vaiphei blog - vaiphei online resoure: 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Abduction cases dominate SoO talks

(Top): Congress leaders at the 93rd birth anniversary of ex-CM Moirang Koireng and (bottom) a section of the public.

IMPHAL, Dec 19: The fourth round of tripartite talks between representatives of State Government, Central security forces and Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact was held today at 1st Bn MR complex here.
The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group with UPF and KNO/KNA was held separately but at the same venue.
The meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Home) DS Poonia was also attended by State Police IG (Intelligence), officials of Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF. The UPF was represented by 12 functionaries.
Five leaders of KNO/KNA participated in the other meeting.
Although it is said that the SoO pact is tripartite and that the peace talk is between State and Central Governments and the Kuki militant groups, no official of the Union Ministry attended today’s twin meeting.
According to sources, Director (North East) RR Jha of the Union Home Ministry was supposed to join the peace talk but failed to turn up.
The recent spree of abduction of Government offi- cials by UG groups including those under SoO pact figured prominently in both the meetings.
State Government officials and AR officials issued stringent instructions to leaders of both UPF and KNO/KNA to desist from any activity that goes against the mutually accepted ground rules.
To this, UPF and KNO/KNA leaders clarified their positions.
Nevertheless, it is repor-ted that the twin peace talk went on smoothly without any hitch.
Even as the matter regarding issuance of identity cards to cadres of the two conglomerates of Kuki UG groups was discussed threadbare during the meetings, the matter was post- poned to the next round of talk as both the KNO/KNA and UPF leaders could not furnish exact list and details of their cadres.
The meeting also failed to bring a mutual understanding between the ne- gotiating sides on the location of designated camps.
Yet, it is reported that the twin issue of identity cards and designated camps will be resolved in the next round of meeting.
Although, identity cards of party cadres could not be issued yet, some top leaders of both UPF and KNO/KNA have already been issued identity cards by the Government.
The twin meeting with the SoO signatories came after a meeting of the Unified Command (Command Headquarters) was held yesterday with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the chair.
The meeting attended by representatives of Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, Police and Intelligence deliberated on the recent spate of abduction of Government officials by different UG groups for ransom. The meeting also studied possible involvement of UG groups which are under SoO pact in the abduction cases.

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Womenfolk taking out rally demanding passing of women Reservation Bill on the occassion of Human Rights Day

Abductions mar Intl Rights Protection day

Atrocities exposed by the bruised buttock of a victim
IMPHAL, Dec 10 : A series of abduction cases apparently to demand ransom in the past 48 hours undermined the observance of International Human Rights day today.
As preparations were underway to observe the day so as to highlight the ever burgeoning cases of human rights violation in this insurgency scarred State, gunmen said to be activists of an armed group took into custody the village chief of Thayong last night followed by a similar incident of ab-duction of two RIMS offi- cials earlier in the evening.
nother case of abduction took place yesterday with unidentified persons whisking away one Pungai Hungyo, Secretary of Adimjati Shiksha Ashram, Chingmeirong from his office.
A resident of Tangkhul Avenue, Pungai is an elderly person and his abduction and possible exposure to the chill of winter season is an inhumane act, said a release of Tangkhul Students’ union Imphal (Tangkhul Katamnao Long Imphal) while appealing to all concerned to immediately release Pungai.
The inhumane and mindless action of the abductors with the sole motive to extract money is all the more disgusting, the Union expressed.
Moreover, it is reported that three officials of Khadi and Village Industries were whisked away by armed persons from a Churachand-pur district location today.
Regarding the abduction of the two officials, a statement issued today by the Media Advisor, RIMS said a complaint lodged with the police enlisted the missing duo as Assistant Engineer Ng Robindro of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai and SO Y Sujeet from Sega Road.
The complaint mentioned of involvement of KCP (Ibungo Ngangom) group activists in the abduction of the two from within the RIMS complex yesterday afternoon.
With the abductors reportedly setting a deadline of December 12 to cough up Rs 3 crore to secure release of the duo an emergency meeting of RIMs employees was held today during which ‘it was resolved that it is not possible to pay the ransom’, the Media Advisor maintained.
Inspite of the meeting further cautioning that agitation would be launched in case both are not freed within 6 pm tomorrow the abduc-tors warned of extreme action (killing) against the two if the ransom amount is not paid by December 12, it added.
On the otherhand, the Thayong village chief identified as Rengneithang Kom (55) s/o (L) K Khupneiring was abducted last night with his release secured this afternoon after a sum of Rs 80,000 pooled by the villagers was handed over to the captor/s.
according to Rengnei-thang, about 15 persons clad in combat uniform and wielding sophisticated weapons whisked away the village chief from his house at around 9 pm.
The captors reportedly identified themselves as members of a Kuki National Front (KNF) group and escorted Rengneithang to a hillock near Thayong village, which is located under Senapati district but falls within the jurisdiction of Lamlai police station and assembly constituency.
The captive, whose hands were tied on the front side, along with his abductors stayed the night atop the hillock and kept themselves warm in the chilly night with blankets and other warm clothes collected by repre-sentatives of Thayong village.
Recounting his nightmarish experience in the custody of the captors, the village chief said at daybreak he was blindfolded and beaten up, and asked whether activists of the Kom rem People’s Army (KRPA) stayed at his house.
Upon responding that about 2/3 days back some KRPA members did show up at his place but have already left, the captors assaulted Rengneithang accusing him of lying besides charging him to be a KRPA member.
The abductors also accused Rengneithang of not attending a specific meeting of village chiefs and imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh which was negotiated to Rs 80,000, he detailed while adding that the captors paid back Rs 500 to the village representatives to purchase refreshment items.
Apart from the villagers complying to insistence to prepare/provide the morning meal the abductors also ordered chicken dish with the meat-size of their choice (large), further said the village chief.
Claiming themselves as the KNF members, the abductors reminded Rengnei- thang of a similar demand (Rs 1 lakh) being imposed against his predecessor.
Rengneithang had been the village chief for about a month and half.
Meanwhile, some villagers assuming that the armed persons might have reached Thayong village from the direction of Saichang village alleged that the miscreants consumed eatables amounting to about Rs 300 from a village shop apart from impounding a Nokia (6300) mobile charger.
Some of the villagers who took the meal this morning were told by the abductors of the 32 AR post located at the nearby Andro Laikot village aware of presence of the KNF activists.
They were also warned to communicate presence of other UGs in the area to avoid undesired consequences.
On the other hand, the Komrem Union Manipur taking serious note of the abduction desired that Kuki armed groups honour other community and ensure such an incident do not recur in the future.
With apparent reference to a number of Kuki armed groups having signed the suspension of operation with both the Central and State Government, information and publicity secretary of (KRUM) LT Khan expressed that Kuki armed activists resorting to abduction for ransom and imposing monetary demand tanta-mount to the Government authorising such elements to torment smaller tribes such as the Komrem community.

Participants for the Miss Orange strut their stuff while noted singer Alphina gets ready to taste the delicious orange of Tml

I
t’s 3-2 for Cong
BJP suffers defeat in Raj and Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 8:Coming up trumps in the 'semi final' ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress today delivered a shock defeat to BJP in Rajasthan and swept the polls in Delhi and Mizoram while the saffron party won convincingly to retain Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Scoring a hat-trick in Delhi and getting a two-thirds majority in Mizoram after a decade in wilderness, the party, however, fell five short of majority in the 200-member Assembly in Rajasthan.
With a number of party rebels and independents winning in Rajasthan, the party hopes to cobble a majority without any difficulty.
Ousting the Vasundhara Raje Government, the Congress won 96 seats while the BJP got 78 and BSP six. Independents have won 14 seats while others account for six, including one of Samajwadi Party.
Creating history in the Capital, the Congress led by 71-year-old Shiela Dikshit romped home with 42 seats in the 70-member Assembly, leaving BJP far behind at 23 seats with its hopes of wresting power after a decade dashed.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and all six of her Cabinet colleagues emerged victorious. Opening its account, the BSP won two seats.
In Mizoram, the Congress wrested power from the Mizo National Front, winning 29 of the 40 seats.
The elections, seen as the 'semi-final' ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year, brought cheer to the Congress which had faced debacles in 13 States after coming to power at the head of a coalition at the Centre in 2004.
The BJP, which hoped to cash in on the terror card especially after the November 26 Mumbai attacks and sweep in all the States barring Mizoram, retained its grip on Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh on development plank, breaking the jinx of failing to get re-elected in any State other than Gujarat.
Conceding defeat, BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the party's performance in the elections to the State had not been up to expectations.
"It is our defeat. The results in the Assembly polls have not been on expected lines. We will certainly review why our candidates could not win in some seats that were considered our stronghold," Malhotra said.
The women power in the new Assembly has shrunk to three, including Dikshit, from seven, though 81 candidates of the fair sex were in the fray. Besides Dikshit, Barkha Singh (RK Puram) and Kiran Walia (Malviya Nagar) were elected.
Five Muslims were also elected to the new Assembly, including Transport Minister Harun Yusuf and Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal.
Interestingly, Lalu Prasad-led RJD came to a sniffing distance with party candidate Asif Mohammad Khan losing out to three-time Congress MLA Parvez Hashmi by a razor thin margin of 400 votes in Muslim-dominated Okhla.
The contest in Okhla had assumed significance as tempers were running high following the encounter in Jamia Nagar in which two suspected terrorists allegedly involved in serial blasts across the country were killed.
This election also gave anxious moments for many top leaders like Ministers Raj Kumar Chouhan and Yusuf, Speaker Chaudhury Prem Singh and Delhi BJP chief Harsh Vardhan as they had to wait till the last round of counting to emerge victorious.
As the election results sunk in, the atmosphere in Congress and BJP was a study in contrast.
Opening of champagne bottles, bursting of fire crackers and dancing to the beating of drums was how euphoric Congress workers celebrated their victory as BJP camp wore a deserted look. PTI

Journalists mourning demise of Rishikanta; Bijoy Koijam conveying CM’s message; and protestors enforcing blockade.

