Stop harassment of Manipur journalists: Guild

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) The Editors Guild of India Wednesday expressed concern over the plight of journalists in Manipur and called for urgent remedial measures to bridge the growing gulf between the state government and security forces on one hand and the media on the other.

A two-member team of the Guild that visited the state last month discovered that the media was under pressure from insurgent groups, harassed by the state government and police, and was also under stress from “non-state underground players”.

“Unlike other states, in Manipur, the Information and Broadcasting Minister does not interact with journalists,” the report submitted by veteran journalists Sumit Chakravartty and B.G. Verghese notes.
At present the only minister to interact with the media is the sports minister, a former footballer, said the Guild.
“Besides the state, the media is under pressure from insurgent groups, especially the
splinter elements, as in Margaret Thatcher’s famous phrase, publicity is the oxygen of
terror. There is a veiled atmosphere of fear in which there is a private voice and
public utterance. This is a very difficult path to negotiate but it is a journey that must be undertaken.”
The Guild also expressed concern over murder of five journalists, gunned down by unknown people, in the last few years.
“The state government has so far failed to either identify or book the perpetrators.
Media fraternities in the state suspect the involvement of the security forces in some
of the killings. Apart from continued harassment by the Manipur police and state
government, journalists in the state are also pressured by non-state underground
players,” the report said.
The Guild has recommended the setting up of regular informal meetings between senior editors and journalists with the chief minister, official spokesman, chief secretary, the director general of police and other officers of the Unified Command jointly so as to restore confidence and bring about a rapprochement.
It has also suggested setting up a media support group of academics, former
administrators, erstwhile security personnel, respected political figures, jurists,
professionals and NGOs in Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur.
Professional bonding between the state journalists and media group all over the country through internships could impart mutual strength and solidarity to both the local and national media, the report advised.

Highway blockade called off

Imphal, Feb. 16: Supply of essential commodities resumed today along the Imphal-Dimapur highway after the Senapati District Students’ Association lifted its 15-day economic blockade.

The development took place after a government team, led by Manipur tribal development minister D.D. Thaisii, held negotiations with a delegation of the student body at the district headquarters this afternoon.

The team, comprising Thaissi, Independent MLA from the district K. Raina and inspector-general of police (law and order-III) V. Zathang, held talks with the student delegation in the office of the Naga People’s Organisation located at the district headquarters for more than two hours.

The student body imposed the economic blockade on February 1 midnight in protest against the failure of the Ibobi Singh government to repair the road.

After a visit by works minister K. Ranjit Singh, the repair work started two days into the blockade.

Despite that, the student body refused to call off the agitation, demanding that maintenance work be handed over to the Border Roads Organisation.

Tension mounted following arrest of two blockade supporters by district police last night, prompting the Ibobi Singh government to send a team to Senapati.

The police said blockade supporters had set a truck loaded with fish ablaze last evening near Karong, about 6km north of Senapati police station.

After the arson, the police arrested A. Pukani, 34, and Yarmi Ringri, 35, from the spot. However, they were released later in view of the lifting of the blockade.

Taking advantage of the lack of adequate number of security escorts, some blockade supporters stopped the truck and set it on fire. It was part of a 300-supply vehicle convoy being escorted from Mao to Imphal by a team of Manipur Rifles personnel.

The arrest of the two alleged arsonists triggered tension in the district headquarters and other parts of the district, particularly along the Senapati sector of the highway, with the student body calling a lightning bandh in the district this morning.

Bandh supporters damaged some vehicles this morning.

During the talks later today, the student body agreed to lift the strike as well as the economic blockade with immediate effect. On its part the government team promised the student body that the ongoing repair work would be completed as soon as possible.

Trauma over, trafficked kids head back home

Chennai, February 16 : The 76 Manipuri and Assamese children, rescued from Bethesda Blessing Home in Kanyakumari district on January 23, began their journey home from Tirunelveli yesterday evening even as the girls belonging to Manipur and Assam taken to Bangalore have been reportedly located by the Tamil Nadu police.

