TSE investigates : Dr Kishan, A Rajen, Y Token, Kapangkhui, Ramthing, Ramshing abducted from Ukhrul Gate Four others held, murder trail from Ukl

IMPHAL, Mar 6 : The investigation launched by the State Government to get to the bottom of the brutal murder of Kasom Khullen SDO Dr Th Kishan and his two subordinate staff appears to be making some headway as the driver of the Bolero which was used by the NSCN (IM) cadres as well three people who provided them shelter have been picked up and sent to jail. Talking to The Sangai Express, a well placed source from the State Police Department said that from the disclosure of the driver of the Bolero (MN04/A/2645) and the three other persons, it has been established that six IM men lay in wait near the DC office on February 13. Once the SDO along with his five staff came out from the office of the DC a little after 12 noon on February 13, the Bolero, which was forcibly taken by the IM men, gave chase and over took the Gypsy near St Thomas School.Thereafter the Bolero stopped the Gypsy near the Naga Gate (Ukhrul Gate) at Hundung, said the source. After stopping the Gypsy carrying the SDO and his staff, the six IM men who were in the Bolero, driven by Mahei Kasar of Nungsong village told the officer to accompany them to Siroy for some talks, revealed the source further. The SDO and his men were however not taken to Siroy that day, February 13, for they stopped for the night at Langdang, a village situated between Ukhrul and Siroy. The officer and his men and the NSCN (IM) cadres spent the night at the residence of the former Head- man of Langdang village identified as Wungmasho.On reaching Langdang village, the number plate of as well as the beacon of the Gypsy allotted to the SDO were removed and the vehicle was kept out of sight. The next day, three employees who were abducted along with the SDO, Kapangkhui Zimik, Ram-thing Tangkhul and Ram- shing Tangkhul were let off by the IM men, said the source. After spending the night at Langdang, the SDO along with his two staff were bundled into the Bolero and along with three armed NSCN (IM) cadres, they were driven towards Seikhor village (Ukhrul west) on the Old Imphal-Ukhrul road. Seikhor village is located about 18 kms from Ukhrul district headquarters. Disclosing more details, the source said that at Seikhor village, the NSCN (IM) cadres got in touch with the village chief Soreingam Riphung and village secretary Th Zimik and the officer and his men spent the nights of February 14 and 15 at the residence of the village secretary. The following day the SDO and his two men accompanied by the three armed IM cadres as well as the driver proceeded towards Tora and passed through Tuinem and then reached Ngaingu junction, where one of the armed cadres got down, as it was getting cramped inside the vehicle. From Ngaingu junction, the six of them, that is Dr Kishan, A Rajen, Y Token, the two IM cadres and the driver took the Senapati- Phaibung road. The officer, his staff and the abductors reached Senapati a little after midnight and there, the Bolero with the driver was left near a stone crushing centre. From there the SDO and his men were taken on foot by the two gun wielding NSCN (IM) cadres towards Taphou Kuki village, said the source and added that the officer and his men may have been bludgeoned to death in the wee hours of February 17. After the ‘work’ was done, the two armed IM cadres returned to the site of the stone crusher where the Bolero and the driver were and they took the same route back.The former Headman of Langdang village in whose house the SDO, his men and the IM cadres spent the night on February 13 was picked up by the police on February 23 and he was sent to jail on March 1. The driver of the Bolero, which was forcibly taken by the IM men, Mahei Kasar of Nungshong village was picked up on February 25 and was sent to jail on March 4. The chairman of Seikhor village Soreingam Riphung and the secretary Th Zimik were respectively arrested on February 26 and 27 and were sent to jail on March 4, said the source further. To a query on the primary reason for the brutal killing of the SDO and his men, the source said that it is yet to be established as the alleged master mind of the dastardly crime self styled Lt Col of the NSCN (IM) Hopeson Ningshen of Nambisa is in the custody of the outfit. The statements of 30 eye witnesses have been recorded by the police, said the source and added that further investigation is on. The Gypsy that was found abandoned at Mahadev has been confirmed as the one allotted to the late SDO. On the other hand the IG (LO-III) V Zathang who has been in Ukhrul for the past days to investigate the case has returned to Imphal while Commissioner O Nabaki-shore and IG (Intelligence) LM Khaute are continuing with the investigation. The two men inquiry constituted by the State Government is headed by O Nabakishore and LM Khaute. The killing was widely condemned.

