Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

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. ...

BRO entrusted with more road works: Imphal, Apr 27: The Imphal-Maram portion of NH-39 will be taken over by the Border Road Organization along with a portion of the NH-150 from 251 km to 402 km which is also likely to be taken over by the same agency, said an official source. The Union ministry of shipping, road transport and highways had issued a notification on February 5, 2008 directing the BRO to take over the development and maintenance of the stretch of NH-39, the source said adding that the state government had intimated the clearance of the portion of the NH-150 from 251 km to 402 from militant presence last December and requested for take over. The NH-39 which is the main lifeline for the state of Manipur starts from Numaligarh in Assam and ends at Moreh, a border town in Manipur bordering Myanmar. The 80 km long Imphal-Maram section of the Highway-39 is being maintained by the state public works department while Dimapur-Kohima-Maram section is being maintained by BRO for the ...

15-member Delhi team in Imphal: Imphal, Apr 25: A 15-member team from Delhi led by the Union Cabinet Secretary arrived at Imphal on Friday to take stock of the law and order situation as well as discuss developmental projects being taken up in the State. The team led by Cabinet Secretary M Chandrasekhar landed at Tulihal airport on Friday at about 4.25 pm from a special aircraft of the Indian Air Force and they were received by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, DGP Y Joykumar and a host of other State officials. On the other hand, the State Government has taken a serious view over the absence of an MCS officer who was not found present at his place of assignment in connection with the arrival of the team from Delhi. Straight on their arrival the team called on Governor Dr SS Sidhu at the Raj Bhawan at 4.30 pm and later met the Chief Minister in his office chamber at 5.30 pm. Though details of the itinerary of the team are not available, a reliable source said that a cultural programme was...

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...

Civilians made scapegoats after UG clashes: Imphal, Dec 24: Fifteen passengers of an inter-state bus heading for Guwahati, including students and teachers of a private school, were abducted by armed militants near Sapermeina on NH-39 and detained for a few hours on Sunday afternoon. The abduction took place apparently as a consequence of a shootout between cadres of some underground groups last night near Nongpok Keithelmanbi, and the abducted persons were released reportedly after an understanding was reached among the groups involved. The abducted passengers included eight students and a teacher of the Hundred Flowers School, Pangei, who were leaving on an excursion trip to Sikkim. All the abducted passengers belong to the Meitei community. According to other passengers travelling on the same vehicle, a tourist bus operated by GG Travels, the vehicle were stopped by armed gunmen at a lonely spot on NH-39 just beyond Sapermeina, and the Meitei male passengers singled out and detained ...

Chauhan leaves Imphal, no comments on regime change: Imphal, Dec 13: Union Minister of State and AICC general secretary north east in-charge Prithivi Raj Chauhan left Imphal on Thursday after concluding his three-day visit to the state, making no comments on the question of regime change which rebel Congress MLAs are demanding. Even though he refused to comment on the crisis, replying to questions raised by journalists at the concluding part of the inspection, Chauhan said, "I am satisfied with the works progress". However, he refused to comment on the main purpose of his visit to the state, the question of replacement of Ibobi as chief minister of Manipur. Officially Chauhan came to Imphal to inspect the status of the implementation of works taken up in the state with Central funds under the Prime Minister`s package. After his return to New Delhi he is scheduled to visit other states of the country where projects were taken up under the same package of the Prime Minister, an...

Chauhan ‘satisfied’, but projects have long way to go: Imphal, Dec 13: The statement of the Union minister of state in the Prime Minister`s Office, Prithivi Raj Chauhan, "I am satisfied with the work progress," has left questions unanswered in the minds of the people of the state particularly the Congressmen in the state, as it seems to contradict what he witnessed during his inspections of the project sites. Congress MLAs, from both the camps may have not expected such a statement from the visiting Union minister, especially after he heard the views of the state officials during the project progress status review meeting held on the first day of his visit to the state. Mention may be made that Chauhan came to the state capital on a three-day visit not as a Central observer of the ongoing crisis within the state Congress over the replacement issue of O Ibobi Singh but to inspect the progress of the projects implemented in the state under the Prime Minister`s package for recon...