Journalist’s killing condemned, scribes on indefinite strike
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 18: Inspite of an agreement between representatives of the JAC, formed in connection with the killing of Konsam Rishi-kanta Singh and the State Government, the print and electronic media under the aegis of All manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) will suspend publication and broadcast of news item for an indefinite period with effect from tomorrow.
Decision to cease publication of newspapers from November 20 onwards was adopted at an emergency general body meeting of AMWJU held this afternoon at Manipur Press Club, Major Khul.
Among many other resolutions, it was decided to stage sit-in-protest till the culprits involved in shooting death Rishikanta are pulled up or identified.
The meeting was convened to deliberate over the future course of action in the aftermath of gunning down of 22-year-old K Ri-shikanta, who was a Junior Sub Editor of the Imphal Free Press daily.
Rishikanta’s bullet riddled body was found at near the Langol Hill range second home of the endan- gered brow-antler deer (Sangai) last evening.
Taking grim note of constant threat looming large over the journalist community of the State who have to dispense duties in an insecure atmosphere due to the prevailing conflict situation besetting manipur, senior journalists who addressed the meeting pointed out that Rishikanta is the sixth scribe to die an unnatural death.
Two journalists working in Churachandpur-based dailies and three others of Imphal-based dailies were shot dead in the past.
Conceding that journalists working in a conflict si- tuation like Manipur always face uncertainties the spea-kers also cautioned that as the journalists are wedged in between dichotomy of State and non-State actors the risks are even more.
Moreover, the fact that perpetrator/s of the criminal act ignored AMWJU’s standing appeal to either intimate Editor concerned or the scribes’ body in case any media person are found working in violation of norms of journalism, the meeting expressed concern that certain individuals or groups do not understand or acknowledge contributions of the news media to the Manipuri society.
Media personnel becoming a soft target of individuals with vested interest also came under sharp scrutiny at the congregation.
later in the afternoon a silent protest rally was ta-ken out upto the Chief Mi- nister’s official bungalow where a joint team of editors and AMWJU members submitted a memorandum to Okram Ibobi Singh.
The memorandum han-ded over to the Chief Mi- nister mentioned that ‘AMWJU has reasons to suspect involvement of security personnel in the crime as the spot where Rishi-kanta’s body was found is a highly secured area with personnel of State forces manning all three entry points. It is impossible for anyone to commit such a crime and escape scot free.’
Describing Rishikanta as a hard-working and honest journalist, the represen- tation categorically highlighted that ‘under the circumstances AMWJU feels that only a judicial inquiry can trace the culprit(s).
conveying the general body meeting’s resolution to suspend publication of newspapers from November 20 until the Government finds out and arrest the culprit(s), the scribes’ body demanded that in addition to the judicial inquiry, ex-gratia be extended to the bereaved family as per Centre’s scheme for victims of terrorist violence, ensure sense of security in the minds of journalists and take necessary measures for protection of working journalists of the State.
In response, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh assured all possible assistance to the victim’s family.
Urging the media fraternity to grant some days to enable the Government investigate the matter, the CM asserted that if nothing concrete could be found out then not only a judicial probe be ordered but service of the CBI would be sought to crack the case.
Earlier, members present at the emergency meeting, held with AMWJU president S Hemant and Editor of Imphal free Press Pradip Phanjoubam as presidium members also unanimously resolved to constitute an investigation team of AMWJU for an independent probe into the killing and appeal to NGOs to extend all possible cooperation in unearthing the truth.
Regarding the resolution to stage sit-in-protest from tomorrow onwards at near Keishampat Power House all concerned involved in print and electronic media have been informed to report at the venue at 10 am.

A villager in Thanlon sub-division displays the last remains of the rice procured from the Govt

IIngenious method used to receive mobile service in CCpur sub-divisions
Reporter’s CCpur diary : Tales of suffering, humanness
Laishram Shamungou
THANLON, Nov 16 : Living upto its image as one the largest armies in the world, the 12 Madras Regiment stationed at Thanlon and Tipaimukh sub-divisions in Churachandpur district has succeeded in tapping mobile connection and telephone line connection as well in these two remote places, where facilities for mobile phones and land line connections are absent.
Using a device manufactured in China, the troops in Thanlon and Parbung under Tipaimukh hit upon the idea of installing five SIM cards at one post located at Singnat sub-division, where mobile service is available, and connected them to a receiver at Thanlon located about 50 kms away by using a device known as Super Long Range Cordless Telephone.
The ingenious method means that the troops can contact their family members and the facilities are also being extended to the local people.
This story came to light during a recent trip to the interiors of Churachandpur along with the Army PRO Colonel Rajesh Mishra.
The ingenious method was put to use from January this year enabling the troops to keep regular contact with their family members. Moreover a separate line is also opened for the local population.
On the other hand, to extend mobile service to these interior areas, process of laying cable lines along NH-150 by private service providers Vodafone and Reliance has started.
In some cases, WLL sets procured from neighbouring Mizoram are being used for commercial purposes and the rate of one call has been fixed at Rs 10.
Electricity : There is no source of energy save for the power procured from the Solar Household Lighting System and Solar street lamps provided by MANIREDA and the Army in these remote areas. As such life in these two sub-divisions begins and ends with day break and sun set. Candle is the most sought after necessity there.
However the 12 Madras Regiment under 57 Mountain Division has provided a degree of reprieve to the people at Thanlon as it has managed to provide three units of power from its generator to 161 households till 9 pm.
Bamboo flowering : With the villagers facing the prospect of starvation due to the rodent menace following bamboo flowering, parents and elders are no longer able to meet the expenses of sending their children to school. Hence the drop out rate of students has seen a marked increase.
To supplement their income, the villagers have started felling trees on a bigger scale as well in hunting wild life.
Speaking to The Sangai Express a villager of Vaiphei Mol village said that from the two tins of paddy seeds he sowed this year, he could manage to harvest only seven tins. In other years, from two tins of paddy, the return was not less than 100 tins, he said and added that the poor yield was due to the havoc caused by the surging rodent population.
The harvested rice is yet to be eaten, but at the moment he has only two Kgs of rice procured from the Government agency. Once this stock runs out, the villager said, he would go hunting and if there is any catch the same would be sold at Thanlon to replenish the food larder from the rice sold by the Government. The rice is bought at Rs 20 per Kg, he informed.
Interacting with this reporter at Bukpi village at Thanlon sub-division, a school teacher, Vung Ngalmiang said that following the rodent menace, not many students are able to attend school.
Pitching in with aid, the 12 Madras Regiment has started footing the hostel fees and mess fees amounting to Rs 350 per month for 40 students of the two sub-divisions, disclosed Princi- pal of St Xavier’s School, Thanlon, Father Samy. The tuition fee, which is Rs 150 per month has been waived by the school authority.
Villagers of the two sub-divisions while interacting with reporters at Thanlon said that they have to cope with extremely bad roads, non-existent power supply, poor medical facilities and lack of food grain.
NREGS : Amid the gloom and sorry state of affairs, the NREGS has come as sort of a blessing for the villagers for with the prospect of getting paid for their labour shining bright, shop keepers do not shy away from selling them food stuff on credit, said the villagers.
On the other hand, the Army has started constructing some water tanks for the villagers.

People crowding a petrol pump during the short time it was opened in the face of fuel scarcity

CM, Jayentakumar meet Arjun Singh
Spadework on for IGNTU centre in State
Manipur Info Centre
NEW DELHI, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and Education Minister L Jayantakumar Singh on Wednesday met the Union Minister for Human Resources Development Arjun Singh at Shastri Bhawan here to relay the assurance of the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh made the previous day for opening a centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Manipur.
The meeting lasted for about 10 minutes.
In the evening at 4 today at Shastri Bhawan here; Education Minister L Jayantakumar Singh, Tribal Development Minister
DD Thaisii and student leaders had an hour long discussion with the Union Secretary (Higher Education) RP Agrawal assisted by two Joint Secretaries for formulation of the proposed Manipur campus of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkan-tak in Madhya Pradesh.
The Union Secretary (Higher Education) informed the Manipur Ministers that the matter regarding the opening
of a Regional Centre of the University in Manipur had been
communicated the Vice Chancellor of the University.
An expert group consisting of the representatives of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi and Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi had been formed for preparation of Detailed Project Reports of the proposed Centre in Manipur.
RP Agrawal also communicated to them to send a high level team comprising representatives from the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University to Manipur very soon to see the suitable location of the Centre.
The Secretary asked the Manipur representatives to find out a suitable location of the area of 500 to 700 acres.
He informed them that the appointment of faculty staff of the Centre would be done on the basis of the all-India norm and as for the admission of the students; it would be based on the ethnic composition of the State.
At the same point of time, the Ministry would also look into whether the reservation of the STs in the Manipur University was fully observed under the existing norm or not by sending a team from the Ministry, he added.
Tribal Development Minister DD Thaisii said here today that the opening of the regional centre of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University would give a good opportunity not only to the tribal people of the region but also to the general people in learning different subjects in the University.
The Minister further stated that the proposed regional centre in Manipur would be the first campus of the University.
The Union Secretary told them that the Ministry has received many proposals from different States for opening of the branches of the University in their respective States, he added.