After producing them before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Tirunelveli, the 52 Manipuri and 24 Assamese children were handed over to Saranaalayam Reception Home attached to the Child Welfare Committee in Tirunelveli.

The children have been staying at Saranaalayam for the last three weeks.

As per the schedule, the children were to leave by Ananthapuri Express from Tirunelveli but due to some trouble in connecting a separate coach from Tirunelveli, the children went by two buses to Madurai.

Speaking from Madurai, the Saranaalayam director, Father S Joseph Johnson, said that the children would reach Chennai on Monday morning and would board the Guwahati Express from Chennai Egmore station on Monday night and would reach Guwahati on Thursday evening.

After handing over the Assamese children to that State CWC, the Manipur CWC team would take the Manipuri children to their home State.

A police team from Tirunelveli, headed by sub inspector Abraham and a Assam CID police team led by Inspector P Bordoloi escorted the children.

Two Saranaalayam workers and social defence staff accompanied the children.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the girls belonging to Manipur and Assam taken Paul to Bangalore have been located by the Tamil Nadu police.

The Manipuri and Assamese children at Saranaalayam told Manipur Child Welfare Committee member K Maharabi Singh that more than 16 girls were taken by Paul to Bangalore, the sources said.

Subsequently, a special Tamil Nadu police team located the place in Bangalore and identified around 23 children.

They have approached the State Child Welfare Committee to rescue the girls.

Cops canter into semis

Lamyanba Pakhang men to take on Khurai Polo Club (A) today

Manipur polo

S. Girimohan of Manipur Police (in white) attempts a strike during the match with Thangmeiband Polo Club. Telegraph picture Imphal, Feb. 16 : Manipur Police Sports Club (A) stormed into the semi-final of the 1st 57 Mountain Division Polo Tournament, defeating Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club by 4-1 goals at Imphal Pologround here today. In the last quarter-final match today, Thangmeiband Youth Polo could hardly put up any defence against the volley of strikes by the Manipur Police SC team in the first two chukkers. The policemen put up a formidable front right from the beginning. The Manipur Police team struck first as M. Jawan Singh scored in the first chukker. The riders then followed through with some magnificent strikes in the second chukker. The cops dominated the proceedings totally, giving their best in the second chukker, as I. Khaba Singh fetched the second goal. Teammate S. Bimol Singh chipped in with another goal to increase the tally to three. With the policemen taking over the game with controlled and precise strikes, the Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club found it tough to score. However, in the third chukker, they managed to score a solitary goal when Y. Binoy Singh rode through to bring some solace to the team. The Manipur Police Sports Club soon overrode its opponents as S. Girimohan Singh found the winning fourth goal to seal the fate of the Thangmeiband Youths by 4-1 goals en route to the semi-final today. In the semi-final, Lamyanba Pakhang Polo will take on Khurai Polo Club (A) while Manipur Police Sports Club (A) will clash with Khurai Polo Club (A) tomorrow.

Meet resolves implementation of 6th Pay in state would harm unorganized sector

IMPHAL, Feb 16 : The general discussion on the impact and aftermath of implementation of the 6th pay Commission was discussed today in a function organized by the All Manipur Man Power Upliftment Centre.

The function was attended by various resource persons from various intellectual circles of the state, including professors from the Manipur University at MDU Imphal.

The discussions centred around prospects of rise in prices of essential commodities in the state with the implementations of 6th pay commission in the state.

Remarkably, Prof. Chinglen of Manipur University who attended as resource person elaborated that, implementations 6th Pay Commission would invite serious economic crises in the state and such implemenation of 6th pay commission without considering the per capita income of the common public and farmers.

He further mentioned that, the people of the state need to consider that the state has limited resources and entire need of various aspects of development is dependent on the mercy of the Central government.

He said, without considering the per capita income of the common people and farmers of the state, implementation of 6th pay commission will lead to the establishment of a state for the high income groups, i.e. government employees only.

Many participants expressed their opinion on the matter and the meeting final unanimously resolved that the state government to initiate necessary measures to provide unemployment allowances for farmers and educated youths of the state who be directly impacted by the implementation of 6th pay Commission in the state.

