Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Guwahati, June 17 : With at least 20 migrant workers killed in a series of violent attacks in and around Imphal during the past three months, migrant labourers from Bihar and West Bengal are living in fear in Manipur and some of them have started fleeing the strife-torn state. While three migrant workers were gunned down near the Central Agricultural University on the outskirts of Imphal last Thursday, two Bihari labourers were killed on June 2 — one each in Thoubal and Imphal (East) district. Those killed last week were construction workers engaged by a contractor, while those killed earlier this month included a barber and a hawker. A cobbler, hailing from Bihar, who was attacked at Lamphel in Imphal by an unidentified person on Tuesday evening, has been admitted to the Regional Institute of Medical Science in the state capital. On May 12, nine Hindi-speaking migrant workers were killed inside the Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishnupur district, about 50 km from Imphal. Twelve migr...

JAC demands guns, calls bandh: Imphal: In a reverse case of the Heirok incident where people demanded guns to defend themselves after some civilians were shot dead by UG cadres, the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Wangkheimayum Shyamjai of Ngangkhalawai has asked the State Government to issue them guns for self-defence after security personnel killed Shyamjai. A statement issued by the JAC informed that this resolution to demand guns was adopted during a public meeting held at Ngangkhalawai ground on Tuesday. Strongly contending that Wangkheimayum Shyamjai shot dead by troops of 15 J&K Light Infantry at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou under Bishnupur police station at about 3.30 am of May 11 was an innocent citizen, the meeting condemned the stoic silence of the State Government on the issue. The JAC asserted that Shyamjai was pulled by troops of 15 J&K Light Infantry at about 11 am of May 8 before he was shot dead in cold blood after three days on May 11 in a fake encounter. Mainta...

CII award for state health worker : Imphal, May 2: The Confederation of Indian Industry in its effort to promote women's empowerment at the community level has instituted an award known as Women Exemplar for grassroot community women who have excelled in different fields of work thereby making a significant contribution to the development process. Since 2006 the award has been given to women of the country for their outstanding contributions to the society. For the year 2008 the award was given to Manipur Voluntary Health Association`s program director N Nanda for health by the chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit on April 29 at the Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi. 50-yr-old suffers fatal stroke after UG demand: Imphal, May 2: In a bizarre incident a 50-year old headmaster of a primary school died after suffering from a BP stroke on April 30 at Moreh after he was asked to give Rs. 5 lakhs by one of the valley based UG groups, sources said. The victim, Naorem Bisembor, 50, of Tentha K...

Local bodies to shut office for five days: Imphal, Apr 22: The ongoing agitation by the members of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats is all set for further intensification as the Councillors have decided to resort to a five day office closure and pen down strike which also won the backing of Councillors of Imphal Municipal Council. An emergency meeting of the Councillors of Imphal Municipal Council held today at the office chamber of the Chairperson unanimously resolved to join the ongoing sit-in-protest/pen-down strike being observed under the banner of JAC All Manipur Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat, informed a release. members/functionaries of All manipur Municipal Council and Nagar Panchayat have been protesting against the monetary demands and interference by UG groups for the last many days. on the otherhand, as declared earlier members of Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchyats began their five day office closure and pen down stir from today to denounce hefty monetary...

Normal life affected: Imphal, Apr 21: Following the 48 hours road bandh on the Imphal-Tiddim line by the JAC Against the Killing of Sandham Raju by 3 Assam Rifles personnel at Salem Veng at Churachandpur district on January 21 this year, commercial activities were hampered along the said route. The bandh came into effect from 5 am today and was imposed by by residents of Moirang in Bishnupur district to protest against Government's alleged failure to conduct an inquiry into the alleged extra-judicial killing of Sandham Raju. These incensed members of the JAC as well as the local people , said they will now no longer ask the Government to fulfil their demand but take up different forms of stern agitation. Heeding the call of the bandh Moirang market was wore a deserted look with the business class preferring to close shop. Thousands of commuters living in the three adjoining districts were also adversely affected by the bandh . Till the time of filing this report there is no news of...

