vaiphei blog - vaiphei online resoure: 07/01/2008

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Women vendors stage a public rally to denounce the recruitment of child soldiers

Clash inside Sajiwa jail
Report submitted, but details held back
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 29 : Report of the Departmental Inquiry instituted to investigate into the riot that took place amongst undertrial prisoners inside Sajiwa Central Jail on May 24 this year has been submitted to the Government.
While 39 prisoners sustained injuries of varying degrees, a room of the jail was also burnt during the riot.
According to the inquiry report, the riot could not be averted or controlled in time due to shortage of jail staff, conveyed an official of the Jail Department.
The inquiry into the riot was conducted by the SP of Central Jail Imphal. Acting on the Departmental inquiry report, the DG Prisons has proposed to the Government to increase jail staff. In response, the Government has agreed to fill vacant posts, informed the official.
Interestingly, even as there is strict prohibition on taking any object that can be used as weapons or cause fire in jail premises, many prisoners used such objects which could cause death such as swords, iron rods, broken bottles, bricks, clubs etc. Moreover, they also used fuel to set fire on the structures located inside the jail premises during the May 24 jail riot.
In the clash, 12 prisoners belonging to PULF, two of KCP, one each of UNLF, PLA, seven belonging to KYKL, one prisoner of KRA (U), nine PREPAK prisoners and six other undertrial prisoners sustained injuries.
In the aftermath of the clash, the Home Department sent 40 Home Guards to enhance the strength of the jail staff, conveyed the official while strongly contending that it’s time to follow a separate jail manual for Manipur rather than following the Assam Jail Manual.
Prisoners languishing in the jails of the State are serving their jail terms just having their square meals a day. They are not provided any facility to inculcate good morale and better knowledge. There is no facility for schooling or library or to engage in any work. Under such circumstances, it is hard to imagine for the prisoners to undergo any change in their mental set-up, noted the official.
Disclosing most of the UG cadres pay more attention to their seniors/superiors than to the words of jailors even if it was for their welfare, he said that as such there is no scope to reform the undertrials.
Observing that the number of undertrials involved in various crimes has been increasing than the number of UG prisoners in both Sajiwa Jail and Central Jail Imphal, the official asserted that the increase of criminals has become a cause of quarrels and fightings inside jail premises.
Under the changing scenario there is a need to establish jail protection armed force and to arm jail staff otherwise it would not be long before prisoners started dictating jailors, he cautioned.

Enraged Lamlai people storming Lamlai PS and a dharna staged against recruiting child soldiers

Missing children: Public storm Lamlai PS
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 27: Infuriated over the missing of three children from Nungoi and Challou under Lamlai Assembly Constituency of Imphal East district, the locals stormed Lamlai police station demanding that they produce the individuals being detained in the police station in connection with kidnapping children.
Interestingly, even as there was a great din and loud altercations at the police station, some unidenti- fied persons attempted to take away a boy belonging to Yaingangpokpi Makha Leikai after tying up his hands. Later acting on unconfirmed reports that those individuals who attempt to kidnap the child were in Joyland hills near Shabungkhok, the local people went there and hunted for the kidnappers.
The three children from Nungoi and Challou who have gone missing and whose whereabouts still remained untraced have been identified as Chongtham Robinson (13) s/o Sengoi, Luwangshangbam Birjit alias Tombi (15) s/o late Omra and Mutum Inao alias London (13) s/o Tochamu.
Robinson was reading in Lamjing Meira English School in class VII while Birjit was reading in Eternal Spring School in class VIII. Both of them belong to Nungoi. They went out together from the home of Robinson in the afternoon of July 7 before they went missing.
Mutum Inao of Challou was reading in Lamlai High School located at Challou Awang Leikai in class III. He went missing since June 30 when he went to watch a movie in Lamlai cinema hall.
Even though the three children went missing since many days back, necessary reports were made to police a few days back, informed a police source adding that for each missing children a case has been registered.
Closing down all shops at Lamlai Bazar, a public meeting was held today in connection with the missing children.
Many speakers addressing the meeting appealed to the public to be alert against child kidnappers.
Later, a large number of women took out a rally from Lamlai Bazar to Lamlai police station where they made vociferous demonstrations demanding to produce the four individuals being detained there in connection with kidnapping children. The visibly enraged mob pressed that they would question the detainees where they kept the children and to which organisation they handed over the children.
Shortly after, the mob tried to force open the gate of the police station and this led to tussle with police personnel.
Later some representatives including mothers of the three missing children were allowed entry into the police station where there was a brief talk between the two sides. Then the crowd turned back after they were convinced by the police officers that they could not meet detainees without permission from Court.
Coming back to Lamlai Bazar, the crowd of people held another meeting with local MLA and Health Minister Ph Parijat.
Addressing the meeting, Parijat asserted that it was time to wage a civil war against kidnapping children.
He also claimed that the Government has taken up several measures so that parents can live with peace of mind.
Of the various resolutions adopted during the meeting, the the primary ones were demand for capital punishment to child kidnappers, excommunication of child kidnappers from society, boycotting all organisations involved in kidnapping young children, demand to publish clearly the Government policy to curb kidnapping young children etc.
Even as the large crowd of women were trying to storm Lamlai police, around 10 individuals clad in block clothes attempted to kidnap a boy from Yaingangpokpi Makha Leikai at about 2.30 pm.
According to the boy identified as Ngangom Indrajit alias Nanaocha (16) s/o Manibabu, there was no one in the house when the incident took place. While his mother was away at Yaingangpokpi Bazar to sell vegetables, his elder sister Lakshmi also left home to join her mother. His father had already went away to attend a shradha ceremony.
As Indrajit was sleeping in the house with the kitchen door open, the unknown persons called out his name to which he woke up. But in the next moment, he was kicked at the chest. Soon they tied up his hands at the back and immersed his head in a plastic bucket containing water. Then the black clad men started thrashing him, he retold.
The local people opined that the unidentified persons might have left behind Indrajit as he lost consciousness.
Later acting on reports that the kidnappers were in Joyland hills near Shabungkhok, the local went there and hunted for the kidnappers. But they retreated as it was getting late.

