Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

Hospital abuzz with Sharmila’s health: Imphal, Jan. 4: Hospital authorities are worried over the “deteriorating” health of Manipur’s human rights crusader Irom Sharmila who has refused nasal feeding for the past 12 days. Sharmila, who has been on a fast unto death since November 2000, is surviving only on nasal feeding for more than seven years now in the security ward of Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital. Doctors and nurses attending on the crusader today confirmed that Sharmila is being fed only once at 9pm instead of the regular five times a day. “She did not give any reason for her refusal to accept the feeding,” one of the nurses attending on her said. She has not made any complaints either. “She takes a walk regularly and does yoga,” the nurse said. The nurses speculated that Sharmila could be disturbed by the death of eight bus passengers in a bomb blast at Pourabi in Imphal East district on December 16. But medical experts warned that if this continued, her health would deteri...

Sharmila refuses regular feeding: Imphal, Jan 2: Irom Chanu Sharmila has reportedly refused regular nasal feeding since December 17 a day after the Pourabi bomb blast. According to a statement issued by the Human Rights Alert, its executive director called on the hunger striker on December 31 during which Sharmila recounted images of the blast victims when brought to the JN Hospital and her subsequent refusal to forgo all artificial feedings into her body. Informing that only after insistence by the hospital authorities she accepted at least one feeding a day against the normal dose of five, the rights body conveyed that Sharmila had actually desired to meet the Chief Minister. With the CM not turning up, Sharmila endured the minimal feeding for over two weeks and had become visibly weak and lost considerable weight, said the HRA release. Quoting sources, the HRA informed of the Chief Minister calling on Sharmila on January 1 afternoon but conceded that it has no information. Sharmila,...

AR CO extends aid, 11 still critical: Imphal, Dec 27: Out of 31 persons who sustained injuries in the December 16 bomb blast near Pourabi Lamjing Meira High School, eleven are still undergoing treatment in critical condition at JN Hospital, RIMS and Shija Hospital. This is in addition to eight killed in the blast. A statement issued by the ‘JAC Against the Pourabi Huidrom Bomb Blast’ informed that of the injured victims undergoing treatment in RIMS, Konthoujam Michael's right leg is in a critical condition even after his left leg had been amputated at knee. The JAC has also expressed its gratitude to the CO of 39 Assam Rifles, Col Bikramjit for extending financial help to the tune of Rs 55,000. Hit by splinters at legs, hands, back with a part of his left heel already severed, Okram Imobi (36) is also battling for life in hospital. Mangjam Abung (20) is suffering from broken back bone and spinal cord. With his two fingers already severed, Heikrujam Herojit (30) is also staring at p...

Hands over Rs one lakh ex-gratia: Imphal, Dec 24: Terming the Pourabi bomb blast of December 16 last which claimed the lives of eight persons and wounded around 30 others as a cowardly act of terrorism, chief minister O Ibobi Singh on Monday pledged that the government would spare no efforts to find and punish those behind the blast. The chief minister, who returned to Imphal from New Delhi on Monday afternoon, met representatives of the families of the deceased at his official bungalow shortly after his arrival in the state capital and handed over ex-gratia amounting to Rs. 1 lakh each. However, the next of kin of two of the victims, L Devika daughter of Gulap of Keibi and P Ibethoi, daughter of Bungjao of Sekta Mayai Leikai, were not present apparently as they could not be informed in time. Ibobi Singh, consoling the families, said the guilty persons who were behind the horrendous act would never be spared, asserting that every effort is being made to find and punish them. Ibobi, whi...

Governor decries blast: Imphal, Dec 19: Joining the outcry against the December 16 bomb blast which claimed eight lives besides injuring more than 20, Governor Dr SS Sidhu has termed it a sheer act of barbarism. Stating that the act deserved strong condemnation from all sections of the Society, the Governor conveyed deep pain at the cowardly act of planting and setting off the bomb. He also advised the State Government to take up effective action against the perpetrators of the heinous crime so that the rule of law and respect for authority is ensured. The BJP Manipur Pradesh has also come out strongly against the December 16 bomb blast at Pourabi. BJP termed the bomb blast an act of terror. The Senior Citizens for Society has also condemned the blast in the strongest terms. Source: The Sangai Express Related Story:

JAC seeks financial help from public: Imphal, Dec 19: With some of those critically injured in the Pourabi bomb blast of December 16 likely to require further medical treatment outside the state, the JAC, Pourabi has solicited assistance from the public to help meet expenses likely to be incurred by them. In this connection, two helpline units are being set up at RIMS and JN hospitals from Thursday, said a statement issued by the JAC, Pourabi. The JAC has also expressed its profound gratitude to all those individuals, social organisations, meira paibi groups, transporters, doctors and hospital staff, and others who had extended their assistance to the victims of the bomb blast, whether by coming forward personally, providing vehicles, supplying medicines, or donating cash. It also acknowledged those who have issued statements of condemnation of the incident. Meanwhile, the Centre of Child and Youth Development, Keibi Mayai Leikai, has demanded that the proscribed RPF/PLA should court m...