READY FOR VISION 2020 : A vehicle makes its way through the slush that passes off as a road at Kasom Khullen

Assam serial blasts
Clues point at ULFA-NDFB combine
Achinta Borah
New Delhi, Nov 9 : More than a week after serial blasts rocked Assam, investigators have found clues that ULFA and NDFB carried out the deadly explosions with the help of Bangladesh-based HuJI's expertise.
Home Ministry sources said the investigators have found enough evidence that the banned ULFA had carried out the October 30 serial blasts with the help of dominant Bodo militant group NDFB.
This comes in the wake of the Centre expressing concern over the "paradigm shift" in the northeast militancy.
Some people have been detained by police and Central security agencies who had provided logistical support including procuring cars used in the blasts that left over 80 people dead and more than 400 injured, the sources said.
The people have an allegiance with the two banned outfits, the sources said.
Interestingly, NDFB is currently under truce with the security forces and is engaged with the Government in peace negotiations.
"We have found that the Bangladesh-based HuJI has provided the expertise to ULFA and NDFB as none of them has the technology to explode such devastating bombs which claimed more than 80 lives," a Home Ministry official said.
Home Ministry sources said the Government is worried over the fact that the northeast militants has started using a deadly mixture of RDX, ammonium nitrate and plasticised explosives to carry out explosions which led to greater casualties which was never seen in the past.
"At least 80 kg RDX were used to carry out the October 30 serial blasts in Assam. Never before in the Northeast such a large quantity of RDX mixed with Ammonium Nitrate and plasticised explosives was used as propellants," a Home Ministry official said.
Each of the cars, which were used to carry out three explosions in Guwahati, was laden with 20 to 25 kgs of RDX.
A maximum amount of explosives used for a single blast in the State was 10 kg at Dhemaji during the 2004 Independence Day which killed 13 people, including 10 school children.
The September 1 serial blasts in Agartala, where terrorists triggered four blasts within an hour, were the first synchronised explosions in the Northeast. The Assam serial blasts were carried out within a span of just 20 minutes.
"Kokrajhar, where three bombs were exploded is 250 km away from Guwahati while Barpeta Road, another place of bomb attack, is 150 km away. The near simultaneous explosions at the three far apart places show how the terrorists worked in precision," the official said, adding "this is also a new trend in the Northeast".
"Neither ULFA nor NDFB has the expertise to carry out such dead explosions. Besides, HuJI has no logistics at a place like Kokrajhar. So a nexus between local outfit with outsiders is evident," the official said.
The November 5 meeting of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Northeastern States, which was attended by National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar and Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, took stock of the connection between a Naxal group and a Manipuri insurgent group, possibly to procure arms from the Northeast which has a porous international borders with several foreign countries, the sources said.
"Probably this is the first report of any Northeast militant group having link with an extremist outfit of mainland," the sources said.
Unlike in the past, there have been growing collaborations among the different insurgent groups.PTI

This pic shows a picture of the pathetic conditions of National Highway-39 which prompted SDSA to launch the Eco blockade

North Indian issue: Five JD (U) MPs quit
New Delhi, Nov 7 : Five JD(U) MPs today resigned from Lok Sabha stepping up pressure on the Centre on the issue of attacks on North Indians in Congress-ruled Maharashtra.
"What option did we have when the Constitution is under attack and the unity and integrity of the country is in peril in the wake of the incidents in Maharashtra?" JD(U) Lok Sabha leader Prabhunath Singh asked.
He was talking to reporters minutes after he and four other MPs -- George Fernandes, Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lallan', Kailash Baitha and Meena Singh, submitted their resignation to Lok Sabha Secretary General P D T Achary.
They had sought an appointment with Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee but could not meet him as he is unwell and hospitalised.
The resignations have come at a time when politics is hotting up in Bihar on the issue of the attacks allegedly by the Raj Thackeray-led MNS and the JD(U) MPs even made an oblique attack on RJD chief Lalu Prasad as also LJP leader Ramvilas Paswan for failing to quit the Union Cabinet on the issue.
"When the Central Government is being seen surrendering to the divisive forces, ministers from Hindi region are wanting to enjoy power and not leave their posts," they said.
Singh accused Prasad of displaying "chipko" (sticking to the chair) behaviour and dismissed RJD charges that the JD(U) was instrumental in breaking the unity of leaders from Bihar on the emotive issue.
Prabhunath and Rajiv Ranjan said the JD (U) planned to launch a campaign in Bihar, starting from Motihari, which is associated with Mahatma Gandhi, to tell people how the Centre has failed to protect the north Indians.
"We will later take the campaign to other Hindi-speaking parts of the country," Singh added.
Making a scathing attack on Lalu Prasad for suggesting that the MLAs and MLCs of the JD (U) should also resign, he said the RJD was attempting to impose President's Rule in Bihar instead of Maharashtra.
"Some people are acting as a joker...some have lost
mental balance," he said.
To a poser on Paswan's claim that the JD(U) was only "sacrificing its finger not head" for the cause of north Indians, Singh said the LJP has not even sacrificed its "nails" for the purpose.
Dismissing charges that the JD (U) was attempting oneupmanship and had breached the unity of Bihar leaders on the issue, he said even now RJD and LJP MPs can resign.
"Why did they fail to take initiative. The decision taken by the JD(U) MPs was that of its Parliamentary party.
"Our Rajya Sabha members have not resigned as they will raise the issue when Parliament meets again (on December 10). Even if that fails to make an impact, we will think on a new course of action," Singh told reporters outside Parliament.
In a memorandum submitted to the Speaker, the JD (U) MPs also made a veiled attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
"It appears that the shoulders on whom the Constitutional responsibility rests are weak. They are unable to take the responsibility," it said.
Though the Supreme Court has observed that strong political decisions were needed to stop such incidents, "we regretfully do not see any capacity to take such decisions," the JD(U) MPs said.
The JD(U) MPs also demanded the immediate arrest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and his nephew and MNS chief Raj Thackeray. "The chacha-bhatija duo are together fuelling violence against north Indians. Their arrest only will make a difference," said Prabhunath Singh.
The MPs alleged that Congress-NCP Government was backing the MNS tirade against north Indians. "In the past too, when Congress was in power Bal Thackeray had launched a campaign against south Indians," the MPs claimed.
They reminded the Speaker that as per the constitutional provisions, the Centre was free to act against any State where people are targetted on regional basis. "If the State Government fails to check such incidents despite warnings, the Centre could also impose President's Rule to dismiss such Governments," they said in the memorandum.
"They are our friends...we are not married to them," remarked the JD (U) leader when asked about BJP's annoyance on the party's decision to resign from Lok Sabha. PTI

RS MP Rishang Keishing taking a first hand look at the road

Obama Wins, Scripts History As First Black President Of US
WASHINGTON, Nov 5; Barack Obama rode a wave of voter discontent to a historic White House victory, promising change as the first black US President but constrained by a deep economic crisis and two lingering wars.
Obama led Democrats to a sweeping victory that expanded their majorities in both Houses of Congress as voters emphatically rejected President George W Bush’s eight years of leadership.
The son of a Kenyan father and an American mother from Kansas, Obama was born at a time when black Americans were still battling segregationist policies in the South.
His election triumph over Republican rival John McCain on Tuesday is a milestone that could help the United States bury its long and often brutal history of racism.
“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, at this defining moment, change has come to Ame-rica,” Obama, 47, told more than 200,000 ecstatic supporters gathered in Chi- cago’s Grant Park to celebrate.
Raucous street celebrations erupted across the country, but Obama will have little or no time off to enjoy the victory. He was expected to start work on Wednesday on planning a course for his formal takeover on Jan 20 and putting together a team to tackle the huge challenges at home and abroad.
Obama won at least 349 Electoral College votes, far more than the 270 he needed. With results in from more than three-quarters of US precincts, he led McCain by 52 per cent to 47 per cent in the popular vote.
A first-term Illinois senator who will now be the 44th US President, Obama said he would work to ease the country’s sharp political divisions and listen to those who voted against him.
“The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there,” he said.
McCain’s hopes for a surprise win evaporated with losses in a string of key battleground States led by the big prizes of Ohio and Florida, the States that sent Democrats to defeat in the last two elections.
McCain, a 72-year-old Arizona senator and former Vietnam War prisoner, called Obama to congratulate him and praised his inspirational and precedent- shattering campaign. “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him but offering our next President our goodwill,” McCain said.
Blacks and whites celebrated together in front of the White House to mark Obama’s win and Bush’s imminent departure. Cars jammed downtown Washington streets, with drivers honking their horns and leaning out their windows to cheer.
Thousands more joined street celebrations in New York’s Times Square and in cities and towns across the United States.
“This is the most significant political event of my generation,” said Brett Schneider, 23, who was in the crowd for Obama’s victory speech in Chicago. “This is a great night. This is an unbelievable night,” said US Rep John Lewis of Georgia, who was brutally beaten by police in Selma, Alabama, during a civil rights march in the 1960s.
Lewis was at a celebration in Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, the home Church of Martin Luther King, who led the civil rights movement and was murdered in 1968.
Rev Jesse Jackson, a prominent civil rights leader and former Presidential candidate, joined the celebra- tions in Chicago on Tuesday night, tears streaming down his cheeks.
PROMISES
Obama will face intense pressure to deliver on his campaign promises. He has vowed to restore US leadership in the world by working closely with foreign allies, to withdraw US troops from Iraq in the first 16 months of his term and to bolster US troop levels in Afghanistan. But his immediate task will be tackling the US financial crisis, the worst since the Great Depression. Obama has proposed another stimulus package that could cost about $175 billion and include funding for infrastruc- ture and another round of rebate checks.
Most world leaders welcomed Obama’s victory. Allied Governments said they hoped for closer cooperation with Washington, while critics of the United States, ranging from officials in Russia and Iran to Islamist groups in the Middle East, called for clear changes in policy.
Obama took command of the election race in the last month as the financial crisis deepened and as his steady performance in three debates with McCain appeared to ease lingering doubts among voters.
His judgment on handling the economic crisis appeared to help tip the race in his favour. Exit polls showed six of every 10 voters listed the economy as the top issue. In addition to Ohio and Florida, Obama won Virginia, Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado—all States won by Bush in 2004. McCain’s loss in Pennsylvania eliminated his best hope of capturing a Democratic-leaning State.
On the campaign trail, Obama had accused McCain of representing a third term for Bush’s policies and being out of touch on the economy.
McCain attacked Obama as a tax-raising liberal and portrayed him as too inexperienced to run the country, but the Republican candidate struggled to distance himself from Bush. Exit polls showed three out of every four voters thought the United States was on the wrong track. In the fight for Congress, Democrats gained at least five Senate seats and about 25 more House of Representatives seats, giving them a commanding majority in both chambers. REUTERS

