9525 FIRs in four years only in 4 valley district of Manipur- Chief Minister

9525 FIRs lodged with police in last four years in valley districts: Ibobi

15 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Jan 14: The State government had registered a total of 9525 (nine thousands five hundred and twenty five) FIR (First Information Report) cases at the police stations in Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal District from 1st January, 2005 to 31st December, 2009, said home minister Okram Ibobi Singh during the question hour of the 7th session of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly this morning.
The home minister further mentioned that a total of 3743 (three thousands seven hundred and forty three) FIR cases were registered at the police station of Imphal East, while a total of 2209 (two thousands two hundred and nine) FIR cases registered at Bishnupur district and a total of 3573 (three thousands five hundred and seventy three) FIR cases registered at the police station of Thoubal district.
The home minister was replying to a question raised by MLA, L. Nandakumar.
According to the home minister’s report a total of 185 were charge sheeted, 1783 were F.R.s and 1775 were under investigation from 2005 to 2009 for Imphal East District, while 52 were charge sheeted, 1089 were F.R.s and 1068 under investigation from 2005 to 2009 for Bishnupur District and a total of 15 were charge sheeted, 556 were F.R. and 3002 under investigation for Thoubal District.
  In another question raised by state MLA, Dr. Kashim Ruivah this morning the minister for tribal development and hills, D.D. Thaisi maintained that Autonomous District Council employees were cadre employees of the district council only and therefore there is no special terms and conditions of the employees.
The minister also noted that the employees’ names are included in the Manipur Government List (MGEL) and they are entitled to all the facilities of the state government.
On the other hand the P.H.E.D. minister T.N. Haokip said that town water supply scheme at Kumbi would be commissioned from July, 2010 while Pombikhok and Wathalambi Santipur Water Supply Scheme would be commissioned and made available to the public from March, 2010. Similarly the Ithai Water Supply Scheme would also be commissioned June, 2010.
The P.H.E.D. minister was answering a question raised by Kumbi Assembly Constituency, MLA N. Mangi during the question this morning.
He further noted that the P.H.E.D. department is ready to make the Tingsing Wangoo Water Supply Scheme functional from March, 2010.
He also clarified that Kumbi Laingoubi Water Supply Scheme is currently functioning however due to lack of the manpower there are some problem faced. To make the scheme self sustainable the department is trying to form a Village Water and Sanitation Committee in the area, he added.

Higher secondary amendment bill introduce in Assembly

2010-01-15 | 04:03:51

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 14: Government bill seeking amendment to the Manipur Higher Secondary Education Act, 1992 was introduced today in the house of the Assembly today on the last day.

The bill introduced today related with amendment of the section 12(2)of the Manipur Higher Secondary Education Act, 1992 dealing with the appointment of the chairman of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur by which the government can appoint on deputation of an officer, who is working as the director of education (University) or director of Education (School) or a senior principal of a government college for three year term.

The bill is seeking insertion of a provision to allow appointment of a principal of government college with a minimum 15 years service as reader/section grade lecture as Chairman of the Council.

After a brief discussion on the bill, a house committee was formed to examine the bill and submit a report on the next session of the Assembly.

Class boycott ends, Lup signs truce with govt All under preventive detention in relation to stir released unconditionally, seized properties returned

