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.

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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.

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