Protest by womenfolk against kidnapping of children and police swing into action against vehicles with tinted glass.

Students rescued, kidnappers held, protests galore
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 26: Two students reading in class VI in Antartic English School, Yairipok were rescued by IRB and police personnel from being kidnapped by unidentified armed persons today. On the other hand, local people of Pangaltabi pulled up one individual reportedly involved in kid- napping children while Thoubal police commandos apprehended another individual in subsequent search operations.
According to informa-tion received from Imphal East Police, two students clad in casual dress were found travelling in a bus co-ming Yairipok side by a team of 4th IRB personnel at Kongba bridge. Their school uniforms were found inside their satchels.
Suspicious as they were, the IRB team detained the two children and informed Imphal East police. Subse-quently, the two children were picked up by a police team led by Additional SP (Imphal East) Md Qayamuddin.
On verification, the two 12 year old children were identified as Md Aslam Khan and Md Juber, both belonging to Yairipok Singda.
Further it was learnt that some armed persons who came in a van with a child threatened Aslam Khan when he was coming to school on July 24 to come to Andro parking today.
Acting on the threat Aslam Khan was coming to Andro parking with Juber today. Both the children have been handed over to their respective parents this afternoon, conveyed the police source.
On the other hand, two individuals came to Pangal-tabi under Sugnu police sta- tion last night and thrashed a mother for refusing to hand over her child. Follo-wing the incident, the local people rounded up one of the two individuals who attempted to kidnap child-ren this morning. The indi- vidual was later handed over to Assam Rifles.
According to informa-tion received from police, the two individuals came to the house of one Ningom-bam Sabitri and asked for her son. On the refusal of Sabi-tri, the duo thrashed the mother.
Enraged with the inci-dent, the locals built up a mob this morning and hun-ted down one of the two individuals involved in thrashing Sabitri.
The accused identified as Takhellambam Sarat (21) of Pangaltabi Chingkha Lei-kai was later handed over to 21 Assam Rifles stationed in the village this afternoon.
Acting on information provided by the villagers, Thoubal police comman-dos and Assam Rifles mana- ged to nab the other indi-vidual involved in the inci- dent. The second accused has been identified as one Somorjit.
Protest rally: Suspen-ding their daily activities for the day, women vendors of Khwairamband Bazar today took out a rally on the streets of Imphal deman-ding that armed militants stop kidnapping young children and recruiting them as child soldiers.
Before taking out the rally, the women vendors staged at Wakat Meepham at the temporary sheds of the market starting from 10 am.
At around 12.30 pm, the protestors took an instant decision of taking out the rally and started out from the temporary market sheds car-rying festoons and placards and shouting slogans de-manding to stop at once kidnapping of young child-ren and recruiting them as child soldiers by militants as well as decrying the alleged silence/inaction of the Go-vernment over the issue.
As the women protes-tors neared BT Flyover, police stopped them from going ahead leading to a confrontation.
Regardless of the police action, the infuriated wo-menfolk marched ahead upto Treasury Office where a reinforcement of police personnel stopped them de-claring the area a security alert zone. From there, the rallyists were made to turn back with the security per-sonnel in tow. After passing through Khoyathong and Nagamapal, the protestors converged at the temporary market shed.
Consequent to the agi-tation of the women ven- dors, most of the shops in Khwairamband Bazar re-mained shut for the day affecting normal business transaction.
Protest rally and Wakat Meepham against kidnap-ping of young children and recruiting them as child sol-diers by militants were also reportedly held at different parts of the State today.
At Kumbi Bazar, a mass protest rally was taken out against kidnapping of child-ren, release all the kidnap- ped children, not to recruit child soldiers, reduce prices of essential commodities and hike the wages of daily wage earners.
Organised jointly by Apunba Nupi Lup, Bishnupur district, Kumbi Branch and Apunba Nupi Lup, Kumbi, the protest rally participated by a large number of students from different schools of Kumbi area, social workers, Meira Paibis, Pradhans and members of Zilla Parishad as taken out from Kumbi Tera Kha till Kumbi PS before returning to the starting point where a public meeting was held.
Those who spoke at the meeting strongly condemned kidnapping of young and innocent children and recruiting them as child soldiers.
They also drew the attention of the Government to the problems being faced by the people due to hike in the prices of essential commodities.
The meeting resolved to take recourse to various intense agitations if the Government does not take up ne- cessary steps to reduce the price of essential commodities.
In protest against kidnapping of young children for recruitment as child soldiers, the students and teachers of Temple of Learning School, Canchipur also took out a silent rally today.
A protest rally was also taken out against kidnapping young children at Mayang Imphal today by the Meira Paibis and the students of the area.
Holding placards inscribed with messages demanding to stop kidnapping of young children and allowing them to study without any fear and intimidation, the participants also shouted slogans during the rally.
After the rally organised under the aegis of All Manipur Nupi Marup, a meeting a public meeting was held at Mayang Imphal Bazar in this regard.
At Samurou Bazar, the local Meira Paibis and students staged a Wakat Meepham over the same issue.
Under the aegis of Khundrakpam Awang Leikai and Khundrakpam Mayai Leikai Santiraksha Marup, a sit-in-protest demonstration against child abductions and recruitment of child soldiers was also held at Pangalba Lai Haraopham ground today.
At night, Meira Paibis of Keishampat Leimajam Leikai took out a torch rally decrying abduction of young children for recruitment as child soldiers by militants.
The torch rallyists also shouted slogans urging the Government to take up necessary measures to stop child abductions by militants.