State hits key note at Vietnam Meet

IMPHAL, Mar 6: State private and public enterprises have signed four Memorandum of Understandings with numerous Vietnamese firms during the ASEAN - North East India Investment and Trade Opportunities Summit recently held from February 12 to 14 at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Declaring this Manipur Electronics Development Corporation Limited (MANITRON) Managing Director N Joykumar Singh, in a press meet conducted at Hotel Imphal today said that an MoU had been signed between the State public enterprise and MYA Busi-ness Corporation, Vietnam in the field of IT sector. According to the MoU, MANITRON will prepare Smart Cards for the ASEAN country that will include Driving License, RC book and other information of vehicle owners of Vietnam. Mentioned may be made that Manipur Government is also planning to issue similar Smart Cards to the vehicle owners of the State. Joykumar further informed the media that Kh Debabrata Singh of Thang-meiband Kabrambam Leikai and M/s K Marung and Sons of Chandel district also signed different MoUs with Vietnamese firms in the field of bamboo and handicraft items. Manipur Food Industries Corporation Limited (MFICL) also inked an MoU with a Vietnamese food processing firm in the summit. Joykumar further said that Vietnamese delegates also expressed interest in the taste and quality of State indigenous foods like Chakhao (black aromatic rice; Scientific name Oryza Sativa), Umorok, Uchina, Sekmai country liquor etc.The Indian delegates included Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Lal T Muana (a native of Mizoram), DoNER Ministry Secretary Jarnail Singh, Consul General of India in Ho Minh City Jitendra Nath Mishra, State Additional ChiefSecretary (Planning, Home) DS Poonia and ICC General Secretary Dr Rajiv Singh. Seventeen delegates from the State took part in the summit.The summit was orga-nised by DoNER Ministry in association with Indian Chamber of Commerce, Indian Diplomatic Mission in Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industries with the objective of attracting investment from ASEAN countries to NE India. Delegates from Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Korea, Malaysia and Japan took part in the summit. Seventy companies from different business sectors of NE India participated in the summit.

Yandaboo treaty studied, analysed

IMPHAL, Mar 6: The significance of the Treaty of Yandaboo signed between the Great Britain and Burma (now Myanmar) on February 24, 1826 in the history of Manipur has been discussed and analysed during a commemorative function here today.Organised under the aegis of Federation of Regional Indigenous Society (FREINDS) at Kangla Hall here today, the commemorative function held under theme of ‘Reminiscence of Manipur history : Treaty of Yandaboo, 24th February, 1826’ was attended by titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba as chief guest, FREINDS president Sapamcha Jadumani as functional president and former Minister RV Mingthing as guest of honour.Prof Naorem Joykumar of Department of History, Manipur University; Advocate of Gauhati High Court Khaidem Mani and IPSA president Yumnamcha Dilipkumar were among the resource persons who spoke on relevant topics of the theme.In his address as chief guest of the function, Leishemba Sanajaoba exhorted that the present generation should learnt lesson from the past and look forward to the future with a feeling of strong Nationalism. It is a fact well known to the people now that Manipuri society had suffered numerous setbacks in the past as a result of lack of unity and mutual distrust among our forefathers, the titular king said.However, inspite of the lesson learnt from such historical mistakes, we have not been able to rectify the same. In fact dirty politics have been trying set apart the people from one another, the titular king said, adding that this is really unfortunate for the future of the State.In his presidential address, Sapamcha Jadumani noted that the Treaty of Yandaboo signed between the Great Britain and the Burma on February 24, 1826 had recognised the independence of Manipur and this historical fact should not be forgotten by the people.In continuation of the function, various cultural dances were also performed by cultural troupes coming from different parts of the State.

Migrant workers back to work

IMPHAL, Mar 6: Amid heightened security measures and humanitarian initiatives migrant workers resumed their normal chores of earning livelihood away from their homes here in the State.Migrant workers had been shunning wage earning activities for the past few days following unidentified gunmen slaying three of them at different location of the capital city.Apparently fearing more such attacks the migrant work force had been taking refuge with security cover at the Marwari Dharmshala under the aegis of Imphal Bazar Board.Bazar Board convenor Amrik Singh Pahwa informed of the number of camper today decreasing to 70 from the original high of about 150 as they (migrant workers) returned to their works.Amrik Singh Pahwa also informed of a team of doctors having attended to medical requirements of the campers at the dharmshala where the Governor Gurbachan Jagat led other individuals/officials in extending financial and material assistance.Unidentified persons gunned down a barber at Bijoy govinda area of Sagolband on February 28, with two others – a sugar cane juice seller and a porter – killed at Kwaikethel and Chinga Makha respectively the following day.Bodies of all the three hailing from Bihar were cremated at Imphal.When contacted, Sub divisional police officer (Imphal West) AK Jhaljit described the situation as ‘improved’ in the capital with no fresh attacks being reported.“Nevertheless the state security forces continue to maintain sharp vigil to protect the non-locals and thwart any attempt to attack them,” the SDPO said.Meanwhile, the district authorities have taken up steps for payment of ex-gratia to families of the three slain migrant workers, officials sources said.On the otherhand, senior citizens for society, in a statement conveyed deep sense of shock and sorrow over the migrant workers’ killings and appealed to the perpetrators to ‘deeply introspect’ and stop such killing in the interest of peaceful co-existence and harmony in the pluralistic society.A statement released by the society’s general secretary, L Sadananda Singh appreciated the initiatives taken up by the State government for protecting the non-locals.

