Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

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...

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...

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...

JAC objects extension of Imphal Airport: A joint meeting of the JAC Against Acquisition of Land for Expansion and Extension of Imphal Airport with representatives of various civil organisations has resolved to urge upon the Government to develop Imphal airport within the existing area of 600 acres, informed a press release issued by the JAC. The joint meeting held on Saturday at Manipur Press Club, Imphal, was attended by representatives of CCDD, AMUCO, UCM, HERICOUN, UMO etc. The meeting agreed that the Government plan to acquire additional 512 acres of land cannot be justified. In case the Government decides to go ahead with the land acquisition move, the JAC and the civil organisations will stand firm to foil the move. If the Government fails to pay heed to democratic forms of protest, the JAC together with the civil organisations will take recourse to violent modes of agitation, it warned. Mithamana traders tonsured as penalty: In continuation of its drive against tobacco products,...

Employees accuse buying of second-hand item: Imphal, Jan 27: The Loktak Development Authority (LDA) has been accused of purchasing a worn out dredging machine at a rate fitting brand new ones after repairing them. The worn out machine was lying unused at Chilka Lake, Orissa. In this connection, the LDA Employees and Workers’ Association has decided to launch an agitation against the LDA management for allegedly violating the agreement it signed with the association. Briefing media persons at Manipur Press Club on Sunday, general secretary of the association T Ravi disclosed that the worn out machine already laid off in Chilka Lake was sold to the LDA after repairing by TAMAC company at Rs 2.9 lakh. However, the LDA claimed that the machine was bought at Rs 20 lakhs, asserted Ravi. Even as Rs 20 crores was sanctioned to the LDA in 2007 to remove Phumdis from Loktak Lake, there has been little progress in this regard. For removing a chunk of Phumdi or an isolated piece, the LDA often rel...

Kangleipakki Meira's foundation day: The 27th foundation day of the Kangleipakki Meira daily was celebrated at its office premises at Keishampat Junction, Imphal on Wednesday. The celebration was graced by founder member of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union Yumnam Ajit and secretary of Dimapur Meitei Union Binod Khaba as chief guest and president respectively. On the occasion, the daily's chief editor Wangkhemcha Samjai presented a brief history of the daily since it was established 27 years ago. MACS Director row resolved: Following a judgment of the Gauhati High Court issued on Wednesday, the impasse over the post of Project Director for Manipur AIDS Control Society has been settled. According to the judgment passed by a single bench of the Gauhati High Court, Dr Kh Pramodkumar has been reinstalled as Project Director of MACS. Dr Pramodkumar held the post of MACS project director before he took over as State Opthalmic Officer. In the meantime, Deputy Director TR Kom ...