Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

MLAs decry culture of violence: Imphal, Apr 27: Highlighting suffering of the masses owing to increasing trend of gun culture and related violence perpetrated by both security forces and banned armed outfits marked the second Occupancy Day observance held today at GM Hall here under the aegis of Occupancy Day Observation Committee. The Day is informed to be observed in grief of the then British colonial forces crushing the erstwhile independent Manipur on this day in 1891 . speaking as the chief guest Naoriya Pakhanglakpa AC's MLA RK Anand decried that violent activities that had been besieging the State has exceeded level of tolerance in every aspect and observed that in case such trend persists future of Manipuri society is very bleak. Equally condemning wanton killings by activists of banned armed outfits as well as extra judicial elimination by trigger happy security force personnel, the legislator called for sanity and reliance upon existing legal provisions in sorting out all...

Nurturing beauty among currents of violence: If the masthead of this newspaper (The Telegraph) were long enough, or if the type it used were smaller, this column could have carried the title: ‘MEETING A MAESTRO ON A MISTY MORNING IN MANIPUR’. Over the past decade, the little and beautiful state of Manipur has replaced the larger and even more beautiful state of Nagaland as the second most troubled part of India (the Kashmir valley, of course, being the first). Other insurgencies in modern India have been, for the most part, a straight contest — between the insurgents and the Indian State. True, the rebels have had their factions, but these are all united by the dream, or fantasy, of taking their territory out of India to construct a new, sovereign, nation. In Manipur, on the other hand, there are three distinct insurgencies in simultaneous operation. The first insurgency is led and staffed by the Meiteis of the Imphal Valley. This seeks to make the whole of Manipur, as it now stands, i...

RIMS works entrusted to Central panel: Imphal, Apr 23: With financial management of the State Government far from being satisfactory and taking into account unstable law and order situation development works of RIMS is informed to have been entrusted to the Central Government's public undertaking Hospital Services Consultant. A top official of the medical institute stated that incompetency of the State Government in the utilisation of the annual plan allocation coupled with the prevailing law and order uncertainty has led to the Central Government to adopt a more pragmatic approach so as to ensure development funds do not fall into wrong hands. The official further informed that development works to be handled by the Consultant include those envisioned under the Prime Minister's special package of Rs 100 crore as well as under the Phase-II project of similar programmes. On the other hand, to take a first hand account of works to be implemented under the Phase-II Project, archit...

Ratan Thiyam to be honoured with D.Lit: The Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, has conferred the Degree of Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) on renowned dramatist Ratan Thiyam of Manipur. A message from the vice chancellor of the university, Prof Karunasindhu Das, has informed that the dramatist will be honoured with the degree at the university’s 33rd Annual Convocation slated to be held on May 7 at the Jorasanko Thakurbari in appreciation of Thiyam’s highly distinguished contribution in the area of drama. Abdul Kalam's poetry books released: Manipuri version of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam's poetry compilation "The Life Tree" translated by SP (CID) Dr Ibocha Soibam was released on Sunday at Imphal office of Writers' Forum by the Forum's president IS Kangjam. Noted author BS Ramkumar elaborated on the Manipuri version of the book entitled "Punshi Pamel". Meanwhile, a book entitled "Gandhigee Mityengdagee' penned by Moirangthe...

Bird-flu result negative: A bird-flu awareness campaign was organised by Joint Director, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry on Tuesday at Moirang Lamkhai following reports of death of fowls in the area. Blood samples from five bulbuls were collected for testing even as samples from other poultries could not be collected as the dead fowls were not available. Meanwhile, results of the samples from the dead Magpies collected from Maharabi were found negative. The results have come from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal. Unity Team in Dimapur: The team which has embarked on a tour on the theme of Love, Peace and Unity has reached Dimapur, said a statement by the organising body, Young Horizon, on Tuesday. The rallyists who were flagged off on January 30 from Kangla to promote peace, love and unity amongst the people was welcomed by the Naga community of Nagaland Naga community of Nagaland with love and encouraging words, said the statement. The Manipur Cultural Society, Kohi...

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...

'Kangla Food products safe for health': All the products of the Kangla Food are safe for health and nature friendly, claimed its proprietor Akhom Birendra. Speaking to reporters at its factory premises at Nambol Chingmang Phoijing on Sunday, Birendra conveyed that in addition to the Assam State Public Health Laboratory report which said that seven items of the Kangla Food products are safe for health, the Manipur Pollution Control Board, after inspecting its oven, has also declared that the factory is not hazardous to environment. At present, the Kangla Food is producing 22 different items. Out of these, the most popular seven items were sent for laboratory test, Birendra said. Full Story: Indians freed from Myanmar: Four Indians who have been imprisoned in Myanmar for a long time were freed on Sunday and handed over to Moreh police station. They have been brought to Imphal. The four Indian prisoners who were freed are identified as Lal Bahadur (35) s/o Anil Bahadur of Murshida...

Barak Valley Adventure Academy in the offing: Imphal, Dec 29: For the formation of Manipur Levy 2008 to undertake a "historic march of Manipur diaspora", the Barak Valley Adventure Academy will be set up in Bon Tarapur, Cachar in January. The name of Manipur Levy is closely associated with the history of Manipur as it was this same Levy which assembled at Barak Valley under Gambhir and Narsingh and marched on to Manipur to liberate the kingdom from the invading Burmese soldiers at the fag end of Seven Years' Devastation period (1819-26). After about 200 years, the unarmed Manipur Levy 2008 will be constituted together with the Manipuris now settling in Assam and Tripura. The Levy will set out on foot for Kangla from Cachar through Jiribam on December 16 next year. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, chairman of the Bir Tikendrajit Anniversary Celebration Committee and managing trustee of the Tikendrajit Memorial Trust RK Ranendrajit said that after arriving at Kangla, the ...

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 ...

Harps on state integrity issue: Imphal, Dec 26: The MPP on Wednesday wound up its two-week long 40th foundation observation at its office. The closing function started with a trip to the Kangla Laiphamlen and from there the party’s flag was brought which was then hoisted at its office by its president Dr L Chandramani. Dr Chandramani and MLA O Joy graced the function as the president and chief guest respectively. Apart from the party’s MLAs, panchayat members and members of the Imphal Municipal Council turned up in huge drove to attend the day’s closing function. Addressing the gathering, O Joy gave a vivid account of the party, from its inception to its present situation. The MPP was born with the idea that a regional party formed in the State would be in a much better position to look after the welfare of the people than the National parties, which have its roots at New Delhi, said Joy. The first priority of the MPP is to ensure the territorial integrity of Manipur, he said and added...

15 wounded in critical condition, women take to streets: Imphal, Dec 17: Out of the 22 wounded in Sunday’s bomb blast and admitted in various hospitals, seven have been discharged while 15 remain in critical condition. Two of the injured, Takhellambam Kiran and Thounaojam Premkumar, have been admitted to the RIMS eye ward, while Okram Ingobi, 35, Konthoujam Michael, 20, Hekrujam Herojit, 28, Singam Premananda, 32, Wahengbam Bembem, 14, Singam Singhajit, 18, and Maibam Amar, 14, were admitted at RIMS ortho ward. Heikrujam Rasheswori, 42, Nambram Somorendro, 19 are in the RIMS surgery ward, Mayengbam Ibethoi, 32, in the RIMS female eye ward, while Thangjam Abung, 20, is being kept in the RIMS casualty for further observation. Another injured victim is currently at JN hospital while one more is at Shija Hospital. The bodies of all seven killed in the blast remain unclaimed at RIMS morgue till Monday, but as per the agreement with the JAC, the families would take them on Tuesday. Outraged...