Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Imphal, June 16 : A man and a woman were injured when a powerful bomb planted inside a two-wheeler exploded in Imphal, Manipur on Tuesday. Reportedly, it went off in front of the II Manipur Rifles Battalion office around 9.30 in the morning. "I heard the loud sound of explosion and found that there was a bomb blast. One woman receive minor injurious. She is now hospitalised. Investigation has begun, however at the moment we cannot identify the culprit behind the blast," said L. Chandramani Singh, a police inspector, Imphal. Eyewitnesses said that the magnitude of the blast was so great that the scooter inside which the bomb is believed to be planted was dismantled into pieces. Both the injured were rushed to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital where they are undergoing treatment. Further, the splinters tore an iron gate located around 100 yards from the blast site. Following the incident, the security personnel in the state were put on high alert while the general public around the...

Manipuri girl found dead Imphal/Mumbai, July 15 : A 27-year-old Manipuri girl working as a customer relationship manager in a Mumbai five star hotel was found dead in her hostel at Marol in Andheri shortly after midnight on Friday. Ch. Alena’s body was found hanging by a dupatta from the balcony of the hostel she shared with three other girls, authorities at Hotel Leela Kempinski said. But injury marks in her private parts have raised suspicions that she may have been sexually assaulted before being strangulated. Though family members performed the last rites at Kongpal Kshetri Leikai of Imphal East this afternoon, they demanded a thorough probe by the Mumbai police into the circumstances leading to her death. Chabungbam Ashok Kumar Singh, who brought his sister’s body home, said the family was “informed over phone on Saturday by hostel authorities that she was seriously ill, so come fast”. When Ashok Kumar reached Mumbai on Sunday, his sister’s body was already in the morgue. “They (t...

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. ...

Normal life affected in Manipur: Imphal, May 2 (PTI) The BJP-sponsored general strike against price rise affected normal life in Manipur on Friday with shops, markets and business establishments remaining closed. Very few vehicles were visible on the roads in view of the strike, official sources said. However, transport services between Manipur and the neighbouring states were not affected by the strike. Attendance in government offices was also normal. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state. Source : Press Trust of India Another Story :

Rapist lynched at Andro: Imphal, Apr : A father of six was poked by sharp weapons and left to bleed to death by a mob in an Imphal East village last night for allegedly raping a mentally challenged 11-year-old a month ago. By the time his family members found Aheibam Pishak, the 41-year-old was dead. Without a murmur of protest against the street justice, villagers of Andro Makha Leikai cremated Pishak today — not even waiting for a police team to arrive. Pishak had allegedly lured the victim from his neighbouring village into a temple with the promise of sweets and raped her while her family celebrated a festival. “The rapist took our daughter inside the temple while the villagers were celebrating Thabal Chongba (dancing in the moonlight) on March 27 night. He assaulted her twice and freed her after giving her Rs 10 and threatening her against revealing the incident to anyone,” a relative of the victim said. The girl did not disclose the assault to her parents, but narrated the ordeal...

Imphal auto drivers protest against militants demands: Imphal, Apr 25: Joining the anti-militant chorus in Manipur, auto rickshaw drivers protested against underground groups for extortion demands. The All Manipur Auto Rickshaw Owners and Drivers Association staged a sit-in protest in Imphal demanding a free atmosphere and an assurance of security from the government. Carrying placards with slogans "Do not harass us before the repayment of loans to the banks", "Do not harass the daily bread earners", " Are you a revolutionary or mafia", hundreds of auto owners and drivers were participated in the protest. "Various underground groups demand money from us when we don't even earn much. We would like to plead them to look at us differently and not demand extortions from us," said K. Biteshwor Sharma, General Secretary, Manipur Auto Rickshaws Owners and Drivers Association. Most of the auto owners and drivers are educated who took to the profess...

Meinya takes up rail cause for NE States: New Delhi, Apr 23: Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency Dr Thokchom Meinya, has underlined that all the State capitals in the North Eastern states except Dispur, capital of Assam have no rail connection. Though it was a long pending demand to connect all State capitals by trains, it is not yet implemented in the North Eastern region. Dr Meinya urged the Union Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav to connect the remaining seven State capitals of North East Region by rail without any delay. Participating at the discussion on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Railways for the year 2008-09 on Thursday last in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentarian from Manipur stated that the total length of railways in the North Eastern region is about 500 Kms, though the size of the entire North East is one tenth of the whole country. He also pointed out that the British constructed half of the existing rail-lines in the North E...

