Moreh on New Year’s day

A cultural programme underway during the festival of peace at Moreh on New Year’s day

Another NE girl raped in Gurgaon

New Delhi, Jan 2: The year 2008 ended with shock following the rape of a 22 year old Assamese girl in IT hub city Gurgaon, National Capital Region on December 30 night.The fact finding team led by NE Support Centre & Helpline’s spokesperson, Mr Madhu Chandra, member Dr Alana Golmei, social activist along with two leaders from Jagori—Ms Nilansu Dutta and Priti— rushed to the victim as soon the incident was reported early morning on Wednesday.The women members of the fact finding team, met the victim and provided trauma counselling and latter took her to Sector 40 Police Station Gurgaon, Haryana to lodge a complaint.After registering FIR No. 325 under section 376 of Indian Penal Code the rapist has been arrested by the police.Revealing the trauma, the victim maintained that Mr Manish, a resident of Greenwood, Sector 40, Gurgaon promised her to give a job in a friend’s house as a domestic help.However, instead of taking her to the family where she was promised to work as a domestic help, Mr Manish took her to his resident at around 8 pm on December 30, the girl said, adding she was offered juice that was mixed with some intoxicant and was raped repeatedly throughout the night.The victim further said, “I was forced to wear revealing tight dressed and he took picture of me.”At early morning, she was taken to another place and left in an unknown place and latter she managed to return to her residence at Sikandrapur, Gurgaon.After filing the complaint, police took her to Government Hospital at Gurgaon for medical examination.While the North East communities in Delhi and NCR were still feeling it hard to imagine the previous case of two girls being molested in Gurgaon recently, this incident of rape case that occurred in the same city has only added fuel to the people’s sense of being discriminated on racial and regional basis.

Minister hold talks on Korea-Manipur ties

IMPHAL, Dec 31: To extend co-operation between Korea and Manipur in the field of culture, sports and economic, Education Minister of the State L Jayantakumar has met the Korean Ambassador at New Delhi and extended invitation for sending a Korean cultural troupe to Imphal in last week of February or first week of March next year.Disclosing this to The Sangai Express, Education Minister L Jayantakumar informed that he along with Director of Education (School) M Harekrishna and social activist Naoroibam Ratan have discussed the matters related to extension of co-operation between Korea and Manipur in the field of culture, sports and economy have been discussed during a joint meeting with Korean Ambassador Young Sun Paek, Cultural Secretary Spung-Ho Kin and Professor JK Kim at New Delhi recently.While informing that during the meeting, the Korean Ambassador has given his approval on opening up of a Korean studies faculty in Manipur University as well as on sending Korean teachers for providing a 6-month Korean language training course in school education, the Minister said necessary expenses would be bore by the Korean authority.The Minister also informed that he would be meeting the authorities of Manipur Univrsity in connection with opening of the Korean studies faculty.Stating that the outcome of the meeting with the Korean Ambassador was positive, the Minister said the same has also been conveyed to the Chief Minister.‘‘He (Chief Minister)was very happy with the development’’, the Education Minister added.As to extension of co-operation between Korea and Manipur in the field of cultual, sports and economy during the meeting, the Minister informed that the the Korean Ambassador appreciated the matter and requested for submitting a concrete proposal in this regard.The State Government has only made an approach to the Korean Ambassador, no formal agreement has signed in this connection, the Minister added.Towards extension of co-operation in the culture, an invitation for sending a cultural troupe from Korea to Imphal sometime in last week of February or last week of March next year had been extended, the Education Minister informed, adding that one Kokyet (traditional Manipuri turban) a basket of Oranges from Tamenglong district of Manipur have been presented to the Korean Ambassador during the meeting.