N Rajendra unveiling the inauguration stone of the market shed at Chingmai Khunou and rendition of devotional songs

Medicinal Board rendered comatose
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 26: Notwithstanding the recognition from several quarters about the richness of Manipur in biodiversity and medicinal plants, the State Medicinal Plant Board has been unable to tap the potential.
Affiliated to the Health Department, the State Medicinal Plant Board was set up under the National Medicinal Plant Board.
Though the Board has its office in the Health Department, its member secretary/nodal officer is posted at the District Hospital Bishnupur and is given normal duty.
As the Medicinal Plant Board remains dismally ineffective, the State is unable to reap any benefits from the rich biodiversity and numerous medicinal plants.
A highly reliable source informed The Sangai Express that even as the National Medicinal Plant Board has entrusted the State Medicinal Plant to disse-minate necessary and useful information to medicinal plant growers from time to time, the State Medicinal Plant Board’s performance in this regard is not satisfactory.
Whether in terms of providing loans to societies/individuals growing medi-cinal plants or organising awareness programmes, the Board has been ineffective.
Moreover, the Board has not been sending any project for cultivation and preser-vation of medicinal plants to the National Medicinal Plant Board.
Last year, two projects prepared by the State Government and another one prepared by an NGO were submitted to the National Medicinal Plant Board through the State Medicinal Plant Board.
But all the three projects were deferred by the Natio-nal Board and as such no monetary grant was forthcoming.
However, for the neigh-bouring State of Nagaland, the National Board has approved the single project submitted to it and necessary funds were granted.
Observing that the Government need to take up some measures to activate the State Medicinal Plant Board and streamline its functioning, the source disclosed that the Board’s member secretary/nodal officer is being posted at District Hospital, Bishnupur with normal duty. On the other hand the presence of the secretary at the Plant Board is vital.
Talking to this reporter about the matter some days back, Health Minister Ph Parijat said that the Department has been directed to select medicinal plants which would find ready markets and be more profitable.

Mangled torsos of the blast victims, the injured at hospitals, CM visiting the victims, grieving family members comforting each other sum up the story of the terror attack at Ragailong

TERROR STRIKES : 17 killed in blast near Cdos barrack
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 21 : At least 17 people including surrendered militants and civilians were killed when a powerful bomb suspected to be fitted to a Luna moped exploded near the high security Ra-gailong gate today at about 7.30 pm under Imphal West police.
Eleven were killed at the spot while 2 passed away at RIMS and another two at Shija Hospital.
The four killed in the terror attack are identified as Konthoujam Roben alias Meiraba (28) of Nambol Awang Jiri, a surrenderee, declared brought dead at RIMS; Khurshid Alam (41), a tailor by profession and hailing from Madhubani district of Bihar (passed away at RIMS); Ram Babu (17) son of Ugghra of Bihar, died at the spot and Raju Prasad (20) son of Vaidyanath of Buxar district, Bihar and staying at Ragailong.
Chief Minister O Ibobi who visited the dead and injured at RIMS said that the attack was an act of cowardice and assured that the Government will pay adequate compensation to the dead and injured. The Government will not take things lying down, he asserted.
The blast site was strewn with mangled and mutilated bodies and blood and human flesh were scattered all over.
Bare torsos, putrid smell of human flesh and cries of despair greeted this reporter when he arrived at the spot.
About five bodies, blown to pieces were seen lying together in a heap outside the gate of Ragailong. Another two were seen inside the gate towards the Ragailong village.
Cries and screams rend the air as frantic people searched among the remains of human flesh to see if any of their beloved ones were among those felled by the explosion.
Asmat Ara a young housewife told this reporter that she heard a loud explosion followed by cries and screams of pain and anguish and without a thought for her own safety rushed out to look for her husband. Her husband Khurshid Alam was found in a pool of blood and he was rushed to RIMS where he passed away shortly.
S Anand who was more fortunate and escaped with a minor injury said he was taking a walk after dinner when he heard a loud report and then saw the mangled bodies.
DGP Y Joykumar accompanied by IG (LO-I) and SSP of Imphal West arrived at the spot and took stock of the situation. He however refused to take any question from the reporters.
Ragailong is a highly fortified area. To its west is the Commando barrack while to the east is a transit camp of the Assam Rifles while further north there is the 2nd MR complex.
The body count may increase as many are undergoing treatment at different health centres. At JN hospital out of 16 admitted, 6 are in the ICU while another 13 are battling for life at RIMS. Five more are at Shija.
A spokesperson of department of propaganda and publicity of PREPAK has denied any hand in the blast. The BJP has condemned the blast.
Apart from the Chief Minister, Works Minister K Ranjit, Education Minister L Jayenta, IFCD Minister N Biren, MLA Bijoy Koijam and S Keba visited RIMS.

The site of bomb blast near the Chief Minister’s residence on the northern side, the arrows show the bungalow and blast spot

Police Day : Bomb blast bang near CM’s residence makes celebration go limp
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 19 : It was literally a bucket of cold water after a hot shower ! While the top brass of the State Police Department and other biggies, including political leaders, were celebrating the Police Raising Day with dinner and entertainment pro-gramme at the 1st MR complex, a bomb blast shook the residence of the Chief Minister, with the bomb landing on the road lying to the north of the CM’s bungalow today at 7.55 pm.
Though it is not yet clear whether the blast was a bomb attack aimed at the residence of the Chief Minister, it is significant to note that this is the second time that a bomb has been exploded near the CM’s residence in recent time, the last one being the attack launched in the evening of September 1 this year.
When the blast occured, the 1st MR complex was a scene of celebration with everyone savouring the Police Raising Day held today amid much fanfare.
No one was hurt in the blast but a car, a Tata Indica, belonging to the proprietor of Manipur Golden Travels Limited, Kulwant Singh was damaged.
Kulwant Singh was heading for the dinner programme of the Police Day at the 1st MR complex and the car suffered the damages as the bomb exploded as it was passing by.
With the bomb exploding at about the same time as Kulwant’s car (MN1A-0002) was passing by, police personnel who were on frisking duty near Sanjenthong and near the CM’s residence went after the car and overtook it near the office of the SSP of Imphal West.
The two doors of the car on the right side were hit by pellets from the bomb with the windows shattered. The left tyre of the car was also punctured.
After the initial round of questioning, the police came to know that Kulwant Singh was heading for the dinner programme at the 1st MR complex.
The car has been taken to the Imphal West police station and Kulwant was escorted to the dinner venue by police personnel.
Police are still clueless over the bomb blast though they suspect that the bomb may be a Chinese hand grenade.
Significantly Chief Minister O Ibobi returned to Imphal from Delhi today.
As news of the blast spread, a number of top ranking police officials including the ADGP A Romenkumar, IGP (Intelligence) LM Khaute and SSP of Imphal West L Kailun police and others rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
A team from the 143 Bn CRPF also arrived to get a first hand account of the incident.
The place where the bomb blast occured is a highly fortified area.
The Chief Minister’s residence is manned by two platoons of the CRPF while there is a checking point near Sanjenthong on the eastern side. When the bomb went off today, there were policemen on frisking duty near the Sanjenthong bridge, Nupi Lan complex etc. There was a police Gypsy on duty parked on the northern side of the Chief Minister’s residence.
Towards the northern side is Kangla where the 2nd IRB is housed.
On the western side is the Post Office which is manned by CRPF round the clock while towards the south, there is the Police Headquarters, followed by the office of the SSP of Imphal West, the office of the Chief Secretary in-cluding the Secretariat where a number of Minis-ters sit.
A CRPF officer at the spot said that it is unlikely that the bomb could have been hurled and added that it could have been dropped from a moving vehicle.
At the moment nothing is being ruled out, but at the same time, there is nothing for the police to work upon.
No organisation has claimed responsibility for the bomb blast either, till the time of filing this report late in the evening.
Following the bomb blast and in a typical response to the bomb blast security has been beefed up all over, especially along the all the roads that lead to the Chief Minister’s residence. Additional police vehicles have been put on duty at the Sanjenthong side.