The resolution also called for implementations of minimum wage for the working classes groups as implemented in other parts of the country corresponding to the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission.

It also demanded extension of another additional 50 days as working days for already implemented NREGS instead of 100 days as observed in the state. It also called for maintaining transparency in provisions of AAY/BPL cards, regular provision of PDS items, control of prices for essential items.

It also called for the government to bear the transportation charges for the materials related to the farmers, establishment of Worker’s Social Society Act 2008, for the upliftment of workers living under the unorganised sectors, creation of more posts in view of the educated unemployed, establishment of anti-corruption cell in every district, extending service period etc.

The discussion also further resolved to appeal the state government to bring an amicable solutions to avoid the existing paralyses of state administration caused due to cease works strike of AMTUC and ANGEO in the state.

Lui Ngai Ni celebration begins at Senapati

IMPHAL, Feb 14: Celebration of  Naga Seed Sowing festival the Lui-Ngai-Ni 2010 began today.

The traditional festival Lui Ngai-Ni this year has started from this evening at Senapati Public ground with a gala cultural shows and music extravaganza. The Lui Ngai-Ni this year will be unique as the oldest Naga Queen Apei Hinga of Maram Namdi (Maram Khullen) will grace the main celebration tomorrow at Senapati Public ground and she will also perform a traditional ritual of blessing the Naga seed-sowing festival tomorrow.

Apart from the Nagas, other communities like Kukis and Gorkhas will also present their cultural items during the celbration at Senapati.

In fact the Lui Ngai-Ni, a seed sowing festival the Naga has been recognized as a state festival for its unique feature and celbrated on 15th of February every year in the state. All preparations for the festival have been made by the state level organising committee atSenapati district head quarter, and all Naga tribes both from the Manipur ad neighbouring Nagaland will going to present their aged old traditional dances and  folk items in connection with the celebration.

It may be mentioned that such tradititional functions of indigenour tribes of the state have becoming showcased and also becoming one of the eventual celebrations to attract the tourists from both India and foreign countries.

Over 80 goods laden trucks stranded at Mao

Imphal, February 14, 2010: Over 80 goods laden trucks bound for Manipur have been stranded at Mao Gate in the Manipur-Nagaland border due to the ongoing indefinite economic blockade called by Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).

The SDSA's sponsored agitation has entered 14 days today.

The students' body has been demanding from the state government of Manipur mainly to improve the National Highway 39, the lifeline of Manipur which is in deplorable condition.

Few days ago the agitating SDSA had relaxed its economic blockade for 36 hours in view of a mega religious programme at Senapati.

Fuel pumps ran dry prior to its relaxation period.Some ten trucks have already been damaged by blockade supporters in the course of 14 days agitation.

Absconding man produced in court

Nagercoil: Shaji, who kept 76 boys from Manipur and Assam, in an unauthorised orphanage, was produced before a magistrate’s court at Kuzhithurai on Saturday.

The Kaliyakkavilai police have registered more than five cases against him.

He was absconding ever since the children were rescued from the ‘home’ recently. A special team arrested Shaji who was hiding in Palakkadu in Kerala. He was remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.

PDA gears up for ADC polls

Imphal, February 09 2010: The Peoples' Democratic Alliance (PDA), a political party based in Manipur hills has geared up for the forthcoming Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in the hill districts of Manipur.

Pulling up its loin to be in fray in the district council polls, the 'general council' of the Peoples' Democratic Alliance (PDA) convened a meeting few days ago in Imphal and minutely deliberated on the matter.

General secretary of the PDA Thaiba Sanii disclosed NNN that in that meeting the delegates present dwelt on the extension of the VIth Schedule provision of the Constitution of India, the Constitutional Rights over lands and natural resources of the hill tribal people, the political problems relating to the insurgency in the North Eastern region with special reference to Indo-Naga peace process like the Naga 'unification' and Suspension of Operation (SoO) involving Kuki, Chin-Mizo group.