SFs raid Loktak Lake, UG hideout busted

IMPHAL, Dec 31: For the second time the combined forces of Army and the Bishnupur district police commandos launched operation in some parts of Loktak lake and succeeded in raiding the hideouts of UGs.During the operation conducted with induction of unmanned surveillance planes, exchange of firing had taken place between the UGs and the security forces. But there is no report of any casualty on either side.According to police report, the operation was conducted from early morning today after having cordoned off Tharopat, Ngamupat and Yennapat of Loktak lake since last night.During the course of the operation, exchange of firing took place between the UGs and the security forces at around 4 am and continued till 6 am.In connection with the operation, a statement issued by PIB Defence Wing said that in a surgically executed pre-dawn , troops of 57 Mountain Division and Bishnupur Police Commandos destroyed a large and well constructed hideout of the proscribed KYKL in the inaccessible Loktak lake.The raid which was the second of its kind in the Loktak lake resulted in recovery of automatic weapons, assorted ammunition, explosives, landmines, IEDs, Chinese grenade and propaganda materials like phamphlets and CDs.The recoveries included two AK-56 Rifles, 12 AK magazines, 174 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, 177 rounds of AK-56 ammunition, 50 rounds of point 22 ball ammunition, 20 UBGL grenades, 15 Anti-Personal Mines, 1 Chinese grenade, 8 sets of combat uniforms, one television set, one generator, six gas cylinders, IED materials and explosives, ruck sacks and pouches besides other war like stores and three country boats, the statement of the PIB Defence Wing listed.According to the statement, the hideout was well concealed and constructed in an inaccessible marshy area of Tharopat in the lake. There were six huts for stores and living besides one large hut possibly for training. The height of all the huts were only 4.5 feet, thereby concealing their location from even hundred yards due to tall Phumdis. Only one narrow water channel led to the hideouts which was guarded round the clock.Informing that the vital inputs of this extremely well sited and hidden hideout had been willingly provided by local villagers who are fed up with the extortion, demands and misbehaviour of the UGs, the PRO observed that the locals have expressed a strong desire for peace and tranquillity to prevail in Manipur, free from fear and kidnappings of children. The common people earnestly want that benefits of development and economic upliftment a planned by the elected Government of Manipur. However, this can only be done once the militants give up their gun for peace, the PRO asserted.Attributing the success of this extremely difficult and complex operation to the high levels of training and close co-ordination between the security forces and the Bishnupur Police Commandos, the PRO informed that a number of UGs were injured in the operation.Major General Shakti Gurung and General Officer Commanding 57 Mountain Division were also personally involved in the co-ordinating this operation, the PRO added.Meanwhile, according to information received by the press, today’s operation had been code-named as ‘Raid on confirmed hideouts of KYKL and UNLF’.Mediapersons from Imphal who have gone to get the news were not allowed to proceed further and stopped by police at Keinou and Khwairakpan along Imphal-Churachandpur Road. By the time the media team arrived at Ngaikhong Ma-mang Leikai from where the operation had begun in the af- ternoon, the operation had already been concluded. Army as well as the Police Commandos also did not allow the mediapersons to take photographs. Permission were also not granted to meet any of the police officers including the SP of the district.

Wild and violent school boys given bitter medicine by KYKL-UNLF

IMPHAL, Dec 29: Fifteen boys of 17 Class XII students of Kanan Devi Memorial School who attempted to assault a teacher of the school and badly beat up the driver of a school buses when the latter tried to intervene, were summoned by the Joint Task Force, JTF, (Human Resource) of the KYKL and UNLF and given 10 lashes each with a mean looking cane whip as punishment before the media today somewhere in the Thoubal district.The two who did not respond to the summon by the JTF have been served notice to report by January 5, failing which they would be awarded severe and exemplary punishment, commander of the JTF Lamjingba told the media persons present.Further, parents of all the 17 boy were told to pay Rs. 1000 each towards medical and hospital expenses of the school bus driver they injured during the unwarranted assault, the JTF spokesman said. Two are prompt and have already paid up, according to a report.The atrocious assault by the students happened on December 11, during the school test for Class XII students scheduled during December 8 and 22 ahead of their CBSE final examination next year.A student by the name of Phanjoubam Lokendro son of Ph. Somorendro tried to enter another exam room where one of his friends was giving his test to copy something from his notebook.The teacher on invigilation duty, Nameirakpam Bobby forbade Lokendro from entering the room saying that he should come back after the test is over. Lokendro refused and tried to force his way in. Other teachers intervened and pacified the situation.The matter however did not end there, for Lokendro along with 16 other companions were waiting for the teacher at Khurai Heikru Makhong and stopped a school bus in which they thought the teacher may be travelling.They searched the bus, but did not find Bobby. However, some of them spotted the teacher coming along the same road on a two wheeler, and the boys accosted him and tried to assault him.The driver of the school bus then tried to intervene and save the teacher, but the boys turned on him and beat him up brutally, injuring him.The 15 boys who received punishment of the KYKL and UNLF today have since been handed over to their parents, Lamjingba said.He said the JTF would remain vigilant of such acts of students indiscipline and severe punishments awaits those who disrespect their teachers.