To highlight the works and programmes taken up under the NREGS in Tamenglong district, a framed poster along with a calendar for the year 2009 was today released by Governor Gurbachan Jagat at Raj Bhawan

Fully electrified Manipur in next few years ?
Manipur Info Centre
NEW DELHI, Oct 16 : “Without power, we will not achieve anything. Be it industries or health care or water supply or any constructions- all depend on electricity. Electricity is the most important essential commodity in our life, which can make life more comfortable and prosperous. Economic growth cannot be achieved without electricity” Manipur Power Minister Phungzathang Tonsing has said.
He said that all virgin villages in Manipur would be provided electricity under Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY) in the next few years.
Under the scheme, some reputed firms had started execution of the works in Chandel and Tamenglong Districts on Turn Key basis. Target for completion of works was two years. After completion of the scheme, it would be handed over to the State Government for operation.
The Power Minister further stated that as for Senapati and Ukhrul Districts, tender had been finalized. For implementation of the scheme in Churachandpur, Bishnu-pur, Thoubal, Imphal West and Imphal East Districts, the State Electricity Department had issued the Notification Inviting Tender on October 9 recently.
The estimated cost of RGGVY scheme of Churachandpur District is Rs 9312.528 lakhs, Bishnupur Rs 1366.777 lakhs, Thoubal Rs 2864.110 lakhs, Imphal West Rs 2864.110 lakhs and Imphal East Rs 3299.039 lakhs.
The reputed firm or company having successfully erected, tested and commissioned a) transmission and distribution lines of aggregate route length at least 100 kms of 11 KV or above voltage class; b) at least two sub-stations or switch-yards of 33kV class or above having at least three circuit breaker bays; c) Installation of 11kV or higher voltage class Transformers and electrification work of High Tension and Low Tension, in the last seven years and which must be in operation satisfactorily for a period of two years as on date of application is eligible for execution of the works.
Phungzathang Tonsing said that besides these schemes, another scheme costing about Rs 99 crore was being taken up for power supply in Greater Imphal under the Accelerated Power Development and Reform Programme (APDRP). Work order had been awarded to the tenderer quoting the lowest bid. Under the programme, all the power lines would be laid underground.
The Power Minister appealed to all sections of people in Manipur to extend their fullest cooperation to the firms, engaged by the State Electricity Department, executing the works for its timely completion, in the State’s interest. If they were allowed to work without disturbance, it would be completed on time. Let us see a very comfortable life when we have got uninterrupted power supply, he added.
“We will not have any problem on power supply in Manipur in future. In the recent Power Ministers Conference held in New Delhi recently, it had been agreed to erect 400 KV lines from Arunachal through Kohima to Imphal and another 400 KV lines from Tripura through Silchar to Imphal, the Minister stated.
Tonsing further said that the actual requirement of power for Manipur is 160 Megawatt but the State receives only 80 Megawatt from all sources.
On the charge that the State Government could not provide electricity regularly to the consumers, he said that the consumers were not willing to clear the electricity tax. The State Government is spending around Rs 9 crore monthly for procuring power from different sources.
However, the State Electricity Department can collect only around Rs 2 crore a month at an average. The outstanding power tariff to be realised from the till date is about Rs 200, he informed.
During the current fiscal 2008-09, the State Electricity Department had targeted a revenue collection of Rs. 70 crore, out of which the Department has been able to collect Rs 48 crore so far. For collection of taxes, the State Electricity Department has also entrusted the local bodies by giving 10 % commission. If anybody is found having unauthorized power connection, immediate steps had been taken up for its regularization.
The Minister felt that there was a need for taking up public awareness programmes extensively on the ongoing development of power sector in Manipur so that the public extend its maximum cooperation to the development.

Traditional dance and martial arts put on display on the occasion of Kwak Tanba

State force involved in Urea smuggling ?
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 9: Following the seizure of 13 truck loads of Urea by 20 Assam Rifles from Molnom, a strong suspicion has been raised that some State security personnel may be involved in smuggling fertilizers to Myanmar.
On the other hand, it has been established that the fertilizers were loaded at Kakching before heading for Molnom via Heikak-pokpi.
According to a reliable source, all the 13 trucks were loaded with Urea at the home of one Moirangthem Santa of Kakching Wairi Khunyai Leikai in the night of October 6.
In the same night, two Tata trucks (TC) loaded with fertilizers arrived at the house of Santa. The fertilizers were soon reloaded on the 13 Shaktiman trucks before taking the road leading to Molnom through Heikakpokpi.
A team of media persons went to the house of Santa today. However they could not meet Santa as he was out.
Nevertheless, his wife made arrangements for a conversation between the media persons and Santa through mobile phone.
During the conversation, Santa disclosed that in the night of October 6, one Thangcha of Nobin village (Saivom village) and one Premjit of Lamshang came to his house and they loaded two Shaktiman trucks with fertilizers, brought in mini-buses (Canters).
He allowed them to do the loading at his home on the request of Thangcha and Premjit as it was raining heavily throughout the night and they feared that the fertilizers may get wet, Santa conveyed.
Disclosing that the fertilizers belong to Thangcha and Premjit, Santa clarified that he was not at all related to the whole transaction. Soon after the fertilizers were loaded on the Shaktimans, they left his house.
However, neighbouring people of Santa contended that even though they did not know the exact number, many Shaktiman trucks were loaded with fertilizers in the night.
The 13 Shaktimans fully loaded with fertilizers passed through Heikakpok-pi for Molnom at about 11.30 pm of October 6, said some IRB personnel posted at Heikakpokpi for guarding the power sub-station located there.
Earlier at about 3.10 am, two Shaktiman trucks loaded with fertilizers were also seen passing through the same route. The two Shaktimans were escorted by a team of 3rd IRB personnel posted at Thoubal.
Taking the name of one Jemadar of 3rd IRB, the escort team told the IRB personnel on sentry duty at Heikakpokpi post that they were escorting the Shaktimans at the command of the Jemadar.
On the other hand, OC of Pallel police station O Lupajao has refuted the statement of the four persons behind the act of smuggling that out of the 13 Shaktiman trucks, six reached Molnom after making an entry at Pallel police station.
The OC further rejected the smugglers’ statement that they paid Pallel Police Rs 1500 for one Shaktiman load of fertilizer, Rs 5000 for Tata trucks (TC), Rs 1000 to Customs for one Shaktiman load, Rs 5000 for Tata truck (TC) and Rs 300 to Wireless to let the vehicles pass through as false and baseless. Lupajao contended that in accordance with the instruction of the Government to check fertilizer smuggling to Myanmar through Moreh, Pallel Police make intensive search of all vehicles.

The four UG cadres along with their arms and at the backdrop the trucks carrying Urea which were seized by the Assam Rifles

Tribal students begin to leave MU
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 7: In a significant development after the 36 hours general strike called by ATSUM and MUTSU pressing for their demand to increase seat reservation for tribals in Manipur University, around 100 tribal students left the MU campus today and have put up at the Tribal Research Institute located inside DM College campus.
The tribal students left MU campus as they allegedly felt insecure there. The students shifting to DM College campus were not related with the current agitation, clarified ATSUM spokesperson Joseph R Hmar.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Joseph demanded that the 10 student activists arrested in connection with yesterday’s incident should be released without any condition and that the Government should give an assurance to fulfil their demand about reservation in MU by 6 pm today.
Otherwise, more intense movements will be launched, he added. The ATSUM spokesperson further demanded that the interview for recruitment of guest lecturers in Manipur University held on October 6 and 7 should be declared null and void.
As the tribal students’ agitation turned violent which resulted in vandalising MU structures and vehicles, 10 student activists were pulled up by police.
The arrested students include eight functionaries of MUTSU and two of ATSUM. It is reported that Court has permitted the arrested students to be freed on bail.
Meanwhile the Zeliang-rong Union (AMN) has decried the ugly skirmishes between MUTSU agitators and the local people that took place in the vicinity of Manipur University, Canchipur yesterday.
Maintaining that ATSUM and MUTSU called the general strike demanding reservation of seats for tribals in both teaching and non-teaching staff, the ZU (AMN) condemned the alleged act of local people resorting to confrontation with the peaceful agitators.
A press release by ZU (AMN) further appealed to the authority concerned to redress the grievances of the tribal students at the earliest so as to maintain peaceful co-existence among different communities.
The Siamsinpawlpi (Paite Students’ Organisation) has also strongly condemned the arrest and detention of MUTSU leaders who are demanding their rights and demanded their immediate release without any conditions.
In a statement, the student body also condemned the attack on the students by some people at the gate of MU and demanded that they be arrested and punished according to law.
Backing the stand of MUTSU and ATSUM, the student body said that it will give full support to the proposed National Highway blockade for the cause of tribal students unity and for the implementation of the demands raised by MUTSU and ATSUM.

Representatives of NESO’s constituent units and sports personalities at a sit-in-protest staged against L Monika Devi’s exclusion

Probe to verify students’ figure
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 4: Owing to apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure of the students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different educational institutions under the Edu- cation Department of the State with an eye on siphoning off extended benefits, the State Government has decided to conduct an extensive household survey to detect ambiguity on the stated figure.
Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, a reliable source said the Government has been suffering loss financially in the implementation of welfare schemes for the students as the actual number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 and studying in the schools has not been quoted in the right perspective.
According to the reports submitted to the Department by the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs), the number of students in the age group of 6 to 14 enrolled in different schools is around 60,000 with the number of school dropouts hovering in the range of 58,000.
As there is strong apprehension over the possibility of fudging the actual figure in the reports submitted by the respective ZEOs, the Government would rope in the service of an NGO to conduct a household survey for verification and authenticating the actual number of students enrolled in these schools. Along with that steps would also be taken up for proper mapping of the actual locations of the schools, the source disclosed.
There is various pitfalls in taking up developmental and other welfare programmes based on inadequate or over-inflated datas, the source added.
It may be noted here that upto 2005, the total number of schools in the State was 3257. Out of these, 604 were aided schools.
The source further infor-med that in connection with the confusion over the num-ber of students in the said age group, a joint meeting of the Education Commissio-ner and Deputy Commis- sioners to be chaired by the Chief Secretary would be held on October 10 to discuss the matter.
It is said that the Centre has stopped releasing fund for implementation of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) in the State for the current year as the ZEOs concerned have not submitted the utilisation certificates of the fund used earlier. But the implementation of the scheme is still being carried out with expenses from State share and some remaining fund of the scheme.
According to another source, introduction of e-education of the NEC would be started in 20 selected schools under the Education Department very soon. Under this system of education, students would be im- parted with practical knowledge of science subjects and internet facilities would be provided to these educational institutions.