Govt accounts for diverted police funds still not settled: Imphal, Apr 21: Documents relating to the release of Rs. 2 crores for the modernization of the police force in Manipur, which was diverted for security related expenditure during the Vth National Games held in Imphal during the year 1998-99, is yet to be furnished to the Union ministry of home affairs even after 10 years have passed, a source has said. Despite reminders from the Union ministry of home affairs for furnishing the same with the latest intimation asking for furnishing of the same before the closing of this year 2007-08, the same is pending with the Manipur government, the source further said. The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ending 31st March 2003, financial accounts 2002-03 as well as appropriation accounts 2002-03 for the state of Manipur had revealed the diversion of the funds by the Manipur government. Out of the said amount of Rs. 2 crores released for modernization of po...

Women rally against human rights violation by armed groups: Imphal, Apr 21: Hundreds of women in Imphal took out a protest rally against militant groups for violating human rights of the common citizen. The main objective of the rally was to spread a message for protection of human rights to all sections of society in order to save future generations. The State Government was requested to take stern action against lawbreakers and criminals. The rally was organized jointly by the Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal district women's committees of United NGOs Mission Manipur at the Hapta Kangjeibung Palace compound."It's very high time to join hand-in-hand and coming together from different ethnic groups and fight against these atrocities, harassment and torture. If it is not heard by these groups, the security forces, then we will find other options," said M. Sobita Devi, convenor, United NGO's Mission, Imphal East. Kh. Shangnaidar Tontang, convenor, United NGO...

Migratory birds drop dead like nine pins: Imphal, Jan 30: Even as a red alert has been sounded all over the country following the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal on January 15, which has affected 13 of its 19 districts so far, caution has been sounded following the death of at least seven migratory birds, probably Gold Magpie, at Maharabi near Sekmai in Imphal West district during the last 48 hours. Moreover four Bulbuls (Khoining) were also found dead during the same period. This information was conveyed to The Sangai Express on Wednesday evening by the villagers of Maharabi. The Sangai Express then passed on the information to the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department. A team of media persons and a team from the VAH led by Dr K Gopal, the State Nodal Officer on Avian Influenza then rushed to the said place on Wednesday evening. Giving details, the vice president of Maharabi Youth Club, K Shyamchand said that the six migratory birds dropped dead from the trees in the village ...

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...

Four teams confirm participation: Imphal, Dec. 25: Four teams have so far registered for the National Tent Pegging Championship, which will begin at Imphal Polo ground on Thursday. The teams include Army Supply Corp, Centre North Gaya with eight horses and 23 participants, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (Basic Training Centre, Haryana) with nine horses and 19 participants, DGAR Equestrian Team with four horses and nine participants and Punjab Police with 11 horses and six riders. The West Bengal team and Calcutta Police teams will be arriving late, as they will be participating in competitions elsewhere and are likely to miss the national championship. According to inspector Dilip Kumar, the teams will probably reach Imphal on Sunday and take part in the All India Police Tent Pegging Meet and the International Tent Pegging championship. The teams are coming with 25 riders and six horses for the remaining competitions. Ten teams are expected to participate in the national meet. Manipur chie...

This time forest officials: Imphal, Dec 24: Some officials of the state forest department were abducted by suspected militants on their way to a field visit at Saikhul in Senapati district on Saturday in the latest spate of abductions in the state. Sources believed that a Kuki based militant group was behind the abduction of the officials in connection with extortion demands served to the forest department. A source said that the number of officials taken into captivity was six. However, another highly reliable source at the state forest department said the officials taken into custody numbered only four. The source disclosed the name of the four officials as DFO Ibomcha, soil conservator Lekhosei Baite and two range officers Shanti and Sital. However, another source also said two other officials who were with them on that day were also among those missing. However, this could not be officially confirmed by the source. The source said that the officials were abducted on their way to a ...

Indigenous species gets new lease of life: Imphal, Dec 24: Closely related with the history of the land and highly relished by the local people, Pengba variety of fish which was on the verge of totally disappearing from Manipur a few years back is now getting a fresh lease of life. The sole credit for regenerating this endangered indigenous fish species goes to Soibam Dhanabir of Ningombam for he succeeded where the State Government had failed. Earlier the State Government made several efforts to regenerate the fish species but failed. Speaking on Pengba Day celebration at Ningombam on Monday, Soibam Dhanabir said that in addition to its superior taste, Pengba contains Omega-3 fatty acid which is highly beneficial to health. Though once feared that Pengba might get extinct from the State, there is no cause for such worry now, claimed Dhanabir. The Pengba Day celebration jointly organised by New Zen Aquaculture Farm and Radiance Socio-Economic Development Organisation was attended by Fi...