RPF’s story cuts no ice with JAC: Imphal, Dec 18: While appreciating the stand of the proscribed RPF/PLA in coming out with its claim and explanation on the bomb blast at Pourabi promptly to dispel confusion from the minds of the people, the Joint Action Committee Against Pourabi-Huidrom Bomb Blast has however categorically stated that the explanation furnished is not to the satisfaction of the people and the JAC. In a statement, the JAC said that people would never compromise on killing innocent person by any organisation. The words and the expressions used in the explanation were intended only to cover up the mistake of the outfit. It is a fallacy to live under the impression that the people of Manipur, who have been awakened and are now fully aware of the global revolution taking place, would keep quiet simply after being furnished an explanation, the statement of the JAC signed by its convenor L Bimolata Devi said, adding that it is high time to understand that gun culture would no...

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...

Death toll rises to eight: Imphal, Dec 18: With one more victim succumbing to injuries on Tuesday, the death toll in the bomb blast at Pourabi under Lamlai Police Station on December 16 has risen to eight even as the corpses of the other victims have been taken after post-mortem examination amidst heart-rending cries of their dear and near ones. The latest blast victim who died at RIMS Hospital at around 1.45 pm on Tuesday where he was undergoing treatment has been identified as Singam Premanand (32) s/o late Ibopishak of Keibi Awang Leikai. The powerful bomb blast that ripped through a running mini bus plying along the road in between Pourabi and Huidrom had killed three passengers on the spot and wounded over thirty others. The three persons who were killed at the spot were identified as Soibam Bobby (32) s/o Bobo of Keibi Mayai Leikai, Phijam Thoi (20) s/o Bonjaoba of Sekta Mayai Leikai and Singam Inao (24) s/o Gunadhor of Tiger Camp. Later on, four more injured victims passed away ...

Ibobi, Patil condemn blast: Imphal, Dec 17: Conveying deep anguish on the Pourabi bomb blast, Chief Minister O Ibobi has condemned the act in the strongest term. Speaking from Delhi, the Chief Minister lambasted the blast as the most cowardly act. He noted that no human society can tolerate such brutal act. He also pledged that all those involved in the blast will be hunted down and awarded befitting punishment. While sharing pain and grief of the bereaved families, the Chief Minister assured all possible assistance to families of the deceased and injured. On the other hand, along with retrieving the Canter which suffered impact of the blast by the police, bomb experts of state Police Department investigated the blast site on Monday. The owner of the ill-fated Canter (MN03/5286) has been identified as one Konthoujam Chandramani (62) of Lilong Arapti. The Canter was being driven by his own son identified as K Somendro who escaped unhurt. Meanwhile, Union Home Ministry on Monday sought a...

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...

RPF owns responsibility, regrets: Imphal, Dec 17: Owning responsibility for planting the bomb at Pourabi on Sunday evening, the proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) has expressed its regret and asked forgiveness of the people. The outfit, however, maintained that it was the ‘enemy’ who set off the bomb just as the ill-fated passenger bus was approaching the site. In a statement, assistant secretary of communication and publicity of the outfit Lily Leima said the bomb which led to the unfortunate incident was planted by members of its armed wing PLA. For over two days, many vehicles crossed the site and it remained totally safe. But in the morning of the day of the blast, the enemy had arrested two persons working for the outfit and managed to identify the spot where the bomb had been planted. Instead of removing the bomb, the ‘enemy’ made it to trigger when the ill-fated passenger bus crossed the spot. For this unfortunate incident, RPF is remorseful, the statement said. Recal...

Seven killed in bus bomb blast: Imphal, Dec 16 : At least seven passengers, including three women, were killed when a bomb planted in the middle of the road exploded and ripped through the bus (407 Mini Canter) in which they were travelling on Sunday at about 5.10 pm at a spot in between Pourabi and Huidrom on the Imphal-Pukhao road under Lamlai police station in Imphal East. While three of them were killed on the spot, another three succumbed to their injuries at RIMS while another died at JN hospital, Porompat. All the dead bodies as well as injured were nothing less than masses of flesh with their limbs blown away. Many more are still in critical custody in the hospitals and the number of death may increase. So powerful was the blast that it flung the bus about 25 feet away from the explosion spot. The bus was a mangled remains of metal, when this reporter reached the spot. Most of the passenger seats were found ripped away by the impact of the blast while the two rear tyres were pu...