Debate on PWD CE post rages ‘CE is PWD employee’

IMPHAL, Mar 5 : Reacting to the news report which appeared in the March 5 issue of this paper under the caption, ‘PWD Engineers protest, to take mass casual leave,’ the Electrical circle of the PWD has clarified that the Engineer who has been as the Chief Engineer-in-charge is an employee of the PWD and not an employee of the Power Department (We stand corrected). A source said that the PWD has three circles, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical and added that an officer of the rank of Additional Chief Engineer, who has been in this position for three years, is eligible to become the Chief Engineer of the PWD. Earlier too there have been Chief Engineers of the PWD who were not from the Civil division, they maintained. The present Chief Engineer of the PWD is from the Electrical circle, said the source and added that other than him there is no one who is serving as Additional Chief Engineer (Regular) in the Department. Even all the SEs are in in-charge category, said the source and added that other than the present Chief Engineer there is no one who fulfils the criteria. According to the Rules and Regulations of the PWD, there is no clause which says that only Engineers from the Civil circle can be eligible for the post of the Chief Engineer. Interestingly two officers from the Mechanical circle served as the CE of the PWD

AE abducted, grenade found

IMPHAL, Mar 5 : An Assistant Engineer of the Food Control Division (FCD)-I of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department has been abducted by unidentified persons while a grenade has been found placed at the residence of an Executive Engineer of the same department.AE Md Liyaqat Ali was abducted on his way to IFCD head-office at Khoya-thong in the morning of March 3. The identity of the abductors and their motives cannot be ascertained till date.Demanding safe release of the AE at the earliest, IFCD employees staged a protest sitting in front of their head-office at Khoyathong today.Meanwhile, one Chinese hand grenade found near the residential gate of IFCD, FCD-I EE Chongtham Ranbir at Chingamakhong this morning has been safely retrieved by explosive experts of Manipur Police.The grenade was found near the security sentry post of the EE.Speaking to reporters by the sideline of the protest agitation at Khoyathong today, Ranbir said that he has no idea about the identity and motives of those responsible for abducting AE Liyaqat and placing grenade near his residence.Disclosing that there has been no case of any monetary demand from any UG group, the Executive Engineer recalled that there were instances of bomb/firing attacks at his residence in addition to the attempt to abduct his cashier in the past.

Women in media open eyes of all

IMPHAL, Mar 5 : The seventh annual meet of the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) was opened today at Kangla hall.The three day long meet hosted by the NWMI, Manipur Chapter is being participated by 70 lady journalists of the country.The inaugural function of the annual meet was graced by Chairman of the Manipur State Commission for Women Dr Ch Jamini, Editor of the Ereibak Irengbam Arun and Editor of the Aja daily Valley Rose as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ch Jamini stressed on the importance of economic empowerment for women of Manipur. Taking into account the prevailing condition of Ma-nipur, Dr Jamini observed that women in Manipur face the possibility of untold miseries in case necessary measures are not initiated to ensure economic security of the women.Womenfolk of the State have been shouldering great responsibility with regard to several issues and problems besetting the State since the Anglo-ManipurWar of 1891, she stated while lamenting that the present generation seems to have taken little notice of the momentous part being played by women with regard to various social issues. On the other hand, gender discrimination still persists in the society and many women are being subjected to various forms of harassments and violence. At such a juncture, it is crucial to increase the number of women journalists, she asserted.

SF arrest five UG cadres

IMPHAL, Mar 2: A combined team of Imphal West district police commandos and 16 Assam Rifles arrested one UNLF cadre from Kangchup Chingkhong, identified as Huirem Surjit alias Nongmadon (36) s/o (L) Sanatomba of Naharup Huirem Leikai (Army No 1538) today. A combined team of 4/8 Gorkha Rifles and Bishnupur police commandos arrested one senior RPF/PLA cadre from Toupokpi village yesterday. The cadre has been identified as Laishram Robindro Meitei alias Ronny (46) s/o Ningthemiya of Kwakeithel. Robindro is a self styled Senior Project Officer (equivalent to Senior Major). One 9 mm pistol with few live rounds was recovered from his possession. He disclosed that he was personally motivated by RPF chairman Chaoren and was recruited in 1993. He also said, RPF is planning a major offensive against the Indian union in 2011, said a press release of PIB (DW). Thoubal district police commandos arrested one PULF cadre identified as Md Abdul Gafar (28) alias Tondonba s/o Md Ramijuddin of Kshetrigao Makha Leikai from Langathel area today. Another team of Thoubal district police commandos arrested two KCP cadres during a frisking drive conducted at Thoubal Haokha yesterday. The cadres are identified as Nameirakpam Boby (25) s/o Bijoy of Chajing Konjeng Leikai and Tonjam Arjun (25) s/o Bhubon of Lilong Chajing Pukhri Achouba Mapal. Fifteen rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition were recovered from their possession, said a press release of Thoubal SP.