KRA (U) clarifies: Imphal, Dec 23: The newly established KRA (U) has clarified that the detention of four students at Guwahati while they on their way from Chandigarh to Imphal was not for ransom. The outfit’s publicity secretary Lenin claimed that the abduction was carried out to teach a lesson to one Executive Engineer of Manipur Police Housing Corporation for informing police leading to arrest of its cadres when they approached him for some monetary help for party’s fund. One son of the EE was among the students detained by the KRA (U). Even as the other students were asked to leave, they refused, Lenin said. He further asked officials of all Departments not to challenge or defy the KRA (U) and warned that any official disregarding the outfit will be dealt with severely. Lenin also appealed for cooperation from the public towards its activities. Guwahati police tight lipped:

Life size statue to be installed at Konung Mamang: Imphal, Dec 23: The Manipur government is considering installation of a life size statue of Thangal General, one of the two national heroes of Manipur who was hanged in public on 13th August, 1891 by the British after the historic Anglo-Manipur war in 1891, at Konung Mamang near RDS High School. A proposal for the installation of the statue, for which the funds were earmarked during this current financial year, has been received from the state arts and culture department by the state government and a Cabinet decision is awaited, the source said. The installation of the life size bronze statue of Thangal General is felt highly appropriate in the interest of the general public, the official said recalling the life of the national hero who sacrificed his life for the motherland. The British did not spare 85-year old Thangal General alias Kangabam Chidananda considering the fact that he had vast experience as a great statesman, administrat...

Two Manipuris among 33 winners: New Delhi, Dec 20: Renowned playwright Yumnam Rajendro who was associated with Panthoibi Natya Mandir, Imphal, Gouranga Leela and Th. Brindasabi Devi from Manipur were among the 33 eminent persons selected for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for the year 2007. There was no awardee for Manipuri classical dance this year. The Akademi Ratna is restricted to 30 living personalities at any given point of time. Lalthangfala Sailo and Yumnam Rajendra Singh got the award for playwriting. Subodh Deb Barma from Tripura was awarded the Sangeet Natak Academi award for his contribution to tribal dance. Source: United News of India (UNI)

Unofficial ‘public hearing’ opposes NIT at Langol: Imphal, Dec 19: An unofficial ‘public hearing’ on the controversial issue of setting up the proposed National Institute of Technology, NIT, at Langol was conducted in Imphal on Wednesday by an independent non-government fact finding team of rights activists from New Delhi, led by Dr. John Dayal, member of National Integration Council. The ‘public hearing’, organised by the JAC for Protection of Residential, Agricultural and Wetlands, Langol-Lamphelpat and held at Shija Hospital junction, Langol, was attended by some 200 to 300 people, mostly those who would be affected if the NIT project goes ahead. Speaking to the gathering, Dr Dayal expressed regret at the imposition of prohibitory orders in Imphal West district by the district administration ahead of the public hearing. Under the Constitutional guarantee given by Article 19(i)(a) safeguarding the freedom of expression, people have a right to peacefully express their opinions and lis...

Manipur to host meet in May: Imphal, Dec 18: The Handball Federation of India has approved proposal of Manipur Handball Association to host Mini (boys) and Sub-junior (girls) National Handball Championship here from May 28 to June 3 next year. The Federation awarded the competition to Manipur at its annual general body meeting held at Guwahati on December 14.

Suspects held, DGP ridicules RPF claim: Imphal, Dec 18: The state police chief while informing that the police rounded up three bomb blast suspects, categorically denied the allegation against the security forces by the RPF in connection with the blast that claimed the lives of eight passengers and wounded more than 20 others, some critically. Talking to journalists on Tuesday morning before leaving for New Delhi, state DGP Y Joykumar informed that the police had rounded up three of the suspects involved in the planting of the IED on Monday evening. They are in police custody for further investigations, he added. The suspects were picked up from the localities near the spot where the blast took place, he said. The DGP also strongly denounced the RPF statement charging the security forces of triggering the blast deliberately to cause civilian casualties even though the cadres of the outfit planted the IED. He said the allegation was "nothing but to draw the sympathy of the people a...