The slush and mud that pass off as the road connecting Tamei and Kuilong making it a hazardous route for the villagers

A

ttack at MLA’s house
CM to crack SoO whip
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 1: Informing that the Government has been investigating to establish the identity of the UG group/s involved in the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of the Home portfolio, today assured the Assembly that appropriate action would be taken up if any of the UG groups which have signed the Suspension of Operation (SoO) were behind the attack.
Replying to a question raised by MLA RK Anand during the question and answer hour session of the Assembly today, the Chief Minister explained that SoO with two apex bodies of the Kuki UG groups namely Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) have been signed under a well-defined set of ground rules which cannot not be violated.
Demanding to know the objective behind signing of the agreement with KNO and UPF separately, RK Anand, while maintaining such measures may be counter productive, observed that the bomb attack at the residence of MLA T Hangkhanpao, which occurred after signing of the agreement, may be due to difference of ideologies between the two groups.
In his response, the Chief Minister said that along with signing agreement with the two groups, SoO has been effected from August 22 for a period of one year.
Some of the main points laid down in the ground rules include non-violation of the ground rules by any of the constituent units of the two groups and to cease operation against the two groups by the State police and other security forces, the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister went on to say that to monitor the operation of SoO, a Joint Monitoring Group has been set up. It would ensure that the ground rules are not violated, that the designated camps of the underground organisations are set up close to the State force or other security forces, identity cards are issued to all the cadres of the two UG groups, pay a reasonable amount towards maintenance of the cadres staying in the designated camps from the side of the Government, to keep the arms and ammunition after being double locked in the respective designated camps and imparting vocational training to the cadres.
He further infomed that the House that political dialogue between the Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) as chairman and the leaders of the two groups are already underway. Although the UGs may be having some of their own aspirations and ideologies in the ongoing peace talks, no attention has been given in this direction. Nonetheless, efforts are being made to see whether the National or the State interest is being affected or is there any possibility of causing inconveniences to other communities as a result of the ongoing peace talks, the Chief Minister said. Noting that problems are being faced due to existence of a large number of unlawful organisations in the State, the Chief Minister observed that peace talks has been initiated as these problems could not be solved without making a beginning. Informing the House that some of the valley based underground organisations have also shown keen interest to enter peace talks with the Government, the Chief Minister asserted that solution could be brought about only through political dialogue.

Girls taking part in the march past to mark the 112th birth anniversary of Jananeta Irabot

197 dead in temple stampede in Jodhpur
JODHPUR, Sep 30
In one of worst tragedies of its kind in India, 197 people are dead, mostly men, and several injured in a stampede that took place when thousands of devotees gathered at a 15th century temple in Jodhpur on the occasion of Navaratri festival on Tuesday.
It is feared that the toll may cross 200.
The worshippers had gathered at the Chamunda Devi Temple situated on a hill top in the precincts of Mehrangarh Fort when the tragedy struck at around 5.30 am after some devotees slipped on a slope causing the stampede.
The injured are being treated in various hospitals, Rajasthan’s Principal Secretary (Home) SN Thanvi said. “As some devotees slipped on the slope on the temple path, others gathered there started falling on each other causing the stampede. A majority of those killed died due to suffocation as a result of the stampede,” he said in Jaipur.
According to reports, there is shortage of oxygen in hospitals.
Director General of Police (DGP), Rajasthan, KS Bains, however, said that nearly 100 people were injured in the incident.
Officials said most of the dead were men as the stampede took place in the separate queue for males for going to the temple.
About 15 to 20 people were killed at the spot and the others succumbed to their injuries in Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Mathura Das Hospital and Sun City Hospital, among others, in Jodhpur.
The dead include a large number of young people, they said.
The devotees in large numbers, including women, had gathered at the temple from early this morning on the occasion of Navaratri festival.
Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said sufficient police deployment had been ensured and there were separate queues for men and women.
But there was a huge rush in the queue for men and some people slipped on a slope which led to the stampede, Kataria said.
The civil authorities have sought the help of the Army to deal with the situation, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Kanhaiya Lal said.
Officials said that the stampede occurred as the devotees along the 2-km-long route to the temple tried to rush towards its door as soon as it opened.
The situation went out of control as devotees, carrying offerings, jostled with each other and tried to rush towards the temple door breaking the barricades, they said.
Inspector General of Police, Jodhpur, Rajiv Dasod said some of the devotees slipped on the 75-metre-long slope on the temple path causing the stampede in the 100-metre zone around it.
“There has been no casualty in the queue for women in which a large number of children were also present,” he added.
In Jaipur, Chief Secretary DC Samant called a high-level meeting to discuss the relief and rescue measures, official sources said.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is holding Navratri prayers at Tripura Sundari in Banswara district, will visit Jodhpur, the sources said.
A few eyewitness to the incident told police that a side wall of the temple had also collapsed due to pressure from the large number of devotees.
Chamunda Devi Temple is the “Kul Devi” of the former Maharajah of Jodhpur, Gaj Singh, and is run by a private trust.
Agencies

L Sarita exults after winning the gold in the Asian Women Boxing Championship held at Assam-NNN

Withering Yongchak
C

AU scientists make major breakthrough
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 28: In a major breakthrough, an experiment conducted by scientists of Central Agricultural University to check extensive withering of Yongchak plants (tree bean) has proved successful.
Back in 2005 when mobile phone service was not yet extensive, there were instances of widespread withering of Yongchak plants at Kachi Khul, Nungaipokpi, Wabagai, Takyel etc. Following the incident, University experts conducted a research and they were able to identify the diseases responsible for the death of Yongchak plants.
In 2005, CAU experts identified 100 Yongchak plants in the initial stage of withering and administered insecticides and pesticides.
The efforts of the CAU experts proved a success as these Yongchak plants recovered from withering. Since 2005, the experts have been continuing administering insecticides/pesticides. Administering of insecticides/pesticides to Yongchak plants should be done between May and June after the plants have bore fruits.
Talking to The Sangai Express, Assistant Professor of the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, CAU Dr Kh Ibohal said that the withering and subsequent death of Yongchak plants were caused by such pests/insects as common stem borer, Asian Long Horn Beetle locally known as (Kangchek Manbi Til), bark eating caterpillar (maku chabi til) and almond moth which bores and eats up Yongchak flower (Kakshi).
Speaking during a documentation programme held under the aegis of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Andro on Plant Health, Management of Tree Bean on September 26, Dr Kh Ibohal explained that attack by diseases was responsible for withering of Yongchak plants to about 60 percent while the rest was caused by unavailability of minerals required by Yongchak plants and lack of proper care.
Another factor is the presence of nitrogen in Yongchak plants in relatively large quantity which enables insects to bore through their bark and survive inside the trees.
Talking about the experiment conducted by CAU scientists, Dr Ibohal compared spraying insecticides on Yongchak plants to injecting glucose solution to human beings.
The insecticides should be in such a form which can absorbed by the plants.
The insecticides/pesticides should be sprayed in the form of water solution, he elaborated.
On injecting insecticides, Dr Ibohal said that a hole should be made into Yongchak tree two and half feet above the ground and then the insecticide should be injected through the hole. He further invited Yongchak growers to contact CAU at any time for details on the disease control measure.
Saying that a Yongchak plant can live up to 80 years and it starts bearing fruits after 6 to 8 years, Dr Ibohal informed that a Yongchak plant starts withering 10 years after an insect/pest had entered into the tree and survived inside. This means that the Yongchak plants now withering have been attacked by insects/pests 10 years back, he inferred.
Taking into account of the extent of damage to Yongchak plants, the CAU scientist asserted that it’s time for the Government to frame a clear cut policy to fight the disease and to activate its relevant machineries.
He also appealed to scientists, farmers and NGOs to join hands and take up collective efforts to control the disease.
According to sources, Yongchak produced in the State can fetch Rs 5 crores in a year. However, with the extensive withering of Yongchak plants, the annual total produce has been severely reduced, diminishing the annual earning by 30 percent.
During the documentation programme held at Andro on September 26, subject matter specialists of KVK Andro including Dr Ibohal searched out Yongchak plants with the help of the local villagers which were just on the initial stage of withering . These Yongchak plants were administered insecticides/pesticides.
Moreover, the scientists identified the insects which usually infect Yongchak plants to the villagers.