The PDA leader said that the meeting also expressed about the "lackadaisical attitude of the SPF government led by Congress that reduced the district councils in the hill areas of Manipur as mere hollow drums by the latest amendment of the headless Act and the party's desire for bringing about a logical political solution with strong political will on the part of the centre to end the half a century old political conflicts in the region".

Manipuri children narrate ‘horror home’ tales

Imphal, Feb. 9: Emmanual, the head of one of the homes in Chennai from where some children were rescued recently, had forced 13-year-old Reeta Devi (name changed) from Manipur to “massage” his body late at night and beat her up if she failed to go to his room.

Called “father” by the children, he “touched” 12-year-old Leirang Devi (name changed) while he forced the children to clean latrines and tortured them when they refused to comply with his orders.

“They forced us girls to wash clothes and cook food. We were taken to task if the food was not properly cooked. I felt uncomfortable when the father (Emmanual) touched my body. It was a horror home,” Leirang wept as she narrated her ordeal at the home.

She was one of the 16 children rescued from Reach Home Children Foundation, Mogappair of Chennai, run by Emmanual.

Altogether 19 children, 10 girls and 9 boys, were brought here yesterday after being rescued from two illegal homes in Chennai. All of them are in the age group of six and 13.

Today, they recalled their ordeal at the “horror house” as they spoke to their guardians, social welfare minister N. Loken Singh and officials of his department at the Observation and Special Home, run by the department, at Takyel in West Imphal.

John Singh (name changed), 12, said Emmanual called Reeta to his room late at night and forced her “to massage his body”.

If she failed to go, she was beaten up severely the next morning.

The children said they were sent to collect firewood in a nearby jungle.

“If we brought firewood, rice was given to us for cooking. If we did not bring it then no rice was given. We were not fed enough and when some of the children took food without permission they beat us up. No education was given to us,” Singh said.

The children said Emmanual’s son, Benny, introduced the boys to smoking while some of the girls were taught how to dance.

Some of the parents cried as they heard the “horror” tales and said it was their fault that their children had to suffer such an ordeal.

Some of the children reportedly told officials of the department and child activists that they were molested at the home, but these incidents were not disclosed by the officials.

“These things cannot be made public. We carried out medical examinations yesterday but found no evidence of sexual abuse,” a senior official of the social welfare department told reporters.

Child activists, who knew about sexual harassment at the home, expressed anger at the officials of the department for concealing the matter.

A team of Chennai police’s anti-trafficking section will arrive here soon to probe whether Reeta was sexually abused by the “father”.

She was not among the group of children brought here yesterday. Social welfare officials said guardians had brought her back before the Chennai Child Welfare Committee rescued 16 children from the home on January 21.

The children were taken to Chennai by S. Herojit from Bishnupur and Leisham Rakesh from Imphal East on the promise that they would be given free education. The two also took Rs 10,000 each from the parents.

They were arrested with two others by Chennai police but freed on bail on January 29.

The police are looking for Emmanual, his friend Christopher and Benny.

Scuffle over fees at Manipur private school

Guardians attend the meeting at Heritage Convent School in Imphal on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, Feb. 8 : A scuffle broke out during a meeting of guardians and school authorities at the Heritage Convent at Uripok in Imphal West today over the payment of fees for the four months during which classes were not held.

Classes were boycotted for four months from September in the four valley districts of Manipur.

The Apunba Lup spearheaded and called for a series of agitation against the killings of passerby Rabina Devi and former militant Ch. Sanjit in an alleged fake encounter by police commandos in Imphal city on July 23 last year.

Classes resumed from January 10 after the Apunba Lup and the Rabina and Sanjit Joint Action Committees signed a truce with the Ibobi Singh government on January 8.

The Heritage Convent has classes from preparatory to Class VIII and is known as one of the reputed schools in the district.

While the guardians said no fees should be taken for the four months, the school authorities demanded that the entire amount should be paid, as they had to pay the teachers and other employees their salaries.

Three students’ organisations, the All Manipur Students Union, Manipuri Students Federation and Kangleipak Students Association, had, however, asked the schools to take only a month’s fee. The school authorities and guardians held a meeting on February 3 to thrash out the issue but failed to reach an agreement.