ABOVE THE LAW : A vehicle of security force break the one way traffic norm at Paona bazar adding to the traffic chaos

Child soldiers : DG plays task force card

Joykumar flanked by the SPs of IE and IW addresses the media
IMPHAL, Jul 24 : In the wake of the recent spate of kidnapping young children and the design of a UG group to induct under-aged children as child soldiers, the State Police Department has taken up extra security measures including setting up of task forces in the four valley districts and enhancing checking exercise.
Briefing media persons this afternoon at the conference room of SP Imphal West, DGP Y Joykumar said that the Government as well as the Police Department are deeply concerned with the recent reports of young children missing on the one hand and the attempt of a proscribed armed group to induct under-aged children as their cadres on the other side. The DGP observed that such attempt of the UG group is a very serious crime not only in the perspective of human rights but also in terms of minors’ rights.
Referring to the reported press statements of PREPAK (GS) and PREPAK (VC), the two groups mainly involved in the issue, that they never kidnapped any child but the children themselves came to join the outfits on their own, the DGP, quoting reports of an investigation made by the Police Department, asserted that the statements of the outfits were totally baseless.
He further observed that it is unrealistic for children of 12/13 years resolving according to their own conscience to join a particular insurgent group.
Taking serious note of the recent developments, the Police Department has not only alerted police check points but also specifically instructed all security personnel to step up checking of all forms of vehicles and to verify any children found in the vehicles whether they are in the company of their parents, where they are going and for what purpose, informed the DGP.
Moreover, mobile task forces have been set up to intensify frisking and checking of all commuters in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal districts. Further, mobile security units have been deployed to maintain strict vigil during school opening and closing hours in all these four districts, he stated.
The task forces set up to contain the issue of kidnapping children will be led by SDPO Lamphel N Herojit in Imphal West district. His phone numbers are 9436038404/2414621. For Imphal East district Addl SP Md Qayamuddin (mobile number 9856473194) will look after the task force. SDPO Thoubal H Jogeschandra (mobile no 9436025046) will lead the task force in Thoubal district. For Bishnupur district, Addl SP Bishnupur Ng Themthing (mobile no 9862028393) will be in charge of Bishnupur task force, elaborated Joykumar while appealing to the public to inform through these mobile phone numbers in case of any incident of a child going missing or when there is any attempt of kidnapping children. Information on such incidents may be given to the SP Imphal West through mobile no 9436026263, SP Imphal East through 9436023204, SP Thoubal through 9436028459 and SP Bishnupur through 9436028243/9856801133, he added. Maintaining that those mainly involved in kidnapping children are those retired activists of the particular UG groups, bailed out cadres and over ground workers, the DGP informed that the Police Department is keeping a strict vigil over the activities of the over ground workers of the UG groups. Moreover, necessary steps have been initiated with immediate effect to check and verify vehicles and their owners which are found parked in suspicious manner in schools and at tuition centres, Joykumar stated while seeking cooperation from the public in controlling the issue. So far, 14 cases have been registered in connection with missing children and incidents of kidnapping while six persons reportedly involved in kidnapping incidents have been apprehended.
Of the cases registered till date, one is related to kidnapping of children in Thoubal district, six in Imphal West district and two in Imphal East district. Meanwhile five cases related to missing children in Thoubal district have been registered. On the other hand, five persons have been pulled up in connection with kidnapping children from Imphal West district besides another one from Imphal East district, disclosed the DGP. To a query raised by media persons, DGP Joykumar assured that all the children who have been kidnapped by UG groups or gone on their own to join UG outfits will be handed over to their parents in case police personnel come across such them. Today’s media briefing was also attended by top police officials including SP Imphal West L Kailun and SP Imphal East Th Radheshyam.