Villagers digging the road under NREGS even as an injured woman attends to the kids

Tale of grit and determination
CCpur hamlet lives up to NREGS spirit
S Singlianmang Guite
Lamka, Sep 21 : A tiny hamlet in Churachandpur’ s Saikot TD block is set to dig its way through to the benefits and riches that the flagship programme of the UPA Government, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, has to offer not only for now but for the future as well.
Forty-four odd job card holders of Luihoi Muolcham and its Machets (surrounding villages) have since last year embarked on a mission to dig their way through to an adjoining village, Tuitengjang, located about 8 kms south to make their village accessible under the NREGS.
The village and its Machets have about two hundred residents.
“We have so far dug about 3.5 kms, and we are not sure when we will be able to dig through,” Hauneikam Gangte, the village chief who stressed on the need for such a road to connect his vast land, said.
Last year his fellow villagers worked for more than one hundred days but when the State decided to exclude Saikot TD block from enjoying the benefits of full hundred working days and granted them only fifty days wages instead, their labour for the fifty days went without pay.
Yet without a murmur they resumed their mission this fiscal amidst the hostile terrain. They have already invested thirty-five of the forty days of work that was allotted to them in the first phase.
At 10 kms from here on the east, Luihoi Muolcham still remains as remote a village in the interiors due to its inaccessibility.
The coming of NREGS and the recent allocation of funds under BRGF to build a bridge to connect them with a State highway is beginning to have a positive impact and the villagers know this best.
Despite being engaged in one of the toughest NREGS works ever witnessed in the country, the villagers show no sign of giving in, sparing not even the injured.
An old woman whose left hand was smashed by a tumbling rock still attends to the children at a Creche; her hand resting on a piece of cloth slung over her shoulder.
When this correspondent visited the village, a woman partially fell into the dug-up portion but was helped out without injuries.
In their bid to make the most from their vast land with the new road, the villagers dream of rearing animals in hundreds, and substitute the now obsolete jhum cultivation with other more paying occupations.
“It is this dream that keeps us going despite the rock-strewn hill often turning our mission into a protracted one,” the chief, who has promised to allot lands in hectares to the villagers for agricultural and animal farming after digging their way, said.
“Without this road my land will forever lie wasted,” he added.
Because the villagers have taken the onus to dig their way through so as to connect their land with the outside world, Luihoi Muol-cham has been chosen as a model village by the scheme’s implementing agency, the DRDA Chura-chandpur.
What difference NREGS will make for an isolated hamlet will soon be known.

Churachandpur bamboo seminar begins

Ccpur, Sep 21 : The two-day seminar on “Commercial cultivation of bamboo” under the National Bamboo Mission organised by the forest development agency, Churachandpur started today from 9.30 am at the KKL complex.

The programme was inaugurated by Rupachandra, additional DC Churachandpur as chief guest and two resource persons, namely KS Tawmbing, MSF, DFC and PV Guite, MFS, ACF who imparted knowledge on management of bamboo as well as potentials and prospects of bamboo.
A large number of farmers from various places also attended the seminar. PV Guite while giving a lecture on bamboo plantation and its importance for places where we live, said that bamboo can be utilized for house construction and many other purposes and by taking ideas from people who have the know how it can be very helpful to raise the level of our living standard.

Management of the bamboos at various stages of its growth is very important, he said adding we are endowed with so many useful natural gifts and if we know how to utilise them we would be the luckiest.

KS Tawmbing highlighted the seven types of bamboo and their various stages of growth in which they need care and support.
He said bamboo can be planted for its shoots only and for the bamboo trunk itself.

They mature at three to four years and by then they have to be cut down. He also said during winter their roots should be exposed to the air and then cover it again so that they will produce more roots. The seminar will continue till tomorrow.

6
th Pay Commission
State to adopt recommendations
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 20 : In a move that is sure to bring smiles to employees of the State Government as well as pensioners, Chief Minister O Ibobi has assured that the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission will be implemented by the State Government.
Replying to queries raised by some Editors on the 6th Pay Commission during an informal chat at his office chamber today morning, the Chief Minister said, “Why not ? The State Government employees will receive the benefits recommended by the 6th Pay Commission and the Government has already done its home work.”
The Chief Minister said that the Government has already prepared to adopt the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission and added that the 13th Finance Commission has also included a provision for the same.
At the moment all Government employees and pensioners are paid according to the recommendations of the 5th Pay Commission.
Though the State Government may not be able to stick to the clause of ‘with retrospective effect from 2006’, the basic scale of the State Government employees will be doubled. Moreover the amount pensioners are currently receiving will see a quantum increase.
Since adopting the 6th Pay Commission will entail huge expenditure, the State Government had already proposed to the 13th Finance Commission to work out the State’s share keeping in mind the increased expenditure, said the Chief Minister.
Since the salaries of the Government employees are to be paid from the non-Plan budget and with the Government having little source of income on its own, the 13th Finance Commission was urged to increase the share of the State, said the Chief Minister.
Significantly when the 5th Pay Commission was implemented during the time of W Nipamacha, the State witnessed an acute financial crisis as the extra expenditure to be incurred was not included in the budget.
Funds meant for development works were instead utilised to meet the salary demands of the Government employees then.
Talking to The Sangai Express a reliable source said that since the 13th Finance Commission has already agreed to hike the State’s share to meet the extra expenditure when the 6th Pay Commission is adopted, the State Government will not face too much burden.
Though the Chief Minister has assured that the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission will be adopted and its benefits extended to the employees, he nevertheless appealed to all not to demand the increase in arrears as that would prove unbearable to the State exchequer.
Once the 6th Pay Commission is implemented then the State Government employees will also receive DAs that will compare favourably with the Central Government employees, said the Chief Minister further.
Ibobi informed that a team of the 13 Finance Commission led by Kelkar will visit Manipur sometime next month in connection with the adoption of the 6th Pay Commission.
The unique feature of the 13th Finance Commission is that unlike the past, they started their work in advance and visited each State all over the country to get a first hand account of the needs of each State.
On the other hand the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO is set to convene a meeting at Imphal on September 25 to discuss the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission.

Police personnel checking the mobile phones of passers by launching a drive to ascertain the owners of SIM cards

M

PCC chief’s post
‘Gaikhangam will stay on till next year’
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 19 : Though the term of Gaikhangam as the president of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee has expired, he will continue to occupy the post till the middle part of next year, said a reliable source from within the MPCC while speaking to The Sangai Express today.
However there may be some changes among the other office bearers of the MPCC ahead of the Parliamentary election.
Despite the fact that the term of Gaikhangam as the president has expired and the signature campaign which was submitted to the AICC as well as the meetings held to demand his removal and installation of a fresh president, Gaikhan-gam will continue in his post till the middle part of next year, said the source.
As reported in this paper earlier, the pressure mounted on the AICC to demand the removal of Gaikhangam will cut no ice as the AICC never bows to pressure tactics, said the source further.
The Congress Working Committee which recently met at Delhi also did not discuss the removal of Gaikhangam, added the source.
Explaining, the source maintained that it is not only Gaikhangam whose term has expired but also the term of the presidents of the district and block level of the Congress. The term of the other office bearers has also expired, said the source and reminded that even the term of Sonia Gandhi as the president of the AICC has expired.
Pointing out that election of the president of the Pradesh Congress Committee is a cumbersome process, the source said that prior to the change in the presidency of the MPCC, changes are first effected at the grass root level, followed at the block level and then district level and at the Pradesh Congress level.
So this in effect means that though the term of Gaikhangam as president has expired, he will not be immediately asked to step down.
Notification of the election is also yet to be issued.
On the other hand, since a change in the presidency of the Pradesh Congress Committee just ahead of the Parliamentary election may not prove healthy for the Congress, there is as such no plan to effect a change at the moment.
Though the AICC or Congress leaders have not officially issued any statement, there have been enough hints that Gaikhangam will continue in his post till May next year.
On the other hand, some changes may effected among the office bearers of the MPCC before the Parliamentary election. The changes will effected to strengthen the party ahead of the Parliamentary election.
Gaikhangam who recently returned after attending the CWC meeting convened a meeting of all office bearers of the MPCC today at 2 pm, said the source.
During the meeting Gaikhangam briefed the officer bearers of the MPCC of the CWC meeting as well as his inputs at the meeting pertaining to the preparations being taken up for the Lok Sabha polls.
Keen to win both the Parliamentary seats in Manipur, the CWC discussed at length the strategies to be adopted in Manipur, Gaikhangam informed the meeting.

Road leading to Heirok from Wangjing being blocked during the public meeting held today to discuss the shooting incident

Shooting of Heirok youth : Fresh appeal to KYKL/UNLF/KCP
Many begin homeward journey
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 16 : With the ban imposed by the proscribed KYKL and UNLF on the movement of the people of Heirok outside their locality being implemented through the shooting of a youth from Heirok on the thigh on September 15, about 50 people of Heirok staying in other parts of the State have started returning home.
Simultaneously a public meeting was held at Heirok today wherein fresh appeals were issued to the outfits to lift the ban imposed on them.
The youth, Laishram Shashikumar of Heirok Part II was running a pharmacy at RIMS road and he was shot on his thigh yesterday by suspected UNLF cadres, who reportedly said that he had not heeded the earlier warning not to venture outside Heirok.
KYKL and UNLF had decided to impose the ban on the movement of the people from Heirok following the decision of the people of Heirok to set up SPOs in the aftermath of the shooting spree during a Thabal Chongba festival in March this year, in which two persons including a girl were killed, while another girl was seriously injured, impairing her eye sight.
The recruitment process of the SPOs is over and at the moment the selected candidates are undergoing training.
The two outfits had earlier warned the JAC of Heirok to retract from the demand to set up the SPOs but since their warning was not heeded the ban was imposed.
According to a report received from Heirok, following the shooting of Shashikumar, about 50 people from Heirok, including Government employees who were staying in other parts of Manipur have started returning home.
Three students of KM Blooming School, Khanga-bok have also returned home.
To discuss the new development a public meeting was held at the ground of Primary School at Heirok Part II attended by over a thousand people.
Five resolutions were adopted after the meeting. The resolutions said that the people of Heirok have taken a serious note of the shooting of Shashikumar and to ensure that such incident does not recur, an agitation will be held later to show their opposition to such action.
The people also resolved to appeal again to the UNLF, KYKL and KCP to revoke the ban imposed on the people of Heirok. The KCP had supported the stand of the KYKL and UNLF.
The other resolutions adopted included, urging the Govt to ensure security for the people of Heirok, to urge the Government to bear the medical expenses of Shashikumar and to highlight the resolutions through the media.
Earlier in the day, before the public meeting was held, a road block was put up on the road leading to Heirok from Wangjing. Other roads leading to Heirok were also blocked.
Heirok AC MLA M Oken was barred by the people from venturing out of the place.
The meeting which started at about 3 pm stretched on till 6.30 pm and the road blocks were lifted after the meeting wound up.
Following the incident yesterday, security was beefed up in and around Heirok and in other sensitive parts of Thoubal district.
Shashikumar is recuperating at the hospital.

