her health condition. The court also granted permission for the woman’s counsels, Ch Ratishor and Aheibam Kumarjit, to attend court during the course of her interrogation. According to sources from the court, the police pleaded with the court for remand of the accused in their custody for a longer period, but the plea was rejected and the remand granted for only four days. The accused is to be produced before the court on June 22 around 1 pm, said the sources. Seram Ashalata, 36, wife of Ramchandra of Tera Sayang Road was arrested on June 13 by the police for her alle...

Light at the end of tunnel for Manipur tribals

IMPHAL : Tribals, young and old, in the remote villages of Old Lemta, Dunong and Makuinong in Manipur’s Tamenglong district bordering Nagaland have never seen electric light. Only the lucky few who visited Imphal or other towns in the country had seen this wonder. However, thanks to the Manipur Renewable Energy Development Agency, a government undertaking, now the tribals have solar electricity. Solar lighting panels were installed at the personal initiative of N. Awangbow, MLA representing the remote and neglected villages. C. Kadijaiwi, chieftain of Old Lemta, said it would take not less than half a century for the Electricity Department to power the villages. There are no modern amenities available to the villagers and electricity is still a pipe dream. C. Hungamkhambou, chieftain of Dunong, said students had no light to study at night. A litre of kerosene costs Rs. 40 or more in the district. As poor villagers cannot afford to keep lamps, they have dinner before nightfall and go to...

Opinion: Sanjoy Hazarika

NE in age of coalition politics: touchstone of Meghalaya The new council of ministers, with a predominance of Congress representatives, shows a fascinating compromise that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well as their chief aides, not least Rahul Gandhi, have manoeuvred. And nowhere is the delicate, difficult and thankless task of coalition building seen best as in the case of little Meghalaya where both members of parliament have found a place. The reason is not far to seek: it is an interesting reflection of the complex and inconsistent reality both of Indian politics as well as of the immense challenges that the Northeast presents to New Delhi. In one way it's simple: Purno Sangma's daughter, Agatha, won from the Tura constituency which was her father's fiefdom for 30 years. The youngest member of the Lok Sabha at 28, she defeated her nearest rival, Deborah Marak, by a bare 17,945 votes. It was clearly a close call and her opponent, a...

'Resolve Tipaimukh Dam through joint initiatives'

Dhaka, June 19 : Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday urged all to be aware of any movement against the Tipaimukh dam by a certain quarter to gain its political interest. Addressing the National Tipaimukh Dam Conference 2009 at the seminar hall of the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh in the city, he said public opinions could be taken about implementation of the project. The finance minister also criticised the past BNP-Jamaat government as it did not protest against the Tipaimukh project though India had completed the detailed studies and design of the project and floated an international tender during their rule. Earlier on June 16, BNP Secretary General Khandaker Delwar Hossain called upon the countrymen to raise their voices against the government as it is mum about the Indian plan to build Tipaimukh dam. He said the caretaker government had helped advance Tipaimukh dam and Asian Highway projects, and the present government is now trying to help complete them. "We had been...

'Parents knew about their children's AP journey'

IMPHAL, June 19 : The 25 children "rescued" by Kolkata Police at the Howrah station on Wednesday were going to Andhra Pradesh for education with the consent of their parents and guardians, according to a police report. On Wednesday (June 17), the children hailing from the remote Kaibi village in Manipur's Senapati district, were found in an Andhra Pradesh-bound train at the station. However, police in Kolkata had said three "pastors" accompanying the kids, failed to produce the required documents. "According to a report submitted by one of the officers, who went to the village, the parents knew about their children's journey," said a senior police officer on Friday. "As of now, it appears that there is no foul play like trafficking. But things will be clearer when we quiz the pastors. We have also sent our report to the government," the police officer said. L S Salony, a member of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), disclosed that the chil...

State women still backward: Report

Imphal, June 19 : Despite the significant steps being undertaken for the protection of women's rights and promoting their welfare, the status of women in Manipur continues to remain backward, said an analysis of the State Economic Survey Report of the Manipur Government compiled by the State Directorate of Economic and Statistics. The survey report said the goal of poverty alleviation cannot be achieved without the full and active participation of women who constitute a large section of work force, is a well known fact. Thus, women empowerment is critical to the process of the development. So, bringing into the mainstream of development is a major concern of the Government, the report maintained. In order to empower women and bring them into mainstream, an enabling environment with requisite policies and programmes, institutional mechanisms at various levels and adequate financial resources have been created. With gradual spread of education and empowerment, the position of women h...

Tangkhul bodies say no to IRB, Commandos

Imphal, June 19 : The one day public consultative programme to maintain peace and tranquillity in Ukhrul district organised by Tangkhul civil organisations at Rashing hall yesterday has resolved to demand immediate withdrawal of IRB and commandos from Ukhrul. A joint press release issued by Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Shaklong, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long and Tangkhul Shannao Long asked as to what prompted the Government to deploy IRB and commandos in Ukhrul district when there is allegedly no law and order problem. The consultative meet demanded revocation of disturbed area status from Naga areas of Manipur and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act as well. It resolved to participate and support the vexed Indo-Naga peace process. The Tangkhul civil organisations also conveyed deep concern over the establishment of designated camps by the State Government harbouring thousands of Kuki armed cadres in Naga areas, particularly at strategic sites and national highways. After three ...

Nitish asks Manipur CM to halt attacks on Biharis

Patna, June 19 : Bihar CM Nitish Kumar today asked his Manipur counterpart Okram Ibobi Singh to effectively check attacks on migrant, particularly Bihari labourers, in the state. Kumar called up Singh this morning to register his "deep concern and anguish" over the recent attacks on labourers from Bihar and West Bengal by militants in Manipur and requested him to bring an end to it, a spokesman at the chief minister's office here said. Maintaining that the attacks were detrimental to the unity and integrity of the country, Kumar requested Singh to initiate steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Kumar also directed state's chief secretary RJM Pillai and director general of Police DN Gautam to depute a high-level officer to facilitate return of those Bihari labourers who intended to come back and co-ordinate with their Manipur counterparts measures to check violence against the migrant labourers from the state. Labourers from Bihar and West Bengal have of late b...

Dhaka parties spar over Tipaimukh Dam

Dhaka, June 19 : Bangladesh's political parties continue to spar over a river valley project India is planning in its northeastern region as New Delhi awaits a parliamentary team accompanied by experts to visit the project site. Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith Friday urged "all to be aware" of any movement against the Tipaimukh dam project "by a certain quarter to gain its political interest," Star Online web site said. Muhith criticised the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for not protesting against the Indian plans although the latter had completed the design and detailed studies and floated an international tender during the BNP-Jamaat rule (2001-06). Addressing the "National Tipaimukh Dam Conference 2009", the finance minister, among the most experienced ministers in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government, said public opinion could have been mobilised earlier. India is planning to build the dam over the Barak river in Manipur sta...

Thousands pay homage to martyrs

Imphal, June 18 : Thousands of people of different communities including Naga and Kuki, wearing traditional dresses of their respective communities, today paid floral tributes to those who died in the movement for protection of territorial integrity of Manipur of which day has been observed as "The Great June Uprising" and "Integrity Day". Eighteen people paid with their lives in indiscriminate firing by security personnel in the explosion of public outrage on the issue of Manipur's territorial integrity on June 18, 2001 after the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN-IM was extended "without territorial limits". The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has been observing the day as the "Great June Uprising" with a public meeting held at Kekrpupat where the memorial site of the 18 victims is located while the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) observed the day as "Unity Day" with another public meeting held at THAU gro...

JNU to open NE eatery