zillai gazetta july 2008

BJP, BJD,TDP expel errant MPs, others may follow
New Delhi, Jul 23: Cracking the whip, the BJP today summarily expelled eight of its MPs who cross-voted or abstained during the trust vote as shocked Opposition parties got down to fix errant MPs whose actions helped the UPA Government survive.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD), a constituent in BJP-led NDA, expelled Harihar Swain dubbing him as a "betrayer" while Telugu Desam Party(TDP) MP M Jagan-natham also faced similar action for defying party whip.
MDMK sources said in Chennai that the party will be seeking the disqualification of two of its MPS-L Ganesan and Gingee Rama-chandran-for voting for the Government.
Stung by his fellow MPs switching loyalties, BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate LK Advani said it sparked so much outrage in the party that it did not take more than five minutes to proceed against the MPs.
The eight members were among 24 Opposition MPs who either voted for the Government or abstained or remained absent.
"If there was no cross-voting, Government would have lost the trust vote," Advani told reporters a day after the Congress-led UPA Government sailed through the confidence vote.
Wasting no time, Advani said that action was also being taken to seek the disqualification of the eight MPs from the Lok Sabha for violation of party whip.
The MPs expelled are Brijbhushan Sharan Singh (Balrampur), Manjunath (Dharwad), Chandrabhan Singh (Damoh), HT Sanglia-na (Bangalore north), Ma- norama Madhwaraj (Udipi), Haribhav Madhav (Jalgaon), Babubhai Katara (Dohad) and Somabhai Patel (Surendranagar). The names of eight MPs half of whom who abstained were announced by BJP president Rajnath Singh at a news conference.
The anger against the errant BJPs even spilled to the streets when party activists staged violent protests outside the homes of Sangliana in Bangalore and Chandrabhan Singh in Indore.
Party MP Haribhau Rathod, who remained absent, also faced the ire of saffron protestors in suburban Mulund in Mumbai.
Orissa's BJD was also moving to seek disqualification of Swain, a known detractor of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, from the Lok Sabha. BJD has 11 MPs
In Chandigarh, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took a serious view of party MP Sukh Dev Singh Libra's abstention during the trust vote saying stringent action would be taken against him. SAD has 8 MPs
Libra's abstention was a serious matter and the party would take tough action against him soon, a visibly perturbed SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal told reporters
"During the debate on the confidence motion in the Lok Sabha, Libra was present on the first day. But, on the second day he left the House after signing the attendance register," he said.
In the JD-S camp, its disciplinary committee is expected to meet in Delhi to debate the line of action to be taken against its Karnataka MP M Shivanna for voting in favour of the Government.
Karnataka unit JDS president Merajuddin Patel said the meeting has been convened by president H D Deve Gowda. The party has three MPs.
A few MPs from JD-U, TRS, Shive Sena, NPF, NLP, Trinamool Congress and MNF also either voted in favour of the Government or abstained. PTI
CPI (M) expels Somnath Chatterjee
New Delhi, Jul 23 : CPI (M) today expelled Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee from the party on the ground of "seriously compromising" its position.
"The Polit Bureau of the CPI (M) has unanimouisly decided to expel Somnath Chatterjee from the membership of the party with immediate effect," a party statement said after a meeting of its Polit Bureau.
"This action has been taken under Article 19 (13) of the party Constitution for seriously compromising the party position," it said.
Among those who attended the Polit Bureau meeting were General Secretary Prakash Karat, Sitaram Yechury, MK Pandhe, S R Pillai and Brinda Karat. PTI