The second meeting was held today.

The school authorities and more than 1,000 guardians gathered on the school premises since 10am today to discuss the matter .

The guardians suddenly turned violent and went on the rampage after a lady teacher allegedly told them that the school would not allow the students to sit for examinations if the fees were not paid.

The guardians used chairs as missiles and damaged some glass windows and a speaker of the public address system. However, the situation was brought under control after a police team arrived on the scene.

The authorities and guardians settled the matter through talks after the teacher apologised.

The executive director of the school, Vikramjit Singh, said they would take only one month’s fee from the guardians.

The parents are yet to decide whether they will accept the proposal. The guardians later decided to form an association.

A spokesperson for the guardians said the proposed association would meet the authorities again to settle the fee issue and to find ways for smooth running of the school.

Manipur champions in national Vovinam meet

New Delhi, Feb 8 Manipur emerged winners in the national Vovinam championship held at Nanded, Maharashtra.
Around 550 participant from 18 states competed in the first national championship of the little-known Vietnamese martial art sport that concluded Saturday.

Manipur were the overall championship winners scoring 81 points with 13 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals. Maharashtra came second with 63 points winning eight gold, 10 silver and 19 bronze medals. Madhya Pradesh finished third bagging nine gold, four silver and four bronze medals, the Vovinam Association of India said in a statement.

Imphal women protest violence against them and children

Imphal (Manipur), Feb 8 : Women in Imphal took to the streets here over reports of increasing violence against women and children.

The Conflict Widows Forum in collaboration with several non-governmental organizations organized the protest.


The protestors condemned the recent incidents of rape and murder of innocent women in the state.

They called for capital punishment for rapists and murderers.

Bimola Devi, the head of the Department of Political Science, Manipur University said, "These killings are very brutal and we strongly condemn them."

State fails to furnish action taken report on attacks on minorities

Imphal, February 6 : Vice Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, HT Shangliana today said that Manipur government failed to furnish detail reports of action taken by state authorities with regard to 14 cases of atrocities meted out to the Meetei Christians minorities in the state.

The Vice Chairman arrived here today on his five day visit in the state to take stoke of the conditions of the minorities particularly that of Meeteis following Christians.

During his stay in the state, he will also conduct spot visit to the places where Meetei Christians are settled.

On his arrival in the state capital, HT Shangliana held an interaction programme with representatives of NGOs working for the minority Meetei Christians, Meetei Pangal and Meetei Budhists.

Chairman of the State Minorities Commission, Helim Choudury also took part in the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice President, HT Shangliana said that even though the National Minority Commission has sought detail reports of action taken on the cases related with the atrocities received by the Meetei following Christian religion like burning down of churches in their localities through the state chief secretary, state government failed to furnish those till date.

The commission has sought reports of 14 cases against the minorities.

When examined into the cases of incidents atrocities against minorities in the state of Manipur, he found burning and dismantling of churches at Taothong, Phumlou, Phayeng, Lamding (Wangjing), Chingmeirong and Sekmai etc.

and forced cremation of dead bodies of Meetei Christians by the majority communities.

The vice chairman is looking after the charge of north eastern states, Orissa and Jharkhand.

Even though, he had intimated the Manipur government to furnish detail reports of the action taken up by the state government with recommendation for the said atrocities against the minorities, the same is yet to furnish by the state authorities, Shangliana added.

Unable to get the reports sought by him, he personally came here to take stoke of the situations of the minorities, he said adding that during his stay in the capital, he will meet with the state Chief Secretary and DGP and held discussions on the torture and violence against the minorities.

He will also hold meetings with commissioner (home), Deputy Commissioner of districts to discuss on the action taken reports of the cases.

If no action was found taken then he will ask them to take appropriate measures, Shangliana added.

He also assured the NGOs present in the interaction programme that he will thoroughly examine the memorandums submitted by them with the Chief Minister and will ask the later to protect rights of the minorities.

During the programme, the vice chairman also sought the cooperation of the media in controlling violence against the minorities.