Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

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 ...

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...

Manipur theatre artists enthrall Delhi New Delhi, Dec 30: Various theatre lovers in Delhi had a special treat from north-east India, recently as they attended a Manipuri play here. The play "When we dead awaken" was staged by Ratan Thiyam, the noted Manipuri playwright and theatre director during the Delhi Ibsen Festival organized by Royal Norwegian Embassy in collaboration with Dramatic Art and Design academy. In 1899, Henrik Ibsen wrote a story "When we dead awaken", which is about the celebrated sculptor Arnold Rubek and his wife Maia. The play, based on this story, was reflected an intense desire for life. The festival offered a platform to theatre artists for showcasing their talent. R.K Bhogen, one theatre artist, said: "We encourage those who are interested in joining theatre. Everyone is welcome. Be it a Tangkhul, Kuki or Meitei, if they are interested, we will train them." Ratan Thiyam, the theatre Director on this occasion, said: "We are ver...

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...

HTC threatens agitation: Imphal, Apr 27: An upset Hill Tribal Council, Moreh has threatened to launch intense form of agitation in case threat to the life of Moreh College Principal S Lungjapao persists or the Government fails to take appropriate measures to ensure safety of the responsible citizen. In release received today, HTC president Jangmang Haokip and general secretary Ginsei Lhungdim recounted that neither has the press communique of the KSO nor subsequent consultation meeting between representatives of the Kuki students' body and AMSU could bring about an end to the impending threat to the life of S Lungjapao who is also the advisor of HTC. Detailing on the purported threat, the HTC statement said as recently as on March 17 an attempt was made to abduct the College Principal while on his way between Imphal and Pallel which the individual himself managed to foil. Nine days after the said incident another similar attempt was made by some gunmen who inquired whether or not L...

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...

SHDC opposes enforcement of PR Act: Imphal, Apr 22: The Sadar Hills District Committee claimed to have submitted a memorandum to the CM on its objection regarding enactment of Panchayati Raj Act in Sadar Hills which the body construed as the state Govt relying on 'divide and rule' policy. Reminding that SHDC had already expressed opposition to implementation of Panchayati Raj in the sub-division, the body asserted that it would not allow further division of Sadar hills on communal line. Instead of exclusion of villages/areas located within Sadar Hills from the purview of Zila Parishad/Panchayati Raj which is in total disregard to the sentiment of Sadar Hills people the State Govt is once again trying to nominate members of Pradhan and Gram Panchayat for the vacant wards/constituencies which is totally illegal and against the recently held election results, an SHDC statement maintained. The SHDC also recounted that till 1983 entire villages/areas in the three sub-divisions of Sa...

Cops crack case: New Delhi, Jan 3: A monetary dispute with banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) led to the murder of a prominent Kuki leader in the capital two months ago and 10 people were allegedly involved in hammering him to death. Out of the 10, police has managed to arrest two men from Punjab on December 21, police said on Thursday. Implicated in the case is one Luwangamba of the UNLF. The UNLF had already expelled Luwangamba from the outfit earlier, said a spokesman. Khuplam Hangsing (35), chairman of banned Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), died under mysterious circumstances on November 12 at his brother's rented accommodation in Sriniwaspuri of west Delhi and intra-group rivalry was suspected to be the reason behind the murder. The investigation of the murder was handed over to Special Cell of the city police and after probing KRA's inter and intra-group rivalries, they zeroed in on two persons who were allegedly involved in the operation. While Malkeet Singh, ...

Three suspected UGs shot by AR: Troops of the 18 Assam Rifles have killed at least three suspected militants in an encounter early Saturday morning in the Kuljang area of Chandel district, official sources have said. A statement issued by the PRO, HQ, IGAR (South) said columns of the 18 AR had launched a massive operation in the thick jungles of the Kuljang area last night based on specific intelligence, and early this morning at approximately 5:40 am, troops established contact with the UGs. The area was surrounded by the troops and the UGs fired at, which continued till 6:10 am. In a subsequent search of the area, the bodies of three unidentified UGs were recovered. Two automatic weapons, including a US made carbine and a 9 mm Sten carbine were recovered from the spot. The bodies along with the recovered arms were handed over to Tengnoupal police station today, the statement said. Source: The Imphal Free Press One shot at the leg: A man identified as Thounoujam Dhananjoy, son of ...