Pineapples put up on display during the pineapple festival organised at Andro

Accused Thouba
IMPHAL, Jul 20: A combined force of Imphal East police and 39 Assam Rifles have arrested a person who allegedly handed over a child to PREPAK (GS) group after calling the child out of his house.
The arrested person has been identified as Nandei-bam Thouba (23) s/o Khaba of Sagolband Bazar.
He allegedly called out 13-year old Adhikarimayum Ojit Sharma s/o Lukhoi Sharma of Sagolband Awang Leikai from his house in the afternoon of July 11 and later handed over the child to the custody of PREPAK (GS) group.
Announcing while talking to mediapersons today, SP of Imphal East District Th Radheshyam informed that Thouba called out Ojit from his Sagolband Bazar house in the afternoon of July 11 and later handed him over him to one Wahengbam Sunil s/o Manglem of the same locality.
During the course of interrogation, Thouba dis- closed that Sunil is an activist of PREPAK (GS) group, the SP said.
Stating that the situation of kidnapping young children in Manipur is very alarming, the SP asserted that the reports of missing children is nothing but forced recruitment of children by the militants.
To discuss the situation, a joint meeting of all the SPs of the districts had been held with the DGP during which the latter gave strong instructions for stepping up security vigil.
Accordingly, a special team led by Additional SP of Imphal East District has been set up and the OCs of all the police stations are included in the special team, the SP said.
Acting on a special tip off, the special team rounded up Thouba, the SP informed, adding that public can contact the Imphal East Police Control room on telephone no. 2452669, mobile phone no. 9856473194 of Additional SP, mobile phone no. 9436022432 of OC (Commandos) and his landline telephone no. 24617090 and mobile phone no 9436023204 in case any child is kidnapped for recruitment.
The SP further informed that all the Army, Assam Riles and other security personnel posted in Imphal East District have also been communicated for proper verification of suspected cases of child being taken without their parents.
Moreover, the authorities of the private schools in Imphal East have been asked to report cases related to missing of students to the police, besides making efforts to spread awareness among the Meira Paibis of every localities.
So far only two cases connected with missing of children have been officially reported to the police and both the cases have been referred to Irilbung Police Station, the SP said, while informing that there are also two more cases which have not been reported officially and one of these cases relate to that of Adhikarimayum Ojit Shar-ma.

Child soldiers in the ranks of PREPAK line for a photo shoot

A closed petrol pump with the No petrol sign in Imphal
IMPHAL, Jul 19 : Thanks to the frequent imposition of bandhs, economic blockades, general strikes coupled with the inability of the State Government to provide security escort during such times to transporters, the fuel stock at the IOC depot is running low and most of the petrol depots remained shut today, with the sign ‘No petrol’ adorning almost all the petrol pumps.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official of the IOC said that if the State Government is able to provide adequate security escorts to oil tankers, the State will not face any problem of fuel shortage.
Transportation of fuel to the State was badly hit due to the bandhs and blockades that were imposed one after the other as well as the bandh imposed at Dimapur on July 7.
On top of this oil tankers did not take the road because the State Government did not provide adequate security escorts during such days, said the official.
Fuel is transported into the State three days every week because the Government is able to provide security escort for only three days in a week, said the official and added that the days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
During these three days period, on an average a total of 4800 kilolitres of fuel is brought into the State.
According to information received from the IOC the daily need of diesel is about 125 kilolitres and 65 Kl of petrol. This works out to about 875 Kl of diesel and 455 Kl of petrol needed in a week.
Apart from meeting the fuel demand of the public, the IOC too has to meet the need of the State Government’s GAD, Manipur Police and security forces posted in Manipur, which include the Army, BSF, CRPF and BRTF.
Due to the prevailing law and order situation the State Police Department also needs more fuel now, said the official further.
Further, the IOC has to also set aside certain quantity of fuel to meet any emergency.
Since the Government provides security escort only three days in a week, it is well nigh impossible for the IOC to meet the fuel demands of so many, explained the official.
Unless the Government works out a policy to provide security escort more regularly, Manipur will continue to face periodic shortage of fuel, added the official.
At the moment the storage capacity of the tank at the IOC is 1290 Kl for petrol and 3250 for diesel.
To meet the growing demand of the public, the IOC has already approached the Government to provide more land to set up additional storage tanks, said the official further.
Following the proposal of the IOC, the State Government has been trying to acquire land at Patsoi area.
Since the existing storage capacity is low, the IOC cannot keep aside adequate stock of fuel.
Meanwhile about ten loaded oil tankers arrived at the State yesterday and the pumps have been allotted their quota today.
The pumps given their share today include, Kanhai and Sons, Thoubal (6 Kl), Ksh Beikul, Kakching (6 Kl), BB and Co, Sangaiprou (6 Kl), Krishna Premi, Moirangkhom (3 Kl), Kusum oil pump, Konung Mamang (3 Kl), Bakliwal Enterprises, North AOC (4 KL), Porompat (4 Kl), Eastern Agro, Wangkhei (4 Kl), PG Petroleum, Chingmei-rong, (4 Kl), Yumnam Oil, Wabagai (4 Kl), Khurai oil pump (4 Kl), Heirangoi Service Station (12 Kl), Ibochou Service Station, Kakwa (4 Kl), Jas and Gas (4 Kl), Konsam oil, Langthabal (8 Kl), PCTC North AOC (12 Kl), Sorijini, Khangabok (4 Kl), K Nilo, Patsoi (8 Kl) and Highway Petroleum, Tera (4 Kl).