13 women hurt as bus falls into Nambul river: Imphal, Feb 3: Some 13 women were injured, at least two of them seriously, when a passenger bus fell into the Nambul river on Sunday morning near Wahengbam Leikai under Imphal West police station. The incident occurred when the bus, carrying mainly women vegetable vendors heading to Khwairamband bazar, accidentally drove into the Nambul river while trying to avoid a collision with a Maruti Van which had just emerged from the Kangabam Leikai lane. The accident occurred at around 7:30 am. The passengers were mostly vegetable vendors hailing from Nachou village in Bishnupur district Altogether 13 women, identified as Arambam Lata Devi, 40, of Nambol Maibam Lokpa Ching, Ayekpam Ibenungsi Devi, 55, of Nambol Maibam Lokpa Ching, Khoirom Manitombi Devi, 45, of Nambol Phoijing, Sorensanbam Mema Devi, 45, of Oinam village, Oinam Shanti Devi, 55, of Nambol Laitonjam, Laishram Leibaklei Devi, 40, of Nachou Maning Leikai, Arambam Chandramukhi Devi, 47,...

Mystery enquiries land several in lock-up: Imphal, Feb 2: Several persons have been picked up by the state police in the past few days after suspicious phone calls from a mobile number issued in Manipur were found to have been made to a neighbouring state making detailed enquiries concerning the movements of a prominent VVIP. According to SP, CID (special branch), the calls were found to have been made from an AIRCEL number bought on the black market through one person said to have links with an underground group. The original subscriber along with the end user and at least one person through whose hands the SIM card had passed have been taken into custody. On January 30, information was received from the intelligence wing of a neighbouring state police force that there had been suspicious calls from an Aircel number in Manipur making repeated enquiries about detailed programme of a visit of a prominent VVIP to that state. An investigation was launched, and the recorded subscriber, Lai...

Anti-Leprosy Day observed: As in other parts of the country, Anti-Leprosy Day was observed on Wednesday to coincide with the martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhiji in remembrance of the works done by him during his lifetime for the welfare of Leprosy patients at the hall of Leprosy Control Unit of Thoubal District Leprosy Society. Along with offering floral tributes to the photograph of Gandhiji, a one minute silence was observed. The main objective of the observance was to spread awareness among the people and encourage them to join hands in eradicating leprosy disease. Four persons who have been cured from the scourge of Leprosy were also felicitated with gifts at the occasion. The All Manipur Medical Department Leprosy Employees Association, AMMDLEA observed the "Anti Leprosy Day 2008 at the Leprosy Hospital, Lei-Ingkhol today at 10.30 am. The observation was marked by the distribution of gifts like blanket, fruits, etc. to the leprosy patients. As part of Anti-Leprosy week `08 observat...

State braves boycott, drizzle to celebrate R-Day: Imphal: Boycott call by insurgent outfits and the chill generated by the January rain failed to dampen the spirit of the country's 59th Republic Day celebration as an impressive crowd thronged Kangla Fort to witness the riot of colour on Saturday. The celebration culminated with the Beating of the Retreat programme at 1st Manipur Rifles ground on Sunday afternoon with Governor Dr SS Sidhu gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Prizes to position winning march past contingents, cultural troupes and schools were also distributed by the Governor. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh took the salute from the march past contingents, which official report put at 64 security forces, NCC and schools, and 14 cultural troupes apart from taleaux of nine departments highlighting acheivements and policy/programme of the Government. Soon after arrival for the function a contingent of Manipur Women Police under the command of Miss Puspanjali (IPS) a...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Reservation counter, bus parking opened: Imphal, Dec 29: Along with the inauguration of a Computerised Passenger Reservation System (CPRS) booking counter at the Churachandpur District Transport Office, a newly renovated bus parking was also opened on Saturday at Churachandpur New Bazar. The twin inauguration functions were graced by Transport Minister L Jayantakumar as chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, Jayantakumar said that out of CPRS booking counters approved by the Indian Railway authority in Imphal East, Thoubal, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, the CPRS booking counter in Churachandpur district was taken up on a priority basis. Construction work of booking counter started in November 9 at the estimated cost of Rs 1.60 lakh. For the remaining districts, construction work for CPRS booking counters will be initiated within a short time, said the Transport Minister. Observing that the inconveniences faced by the people in coming to the lone CPRS booking counter at MSRTC complex in ...