CBI branch coming up at Imphal

IMPHAL, Dec 30: A branch office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be opened in the State shortly, informed a reliable source. The CBI branch office which is most likely to be located at Lamphelpat here would be headed by a Superintendent. The branch office will also have sub-ordinate officers like Deputy Superin- tendents, Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors, prosecutors and the necessary staff.The Union Government has already approved the proposed CBI branch at Imphal. The new initiative is aimed at expediting disposition of various criminal and corruption cases, disclosed the source. The CBI branch office which is planned for expansion in the next couple of months would also handle cases in Nagaland. It is also likely that the same branch office would cover Mizo-ram.It is expected that once the CBI branch office at Imphal is materialised, the central investigating agency might take up suo moto cases with regard to killing people by security forces in alleged fake encounters which have become daily occurrence in the State, conveyed the source.At present, the CBI is handling some sensitive cases such as the kidnapping and killing of baby Lungnila Elizabeth and the murder of Manoj Sethi who dealt in fabrics and clothes at Imphal. More recently, the case relating to the killing of the Imphal Free Press sub-editor Konsam Rishikanta was also handed over to the CBI. The Congress led SPF Govt handed over the case to CBI after a prolonged agitation by journalists of the State in November this year. Konsam Rishikanta was found shot dead near the second home of Sangai at Langol on November 17.

CM asks 6th pay commission seekers to be more patient

IMPHAL, Dec 28: "The 6th Pay Commission norms cannot be implemented in the state immediately and the public needs to understand the situation the government is in. Although the demands made by the JAC of AMTUC and AMGEO are not altogether unreasonable the strikers should give more time to the government to settle their demands," said chief minister O Ibobi Singh while speaking at the 123rd Foundation Day of the Indian National Congress which was observed in Imphal today. The observation took place at the Congress Bhavan and was attended by several dignitaries.The chief minister at the same time also made an appeal to the employees JAC to call off their strike in view of the large liabilities involved for the government in meeting such demands.Speaking at the function, Dr. T Meinya, MP Lok Sabha eulogized the Congress party as the single largest party in the country as well as Manipur. Mentioning about various welfare schemes undertaken by the UPA government like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, he said that the various problems faced by people in terms of the conflict situation in the state will take some time to be resolved. Giving the presidential speech, Gaikhangnam said that Indian history is incomplete without the Congress party. "To strengthen Congress party means strengthening India," he said. O Ibobi in his speech highlighted the secularist ideals of the Congress party and declared that various development programs will be implemented during his tenure. Other speakers included Rishang Keishing, MP Rajya Sabha and T Phungzathang. Prizes of the Priyadarshini spot written quiz competition were also distributed to the winners at the function today.

NSA detenue Kangleipal escapes from JN security ward

IMPHAL, Dec 29 : President of Manipur Forward Youth Front Sapamcha Kangleipal, who has been jailed under the National Security Act, escaped from the JN Hospital security ward, where he was lodged for a personal ailment, last night.Taking swift action, the Government has suspended three policemen on duty including one SI.Kangleipal was booked under the NSA on the ground that he had made seditious remark in connection with the formation of the contentious Special Police Officers for the people of Heirok. He was arrested on May 6 from Manipur Press Club. The fact that Kangleipal had slipped out from the Security Ward of JN Hospital came to light early today morning during the routine checks conducted everyday at 5 am to verify whether all convicts undergoing treatment were in their place or not. Two other convicts who shared the same room with Kangleipal were found in their place, said personnel at the Security Ward. The other two are identified as Shimreiyo Tangkhul of the Naga Peoples’ Council of Manipur and Md Yahiya of PREPAK.They said that they do not know when and how Kangleipal escaped as they were asleep. Kangleipal along with the other two were lodged at Room number 1 of the Security Ward which has three rooms.While there are three beds at two rooms, the third room has four beds. Room number 1 where Kangleipal was lodged has three beds. The rooms of the inmates are located adjacent to the rooms of the security personnel.To enable the security personnel monitor the movements of the convicts, their rooms are enclosed by doors which are grilled. The room where Kangleipal and the two other has an iron grilled window measuring about 3 x 4 ft on the eastern side. Moreover there is another iron grill on the window from the other side. Just next to the Security Ward is a block which was previously used as the Gynaecology ward. This block has now been vacated for the proposed State Medical College and is under hectic renovation and construction causing much noise, said security personnel.Security personnel opined that Kangleipal may have escaped through the window. The iron bars of the window appear to have been sawed off through. Two iron bars, put up perpendicularly were found bent while one or two bars were found sawed off. Some other iron grills put on the outside of the window were also found bent.