Womenfolk of Heirok taking out a rally to demand the absorption of SPO to State force

Demand raised to absorb SPO to State force
Heirok rally says no to constituting SPO
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 18 : In yet another development on the unending twist concerning setting up of Special Police Officers’ post in Heirok, people in large number today took out a public rally demanding absorbing the SPOs to State forces and voicing opposition to establishment of SPOs.
A meeting held at the end of the demonstration rally resolved to approach State authorities to relentlessly pursue its objective for absorption of SPO recruits/personnel as members of State forces, revocation of the prohibition imposed upon people of Heirok by Ug groups, immediate and permanent cessation of senseless violence or tar-geting of innocent civilians and to urge the Government to translate into action aspirations and expec-tations of the people.
The protest demonstration assumes significance in the backdrop of 300 youths from within Heirok Assembly Constituency had undergone preliminary physical efficiency test and currently undergoing basic training course on use of arms and related exercises for setting up of SPOs.
The demonstration staged today to highlight proposal of Heirok people for transformation of the recruitment exercise as rigours for enrolment into state forces comes in the backdrop of two outlawed organisations (KYKL/UNLF) prohibiting Heirok people from venturing out of their locales for daring to stand against and oppose the armed movement being waged by underground organisations including the two .
It is worth mentioning that a reported comment by the State DGP on possibility of the SPOs being utilised in counter insurgency operation had evoked strong reaction from various circles including the Heirok JAC that had been spearheading the cause for self protection of people of Heirok.
Following indiscriminate firing by armed activists belonging to the PREPAK organisation at a thabal chongba venue in March this year that claimed three persons on the spot and visually impairing a teenage girl, people of Heirok raised in unison and demanded that State Govern- ment provide them arms to protect themselves which the State authorities responded with the decision to set up SPOs.
Confiding that people of Heirok wants peace and do not intent to trigger animosity with anybody or organi- sations, president of Nupi Khunai Apunba (Heirok) Khundongbam (O) Guna-mani Leima contended that Heirok residents are against the idea of setting up the SPOs particularly after militants have begun to train guns toward them.
The demonstration jointly organised by the Lup, Senior Citizens’ Forum (Heirok) and the JAC formed after the March firing incident began in the afternoon with several cultivators joining the same after tending to their fields as it is the season of paddy plantation.
The rally that commenced from Heirok Part-II Pologround covered Litan makhong, Bamon Leikai, Wapokpi , Heitup-pokpi, kabow Leikai, Heirok Pt-I and back to the starting point where a public meeting was organised.
During the rally the participants carried and displayed placards that opposed setting up of the SPOs, proposing transformation of the SPOs into State forces, flaying civilians being targeted, called for peace and sanity in Heirok areas, existence of meaningful/purposeful revolutionary groups as well as urging the Government to abandon alleged divisive policy.
An apparently agitated rallyist remarked that setting up SPOs do not serve any purpose as such a step had become a stumbling block in their children’s education apart from the parents having to bear financial losses for advance payment of education related fees.
With reference to the 10 day relaxation announced by the UG groups, Gunileima appreciated the gesture and fervently appealed for permanent revocation of the prohibitory proclamation.
president of the Heirok-based women’s body also conveyed that people of Heirok desire to live in a secure and normal environment as everybody else.