Relief fund for disaster victims goes missing

Aizawl, Sep 15 : The Mizoram Kuthnathawktute Joint Action Committee, a joint committee of laborers and farmers association in Mizoram has accused the state government of misusing funds meant to provide relief for victims of disasters due to the torrential rainfall last year which led to devastation of farms, small factories and displacement of over hundred families.

F Lalnienga, chairman of the committee claimed that the committee has reason to believe that the Mizo National Front (MNF) government has misused the ‘Flood/Monsoon Relief’ fund meant to provide aid to victims of the flood for distributing free supplies of rice to MNF party members.
F Lalnienga went on to say that the fund was sanctioned after a joint proposal was submitted by the joint action committee and the state government under the National Calamity Contingency Fund. However, the fund was misused and only went to members of the MNF party. “The state government never called upon our help for distribution of the fund but chose to rely on the central Young Mizo Association (YMA) and the church instead,” he said.

The joint committee asked the state government to reveal the distribution of the fund through the RTI Act and found that no fund was received during 2007-2008. The central government sanctioned Rs. 23.52 crores for relief during the fiscal year 2007-2008, 9.78 rupee crores of which has been released. The state government explained that as the fund has not been received in full, the fund has not been released by the state till today.

Speaking at the Aizawl Press Club today, F Lalnienga beseeched that a number of farms and fish farms were devastated by torrential rainfall last year. As a result of this and the Mautam famine, farmers and cultivators in the state had to rely on relief funds for their livelihood. Various farmers’ association decided to form a committee and had a meeting with the chief minister, chief secretary and department heads on September 24, 2007 for making proposal to the central government for sanctioning of relief fund for victims of natural disaster.

Deputy Commissioners of each district gave report on the extent of damage suffered in their respective districts. After reports were sent in, the state government submitted proposal for relief fund to the central government after which the central government sanctioned Rs. 49.60 crores on June 2, 2008 under the National Calamity Contingency Fund. “However, the funds sanctioned still have not been distributed to the victims of the disaster. We are now giving a deadline to the state government to distribute the relief fund before the end of September 19, 2008 to victims of the disaster. We do not wish to resort to violence but we are willing to sacrifice everything we have until we get our fair share from the state,” Lalnienga said.

The Mizoram Kuthnathawktute Joint Action Committee is a committee set up by representatives of the All Mizoram Farmers Union, Mizoram Cultivators and Labors Union, Zoram Kuthnathawktu Pawl, Zofishfed, Mizoram Fish Farmers Association, Mizoram Passion Fruit Growers’ Association and the Zoram Anthurium Growers Association.

Shillong, Sep 15 : As clashes continued in Orissa, Meghalaya Christians have demanded banning of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal blaming them of “terrorising” the people of the community.

The demand was voiced at a peace rally at Jowai on Sunday where thousands of Christians, including members of prominent organisations, political leaders and government servants participated.
The meeting resolved to send a six-point memorandum to the President, demanding adequate steps to stop the violence, allow freedom of religion and relief to the victims.

Various leaders who spoke at the rally asked the Centre to ban the VHP and Bajrang Dal, blaming them for the “continued carnage” in Orissa.

Later, the protesters took out a procession with black flags, shouting slogans for peace and freedom of religion.

Chairman of the Meghalaya Public Service Commission Willy Suchiang chaired the meeting while church leaders and political leaders cutting across party lines attended the rally.

Crew members, actors and actresses and director of Black Rose pose for the lens

First Tangkhul film after 10 yrs...
Black Rose blooms on hills of Ukl
By Our Staff Reporter
TONGOU (Ukhrul), Sep 14: After a gap of 10 years, a feature film in Tangkhul dialect titled Black Rose was released finally drawing a large crowd at the village community hall of Tongou located 51 kms from Imphal along Mahadeva-Tolloi Road in Ukhrul district yesterday.
Directed by MK Wungkathing, a private English school Principal by profession and an enthusiastic filmmaker whose works are already acknowledged by many Tangkhul movie buffs, Black Rose is said to be made in a record time of one month.
The fledging Tangkhul film making industry had a natural death some 10 years back after imposition of restriction on screening films at night time by various social organisations on the alleged ground that encouraging such nocturnal entertainment programmes were detrimental to the growth of moral character of the youth while screening of the films during day time was not so profitable.
However, when the influences of films in other languages started having a serious impact on Tangkhul culture, the public and social organisations of Tangkhul commu-nity felt the need to rekindle interest in film making in Tangkhul dialect and finally the ban was relaxed. Thus, the movement of film making in Tangkhul dialect picked once again on the picturesque tiny hamlet Tongou , considered as the ‘Hollywood of Ukhrul district’ under the craftsmanship of MK Wungkathing, who has already directed over 20 films before the ban.
Comprising cast and crew members mainly from among the villagers of Tongou, the new Tangkhul film which was formally released during a function yesterday was attended by president of Information Centre for Hill Areas of Manipur (ICHAM) N Rajendro and social worker Ng Phaningshang as chief guest and functional president respectively.
The main theme of the film running over 2 hours is based on the proverbial saying of ‘pride comes before a fall’ (Watonna Wanglaga Kwakna Phamdek-e in Manipuri or Kanana Chuka Hai Akha, Hangkhana Pamdekhaowa in Tangkhul dialect). The film also deals with the problem of drug abuse among the youth.
Interacting with The Sangai Express, MK Wungkathing said shooting of the film was done and completed within the month of June last.
Exhilarated by the response of the people to his first work after a decade, Wungkathing said that he now wants to make a Manipuri film which can reach out to a wider audience.
43-year of age now, Wungkathing’s foray into film making goes back to 1990 and since then he directed/produced over 20 films. Some of his films like ‘My last day at Ukhrul’, ‘Imphal Turel Mapanda’, Khipawui Khayon, etc, have won many awards including Best Jury Award, Best Story, Best Camera, Tangkhul’s Best film nomination. After 1996, Wungkathing completed dissociated himself from film making until the Black Rose comes his way. 26-year old Ng Horthingchong Nulong, who is being cast as a supporting actor in the film, said that although it was her first film, she would like to act in a Manipuri film in future. Speaking at the occasion of releasing the film, Rajendra stated that if Tangkhul films could reach out to more audience, it would help in better understanding of each other’s culture, language and tradition among the people of State.

A mass public rally taken out to demand speedy completion of the probe into the case of L Monika

Diesel quota system
Dealers not amused
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Sep 10: Under a new arrangement, the Divisional Retail Sales Office of the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at Imphal has started distributing diesel fuel to the retail outlets on quota system since yesterday, giving a rude shock to many dealers.
According to a reliable source, since no official order had been issued in connection with the introduction of the quota system, many dealers who had gone to the office of the IOC’s Divisional Retail Sale yesterday to prepare challan for getting diesel had a rude shock when they were told that henceforth diesel would be distributed on quota system on the basis of the sale records of the corresponding months of the previous years to be furnished by the respective retail outlets. As a result many of the dealers had to return empty handed.
The dealers are of the opinion that introduction of the quota system on distribution of diesel would further aggravate the problem of fuel crisis in the State in view of various factors like the existing transport bottleneck, frequent occurrence of landslides along the only viable route -National Highway 39-during rainy season and the present arrangement of lifting oil only on three days per week with security escorts.
Talking to The Sangai Express, some of the dealers pointed out that introduction of the quota system would create a lot of problem in the State if the IOC is to provide diesel on quota system monthly on the basis of the quantity sold in the corresponding month of the previous year without taking into account the increase in the number of vehicles plying on the roads and the pace of the developmental works since then.
With instances of frequent imposition of bandhs and blockades in Manipur, the current arrangement of lifting oil only for three days in a week with security escorts is not enough to meet the demand of the people, they noted.
Implementation of quota system would also be impracticle from the fact that there were months in which the quantity of diesel sold last year was minimum as sufficient quantity had not been supplied, the dealers added.
When contacted in connection with introduction of quota system in distribution of diesel to the retail outlets by IOC since yesterday, FCS Minister Y Erabot categorically stated that he had no knowledge of such arrangements.
Furthermore, when The Sangai Express contacted State Level Co-ordinator of IOC and the Government of Manipur Bordoloi, he explained that no quota system has been introduced in the distribution of diesel oil in the State. It is only a temporary measure to put a control over the supply of diesel to make up for the oil supplied in excess from the stock of the depot following the recent heavy landslides in Nagaland which cut off the route for around 15 days.
Nonetheless, informed sources said that PCTC oil pump at Khuyathong had been provided only 48 kilolitre of diesel and 38 kilolitre of extra mile for a week out of its monthly quota worked out on the basis of its sale record in September last year.

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