Hills bandh continues peacefully

Imphal, July 21 : Normal life in hill districts of Manipur severely affected Monday on the first day of the 48-hour bandh imposed jointly by the Naga frontal organizations demanding review to the cabinet decision of the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government to deploy Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Manipur police commandos in the hill districts.

Four inter-state passenger buses arriving this morning at Mao gate stranded owing to the bandh apart from more than 60 goods carrying trucks which have been stranded there since the commencement of the infinite blockade imposed by the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur five day back from midnight of July 15 .

Reports received from four hill districts, Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel said bandh was total in the districts.

Entire streets in the district headquarters wore deserted look as all kinds of vehicles were off the road.

However, bandh has less impact in Churachandpur district.

Shops and other business establishments, government offices, private undertakings remained closed.

However, schools remained open.

The bandh exempted media, electricity, PHED, medical, fire-fighters and security forces.

No inter-district buses leave or arrived in the districts headquarters for the day.

No untoward incidents reported so far during the strike hour which commenced from last midnight and due to end by Tuesday midnight (July 21) .

The 48-hour bandh in hill areas of Manipur was jointly sponsored by the United Naga Council (UNC), All Naga Students' Association, Manipur(ANSAM), Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM), and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) demanding review to the cabinet decision taken on May 19 to deploy IRB and Manipur police commandos in the hill districts of Manipur.

The bodies are alleging that the government move to deploy intended to terrorize the peace loving hill people.

They also lamented the government of ignoring the assertion of the Naga people against 'state militarization policy' in memoranda submitted to the governor and chief minister of Manipur as well as New Delhi.

Our district correspondents said that the bandh got support from various district level bodies in Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati districts.

The Zeliangrong Baudi, Tamenglong Zone announced support to the 48 hour bandh by imposing another 48 hour total bandh in Tamenglong district.

Our Tamenglong correspondent informed that total bandh was observing in the district on the first day of the 48-hour bandh stating that all institutions of both government and private are remaining closed.

Shops and business centres also remained closed for the day apart from remaining all kinds of vehicles off the road.

Our Chandel Correspondent adds: Normal life comes to a standstill in Chandel district as the 48-hour bandh called by several apex Nagas' bodies in the hill districts comes into effect.

All shops and institutions in the district downed their shutters and people resorted to remain indoor today.

No vehicle was seen plying on the roads.

However, there was no bandh-related violent incident today.

The bandh will continue till tomorrow.

In Ukhrul district also the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) jointly with other district based civil organizations endorsed the United Naga Council (UNC) sponsored bandh.

Normal life reported totally paralyzed in the district too.

Non local traders sit-in-protest against killing of migrant workers

Protestors at the sit-in dharna at Chandel on Tuesday, June 30. (Morung Photo)

Chandel, June 30 (MExN): With the escalating incidences of killing of migrant workers in Manipur in the recent past, the non local business community in Manipur today in a ‘first of its kind’ collectively registered its protest against the indiscriminate killing.
About 100 non-local businessmen from various trades today took part in the peaceful sit-in protest in the new market area of the district headquarters Chandel from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Traders also closed down shops as a sign of protest and traffic was paralyzed but no untoward incident was reported during the dharna, the organizing committee of the sit in protest informed.
Poster and placards condemning the senseless killing and appeals to stop the killing of non local workers were displayed at the sit-in-protest. The protesters also called the authority in concern to bring justice by punishing the perpetrators of the crime.

Memorandum to the PM

In this regard a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister of India was also submitted by the traders to the Deputy Commissioner, Chandel, Devesh Deval.
A copy of the memorandum will also be placed before the Governor and the Chief Minister of Manipur. The traders in the memorandum addressed to the prime minister lamented the fact that despite heavy deployment of armed forces in the state of Manipur the killings of non-local laborers/traders by un-identified gunmen have continued unabated. The worst affected of these senseless killings are women and children, the memorandum noted.
The memorandum appealed the prime minister and his government to deliver “fair justice to all people of the country irrespective of cast, creed or color.” It demanded the protection and security for all non local workers in the state capital of Manipur. It further demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice while also stating that equal compensation to all the victims be made.
The joint memorandum was signed by the Chandel Naga Peoples Organization, Naga Students Union, Chandel, Chairman Small Town Committee, Chandel, Non-local Traders Union, Chandel, Naga Women Union Chandel and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights.

Man injured in blast

Imphal, February 12 : A man wounded in explosion of a bomb planted underneath the earth when he dig the earth on the road to T Minou village located some 8 km away on the south-west of the Moreh police station of Chandel district today at around 11.30 am, a police report said.

The wounded man was named as Jampao Kuki (47) son of late Ngamkholet Kuki of Moreh ward no.2.He has been evacuated at RIMS hospital, Imphal tonight at around 7.35 pm after the doctors at the Moreh Community Hospital referred him as his condition become serious.