Dharna demanding the release of the missing children and inset the missing girl

No let up in missing cases of children
Boy gives kidnappers the slip, protests galore, one more girl missing
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 17 : Even as protest demonstrations were staged at different parts demanding handing over ‘missing kids’, a teenaged boy studying in CC Higher Secondary School here reportedly managed to escape from the clutches of his armed kidnappers while another girl studying in class VIII has been reporting missing from Pishum Oinam Leikai neighbourhood since July 13.
The matter related to the attempted kidnapping of Leishangthem Bipinchan-dra (17) son of Leishang- them Tomba of Thoubal Lei-shangthem Khong Ma- nung but staying in a rented room at Bamon Leikai in connection with his study at CC Higher Secondary School where he is studying in class XII arts, came to light after the landlord contacted the school authority informing that Bipin-chandra dread to go out and attend school.
In this connection, Principal of the school Y Nongalei said until the landlord contacted the school, neither the school authority nor his classmates had any idea why Bipinchandra, who otherwise is very regular attendance, did not come to school.
Acting on the information given by the landlord, some representatives of the student union of the school were sent to his rented room to find out the truth and Bipinchandra was brought to the school.
After the recent spate of reports on kidnapping or missing of children, the school authority has already put the chowkidar on alert, the Principal said, adding that the matter related to the attempted kidnapping of Bipinchandra would be brought to the notice of the Government and the police.
Talking to mediaper-sons, Bipinchandra recalled that on that fateful day at around 8.30 pm, he was going towards Bamon Leikai Heikhakhog Ma-khong to buy pen and some exercise books when two unidentified armed persons followed him from behind.
They overpowered him tying his hands and gagging his mouth before taking him towards Thangapat side.
At Thangapat, the two armed persons not only beat him up but also pushed him inside the water while threatening to kill he if made any noise.
Afterward, one of the armed persons was holding his hand and keeping a guard over him while the other making a mobile phone call asking some persons to send vehicle. Taking advantage of the moment, he bit the hand of the armed persons who was holding him, he managed to escape and fled from there. The two armed persons did chased after him but stopped after some distance, Bipinchandra said, adding that after that incident he dared go out and go to school.
Family members of Bipinchandra said that they are apprehensive of allowing him to stay away from home in connection with his study.
They also appealed to all the student bodies and civil organisations to ensure such incidents do not recur.
On the other hand, a 15-year old girl studying in class VIII in Haobam Marak Girls’ High School identified as Longjam Jenebi has been reported missing since July 13 from her Pishum Oinam Leikai neighbourhood.
According to her uncle Sunil, Jenebi was not at home when he returned. Subsequently, he went to see whether she was at her music class. But found out from her music teachers that though she had come and left her harmonium, but she did not come back.
People of the neigh-bourhood suspected that Jenebi may have gone along with another girl identified as Abenao whose whereabouts too has not been known since July 13.
A JAC has also been formed in connection with missing of the two girls.
In protest against the recent spate of incident of kidnapping or missing children, Wakat Meephams were held at different parts of the State today.
At Thoubal Babu Bazar, people of the area staged a Wakat Meepham demanding handing over Akoijam Bipinchandra (13) and Akoijam Ajoy (13) of Thoubal Kiyam Leikai whose whereabouts have not been known after they have gone missing.
At MU Main Gate here, local Meira Paibis and club members staged a similar demonstration in connection with missing of Pebam Bishwajit (12) of Kiyamgei Awang Leikai.
Expressing concern over kidnapping of young children, All Manipur College Teachers’ Association, in a statement, has also appealed to all concerned to stop such activities at once and handed over all those children who are still in their custody to their respective families.

House of former PULF cadre Md Ramizuddin reduced to cinders after unidentified persons set it ablaze on July 13 morning.