KSO wants UGs to be flushed out: The KSO Chandel district has urged the security forces to clear landmines and to flush out UG elements from Khengjoi area of Chandel district so that the people of the area can live and work without any fear psychosis. The student body also appealed to both the security forces and the UG groups to avoid collateral damages and to protect the lives of civilians while in the battlefield. The KSO, while appealing to all NGOs in the state to refrain from any misleading rumour or propaganda, warned all concerned not to use local people for the benefits of their vested interests. It alleged that Haopu Haokip, Tonglet Khongsai and Ngamkhojang alias Simthar were forced to appear before media to speak falsehoods in favour of UGs and civil societies in order to gain public support against the operations of security forces. Yet, the KSO sought attention of both the state and central governments towards the plight of the affected villagers in the back drop of the on...

State cyclists win more medals: Manipur added one gold and same number of silver to its overnight tally of one gold, two silver and one bronze medal on the second day of the 13th national Road Cycling Championship at Erode in Tamil Nadu on Friday. L Maniton clocked 44:59.59 sec to win the 30 km individual time trial event while N Chaoba, K Suchitra, T Neeta and I Gautamani raced to the 50 km road team time trial silver medal with a timing of 1 hour 27 min 53.08 sec. Meiraa wrest hockey title: K Chinglensana's brace helped Meiraa, Bashikhong, clinch the title of the 19th G Dwijamani Sharma Memorial six-a-side men's hockey tournament with a 2-1 victory over SAI RC, Takyel at Yumjao Lairembi Lampak at Imphal on Friday. The one hour game saw SAI surge ahead in the 49th minute through K Naocha before the eventual champions rallied with Chinglensana scoring in the 54th and 59th minutes. Chinglensana was declared player of the final while Kh Kothajit of PHAM-W was adjudged the best pl...

Villagers flee crossfire: Imphal, Dec. 25: Neneng Haokip, 19, had returned home to Dingpi village in Manipur’s Thoubal district to celebrate Christmas with her family members. However, the 19-year-old student was shocked when she found that her family members had fled their village to escape the crossfire between militants and security forces. “My family did not inform me that they were leaving the village. When I went there I was told by those who had stayed behind that my family had fled to Moreh. I then went to the border town and finally met my parents at Sugnu in Thoubal district,” she said. Not just Haokip’s family, nearly 500 villagers have reportedly fled the area after security forces launched a massive operation on November 18 to flush out militants of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF). All the villagers in this tribal belt belong to the Kuki community and are Christians. The security forces are inching forward towards the Indo-Myanmar border via New Somtal Road. Th...

Imphal book fair winds up The Imphal Book Fair jointly organised by the State Central Library and Kolkata-based Raja Ram Mohun Roy Foundation wound up on Monday at Hapta Kangjeibung. The book fair started on December 16. This year’s Best Reader Award constituted by State Central Library went to Dr L Mangal Khuman of Nepra Menjor Mamang, Khwairakpam Leikai, Imphal. The Best Book Production award for the year went to “Khambi Meigi Mashasing,” a book translated into Manipuri by Dr Soibam Ibocha, a senior police officer while the Best Stall decoration was bagged by M/S Mittal Publications, New Delhi. The Best Disciplined Stall prize was bagged buy M/S Priya Books, New Delhi. The three award winners were also presented with Rs 500 each. KLA condemns detention of civilians The KLA has strongly condemned the act of the KNF (P) in detaining innocent civilians near Sapermeina on NH-39 following a gun fight at Nongpok Keithelmanbi with the PLA on December 23. Such action might create communal mi...

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 ...