Manipuri student dies in Delhi: A Manipuri student doing his degree course in Delhi University identified as Mesak Sinate (22) s/o Damhau Sinate of Reng-kai, Churachandpur died after falling down from the second floor of a building at Lajpat Nagar, Delhi in the evening of December 25. Five militants nabbed: Five militants, belonging to three separate organizations, were nabbed during the past 24 hours in three different incidents in Manipur. Police said one militant was apprehended by Manipur Police and 39 Assam Rifles (AR) troops and Rs 70,000 was recovered from his possession. Imphal West commandos nabbed three people, suspected to be Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) cadres. In another incident, AR troops nabbed a People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) cadre and handed him over to the police on Wednesday. Source: United News of India (UNI) Another Story: Whip cracked against illegal hoardings: Acting on the instruction of the Union Ministry of Road Transport (Highway), Public Works ...

Manipur-posted soldiers gain experience: Guwahati, Dec. 27: Four decades after Thuingaleng Muivah led a team of Naga National Council (NNC) members to China for training in guerrilla warfare, the Chinese army is helping India deal with militancy. Brig D.S. Dadwal, the head of the Indian contingent that participated in the first joint military exercise between the two countries -- Hand-in-Hand 2007 -- said on his return today that the common aim of the neighbours was to eliminate the “scourge of terrorism”, The contingent, drawn from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry unit posted in Bishnupur district of Manipur, believes the experience of a joint exercise with China will help it conduct counter-insurgency operations better. “Such exercises definitely help you to hone your skills and use them at Ground Zero,” Brig. Dadwal said. The five-day drill was conducted at the Kunming Military Academy in Yunnan province of China. Battalion commander Col J.S. Budhwar said a mock hostage rescue d...

Kuki Inpi demands heroes’ spot in New Delhi: Imphal, Dec 26: Determined to reserve a specific spot at the national capital in remembrance of Kuki Rebellion of 1917-19 and World War-II Kuki martyrs, the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) is all set to intimate Central leaders to establish a martyrs’ memorial site in New Delhi. According to president of the apex Kuki body Holkholun Lhungdim, KIM would demand for a specific memorial complex in the national capital as a mark of respect to the brave Kuki soldiers who first defied the British advances in the 1917-19 rebellion and then joined the Indian National Army under Subhash Chandra Bose during the World War-II. The INA flag was hoisted on April 22, 1944 at Bishnupur district’s Moirang, which was also the INA headquarters. “In all probability we (KIM) will demand the Centre to set up a Kuki complex to commemorate supreme sacrifices by the brave Kuki soldiers,” Holkholun said. Number of Manipuris, many of them belonging to the Kuki community laid d...

UG held after shootout Troops of 7 Assam Rifles of 57 Mountain Division reportedly apprehended an underground activist after a brief shootout in Thanga at around 7.45 pm on Saturday. The cadre was identified as SS Sgt Maj Ningthoujam Samananda Singh of RPF (32) s/o N Budhi Singh of Nongmaikhong Mayai Leikai, a PIB Defence Wing statement said on Sunday. Commandos gun down two suspected militants Imphal East District Police Commandos reportedly killed two suspected underground activists during an encounter at Kongpal Laingam Loukol, four kilometer east of Porompat Police Station at around 5.10 pm on Sunday. The Commandos have also claimed to have recovered one 9 mm pistol loaded with five live rounds of ammunition and one point 32 pistol loaded with one live bullet from the possession of the slain activists whose identities are yet to be established. Full Story: Accused AI absolves UPF Retracting from his earlier statement purportedly given to ONK, AI Oinam Ibopishak of Zone-VI Educatio...

3 KYKL cadres, including Lt Great, killed: Imphal, Dec 10: Three cadres of the underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, including a self-styled lieutenant, were killed by a combined team of police commandos from Bishnupur and Imphal west districts inside a city hotel on Monday morning around 10:15 am. The police recovered one AK-47 rifle with one magazine containing 22 live rounds, one 9mm pistol with three live rounds and one .36 hand grenade in the wake of the encounter that took place at the City Inn hotel at North AOC under Imphal west police station. According to a press statement issued by the SP Imphal West Clay Khongsai, the incident took place when a team of Bishnupur district police commandos assisted by Imphal West police commandos raided the hotel this morning following a tip off of the presence of some hardcore KYKL activists. While carrying out room-to-room search at the third floor of the hotel, unknown armed persons fired towards the police commandos from one of the r...