KYKL clarifies
IMPHAL, Jul 13: The proscribed outfit KYKL has clarified that it has no connection with Langam Ana- nd (29) s/o L Achou of Yairipok Ningel who was reportedly claimed to have been killed by a combined force of Thoubal Police Commandos and personnel of 32 Assam Rifles during an alleged encounter at Thoubal Khunou.
In a statement, self styled deputy secretary publicity and research of the outfit Apabi Mangang said that Anand was not a cadre of its armed wing Meeyamgi Yawol Lanmee (MYL), nor a militia nor working as over-ground cadre nor sympa- thiser. In fact, he had been killed in a fake encounter after being arrested by the combined force, Apabi said, adding that there is nothing to be surprise on the conduct of the security forces in killing innocent people and later levelling false charges. However, such false propaganda would not be able to suppress the revolutionary movement, Apabi stated, while cautioning the public against such propaganda of the security forces.
Inmates missing
inmates of Children Home at Dulahlane namely Moirangthem Kennedy Singh and Sagolsem Sanjoy Singh, who have been missing since May 1 were send back safely to the Home yesterday at around 7 pm, secretary of Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti S Sharaju Devi informed in a statement made available to the press today. As requested, the children have been handed over to their respective guardians for a short duration, she added. The Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti has expressed profound gratitude to all concerned for sending back the two children safely to the Home again.

Truck crushes teenage girl

IMPHAL, Jul 12: A 15 year old girl was killed after a Tata truck knocked her down near Meitei Mayek High School, Kongba at around 7.50 am today.
According to eye witnesses, the girl identified as Rewa Goswami alias Malangbi d/o Suresh Goswami of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai was returning home on a bicycle from a tuition centre in Porompat.
Rewa, a class X student of Mahavir Jain High School, paona bazar, was also a taekwondo player having represented the State in National level competitions.
Driver of the truck (MN05/3670)- Laishram Romen (23) s/o L Ito of Yairipok Phajakhong, has been arrested by police and the victim girl’s body handed over to family members after the post mortem at RIMS morgue later in the day.
PM gives assent
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has reportedly approved setting up a National Institute of Technology in the State while the Manipur Institute of Technology would remain as a constituent institution of Manipur University. An informed source reminded that initially the MIT was proposed for upgradation to the NIT.
House attacked
IMPHAL, Jul 12: Unidentified persons fired about two rounds at the Bamon Leikai Mange Makhong residence of one Irengbam Lukhoi (55) s/o (L) I Iboyaima at around 3.10 pm today. There is no report of casualty or damage to property caused by the firing.

Sweet home coming for Iroishemba kids
Reuniting them with their worried family members, the two kids from Iroisemba, who reportedly ran away from home to join PREPAK Cobra Task Force, were handed over to their respective families by the outfit today evening.
13-year old Yengkhom Naobi and 11-year old Bange alias Langamba alias Abungo of Iroisemba Sorokhaibam Leikai were handed over to their respective family members at around 8.15 pm today, bringing relief and smiles on the face of their parents.
Later, they were accorded a warm welcome by the local people and Meira Paibis at the ground of Iroisemba Youth Development Club.

news

Rice being sold to the public through the PDS from a mobile station at Shamumakhong

Soundcast Outcast

Create your very own natural raindance when the next hurricane comes calling. With this all-weather, full range, battery/AC-operated wireless speaker, now it’s perfectly possible to have that wet t-shirt garden party you’ve always dreamed of. The outcast comes with an iCast transmitter so you can also plug your iPod in (providing that’s also in a waterproof case, of course). With a signal strength of up to 350 metres, keep the neighbours jumping for Rs 30,000. (soundcastsystems.com)

Feeling lonely swimming in that massive flashflood that swept your town away? Reach for one these waterproof MP3 players (with waterproof headphones) and keep yourself occupied while you await rescue. With up to eight hours of non-stop playback from its USB rechargeable battery, the Dolphin will change the way you go rafting, snorkelling, scuba diving and even showering. Stay chilled for Rs 6,300. (amazon.co.uk)

The crater formed after the embankment of Khuga canal breached and the submerged field

Now always know what weather’s going to be like before you step out. This
brolly lets you know when or snow is in the forecast illuminating its handle.
patterns indicate rain, drizzle, snow, or thunderstorms with automatic updates
AccuWeather.com — no sensors, no wet commute. Stay covered for R5 5,300. (ambientdevices.com)

Need to shoot corrupt bureaucrats making a killing off relief aid somewhere in the jungle? Get yourself this funky Olympus. Waterproof up to 3 metres, it won’t let you down at that “depth”. The Shockproof” sticker means you can drop it on pretty much any surface from a height of 1.5 m and still take a picture of the floor. Survive Godzilla’s return for Rs 25,500. (olympus-global.com)

It doesn’t matter if you’re on
kayaking expedition down the Zanskar or just holding on for dear life in gale force winds,
will need this rock of a camera phone. Casio claims it’s water resistant, shock resistant, with 400 hours of stand-by time and a shock-absorbing plastic bumper — probably what Keith Richards will be using to call
cockroach neighbours post the Apocalypse. Stay linked for just Rs 3,200. (casiogzone.com)