He sustained splinter injuries at the various part of the body.

The road where the bomb was found planted was use mostly for transportation of timbers with Shaktiman truck and popularly known as Shaktiman Lambi by the villagers.

Kuki bodies submit memorandum to Manipur Guv

Imphal, Feb 8 : Kuki Chiefs' Association and Kuki Students' Organisation, Chandel district have submitted a memorandum to Governor Gurbachan Jagat pressing various demands.

Maintaining that Molcham police station is not functioning due to law and order problems, the association demanded revamping of the station at the earliest.

The bodies also pressed for security posts at New Samtal, Yangngoulen and Sehlon.

The bodies urged the Governor to construct Tengnoupal to New Samtal Road, Moreh to New Samtal Road and handing over of Pallel to Moreh Road to BRTF.

It also demanded for opening of District Transport Office at Pallel for Chandel district and creation of a separate BDO.

The bodies also rejected inclusion of Pallel police station under Thoubal district.

It also requested to cancel village recognition order vide No 16/2/MISC/08-COM (Rev) dated 26th Aug'08.The Kuki bodies also demanded for opening of an SBI branch with ATM facility at Moreh Border Trade Centre.

The bodies also urged to conduct Autonomous District Council elections at the earliest.

It also pressed to allow NREGS job card holders in the district for opening of account at post office.

The bodies demanded for immediate recognition of Moreh College as a full-fleged Government college and also upgradation of New Samtal Junior High School, Sajik Tampak Junior High School and Y Thingkangphai Junior High School to high schools.

Kuki Chiefs re-installation ceremony

Imphal, January 22 : The Kuki Chiefs' Association, Chandel district has asked all chiefs and chairmen of village coming under the jurisdiction of Tengnoupal sub-division to attend the re-installation ceremony of Tengnoupal sub-division to be held at Tengnoupal village at 11 am on January 23 .

The association has warned that if any chief and chairman fail to attend the ceremony it will be assumed that the said chief is not willing to come under Tengnoupal.

Monsang Women's Union celebrates silver jubilee

Imphal, January 11 : Call for respecting the rights of the women and giving their long deprived dues reverberated at the silver jubilee celebration of Sirti Sanuw Ruh (Monsang Women's Union) which began from today under the theme of 'Excel with culture' at Liwa Sarei village in Chandel district.

Speaking as chief guest at the formal inaugural session of the celebration which would go on for four days, MP of Outer Manipuri Parliamentary Constituency Mani Charenamei observed that the role of the women in development of any society is of paramount importance.

However, the women in Manipuri society have never been given their due rights regardless of their immense contribution made to the society throughout the course of the history of the State.

It is because of this that numerous problems have come up today leading to imbalance in development, the MP said.

He further pointed out that the unwillingness of the society as a whole to empower women and allow them to take active part in the formulation of programmes and policies of the State has also led to an economic crisis that would have far reaching impact.

Presiding over the function attended by a large number of leaders of various communities, president of Chandel Naga People's Organisation (CNPO) Ng Gilbert noted that even if the Government has recognised Monsang as a tribe, the real and original nomenclature of the tribe is Sirti.

Inspite of being a small community, the tribe has its own rich culture and tradition.

But there is the apprehension that these cultural elements may be swept away in the wave of globalisation.

So every efforts should be made to preserve these cultural and traditional elements from being lost, he exhorted.

Earlier, delivering the key note address, president of Monsang Women's Union Renie Wanglar said as an apex body of the Monsang women, the Union has played an important role in promotion and development of the arts and culture of the Monsang tribe.

So keeping this in mind, the silver jubilee celebration of the Union is being held under the theme of 'Excel with culture'.

The chief guest also released a souvenir at the occasion which was marked by presentation of cultural dances and songs by various cultural troupes. Keeping with the theme of the celebration, exhibition of traditional dresses of Monsang tribe, demonstration of folk songs and dances and other cultural items would be witnessed over the next three days.

The celebration would also witnessed talks to be delivered by various resource persons.

Among the resource persons, secretary of WSDC K Shangneidar would spoke on the topic of 'Women in development process' and principal of United College, Lambung, Chandel Th Oliver on the topic of 'Preserving our culture and tradition'.

Physical Efficiency Test

Imphal, Jan 9 : Manipur Police Department has informed the candidates who could not appear for the Physical Efficiency Test (PET) for the recruitment of Sub-Inspector (female/civil) and Assistant Sub-Inspector (female/civil) for

Ukhrul, Chandel, Tamenglong, Senapati and Churachandpur districts that PET will be held on January 13.PET for the same posts for the districts of Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal and Bishnupur will be held on January 14 .