10 hours, 39 minutes, 21 seconds ago

IMPHAL, Jan 8: The much anticipated moment of the people of the state finally arrived on Friday. Unyielding efforts of the senior citizens of the state ultimately bore fruits. They have finally managed to get the government and Apunba Lup signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, today to end up the current impasse in the agitation in the aftermath of the July 23 Khwairamband firing.
Not long after reaching the truce, Apunba Lup who has been spearheading the agitation along with AMSU, MSF, KSA and the two JACs of the two victims, today decided to suspend their agitation and informed their class boycott call is over and educational institution can resume normal classes from January 11.
The MoU signed between the conflicting parties said all persons under preventive detention in connection with the protests that followed the July 23 incident would be unconditionally.
It also said all seized materials in operations on the issue would also be released.
Further, adequate compensation would be given to (L) Rabina Devi and the injured as per law, that the state government reassured that all cases of complaints in any of the CI operation would be looked into promptly.
Reciprocally, the Apunba Lup, AMSU, MSF, KSA and the two joint action committee of (L) Sanjit and (L) Rabina agreed to suspend all forms of agitations, including the education boycott call, launched in connection with the above mentioned incidents, with immediate effect.
Altogether 10 representatives including three co-ordinators of the Apunba Lup, presients of AMSU, MSF, KSA, convener and co-convener of the two JACs, represented the agitating groups in the truce signing, while on the government side, the chief minister Okram Ibobi headed the team which included his cabinet colleague Paarijat, Jayenta, Ranjit, Debendra, Biren and DD Thaisii along with chief secretary, DGP, commissioner Home and Advocate general. 
Three members of the senior citizens forum, Khaidem Mani, Prof. Sadananda and N.Binoy, who were the peace brokers in the four month long drama, were also part of the mediation.
The talks started from around 10 am in the morning and lasted till afternoon.
The Senior Citizens’ Forum for Society, Manipur, has been actively involved in mediating the talks between the Apunba Lup and the government. The first round of talk was held on October 31 and since then there has been several rounds of talk to deliberate the issue.
In a press meet held this afternoon at the office of Senior Citizens’ Forum, Khaidem Mani said that the members of the forum have succeeded in fulfilling the wishes of the general public by ending the impasse which has greatly affected the whole education sector of the state.
He further stated that the forum has been urging both the Lup and the government to soften their stances in the interest of the people of the state and added that they are doing all these things not for any personal benefit or favour from the government.
The senior citizens only wanted the state to be peaceful so as to ensure students proper education in the light of today’s highly competitive world, he added. 
The forum has also expressed desire to mediate the dialogue for resolving the present arm conflict which has shattered the tranquility of the state.
Further, the secretary of the senior citizens’ forum informed that the annual general body meeting of the forum would be held on January 21 at Singjamei Thongam Leikai.
There would also be discussions on ways to mediate the present arm conflict in the state and its possible solutions.
On the other hand, a statement released by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, WCAL, said they decided to suspend their agitation to provide the government with the opportunity to demonstrate its sincerity in initiating necessary action as per the findings of the CBI to which the July 23 case has recently been handed over.
The WCAL release also reiterated that educational institute can now resume normal classes from January 11.
It said that the decision of the state government to hand over the July 23 incident to the CBI is itself an achievement of the peoples’ agitation adding that it was a victory.
It held that the agitation has also achieved the objective of exposing to the masses as well as to the world the true colour of the government.
It also profusely thanked the determination and co-operation extended by the people in making the prolonged agitations bear fruit and added that with such endorsement from the people the WCAL felt that the society could be freed from oppressive government functioning behind the mask of democracy.
It also said the failures encountered during the agitation should also serve as lesson for one and all.
The agitation’s biggest achievement however is in its success in building unity among among the civil society organization, students bodies and the people, added the WCAL statement.
Further the statement said that although the government has been elected Class boycott ends, Lup signs truce with govt
through peoples’ vote however the representatives failed to abide by the rule of law and this amounts to challenging democracy.
It did this blatantly by unleashing a reign of terror by killing at will adding that in the year 2009 alone, around 400 lives had been lost in fake encounters, custodial killing etc filling the land with cries for justice.
It held that it cannot be ruled out that democracy no longer exists in the state as no one is abiding by the rule of law. Even the established law has failed to take action against the chief minister for misleading the highest institution of democracy, the Manipur Assembly. It also failed in hauling up police officers passing on false statements adding even the MLA do not raise any opposition for these acts of demeaning the august House.
All this is covered up in the name of counter insurgency it said.
Further the WCAL extended its apologies for the hardship caused to the people and thank them for their patience in bearing out with teh Apunba Lup in the fight for justice.
If the government is not sincere and tries to cover up the crimes of the guilty, the Apunba Lup would be all ready to embark on another agitation, and it appealed to the people to be prepared to go along with it.

World AIDS Day 2009

Note from Yambem Laba, journalist & Former Member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission

I am delighted to Know that the Wide Angle along with PVCHR & RCT is bringing out a Manual for Community Workers and Human Rights Defenders in  Manipur, India Using Testimony as a Brief Therapy Intervention in Psychosocial Community Work for Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence.

I am convinced that such a manual will go a long way in mitigating Torture and organized violence in a State like Manipur which has been a conflict zone for nearly 50 years now, beginning from the days of Naga Insurgency under the leadership of the late Zapu Angami Phizo. The response  of the Indian State to the challenge of Phizo has also been equally devastating- they introduced the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers (Assam-Manipur) Act 1958-parctically giving soldiers from the rank of havildars and above the right to shoot to kill with practically no questions asked.

50 years later the number of armed insurgent groups operating in the Northeast has risen from the one in 1958 to about 50 in 2008. The character of the armed struggle has also changed in the meantime from pure insurgency to quasi terrorism. In the midst of all these the plight of the people caught in the conflict zone began to increase many fold. Often the victims are left wondering as to whether the torture meted out to them is a fait accompli for which nothing could be done against.

By encouraging the victims to speak out not only verbally but through testimonies will go a long way in providing redressal  to their grievances and also to influence the political process to take note and introduce due legislature to end such blatant violation of human rights and would also deter the non- state actors from indulging in such violation too.

I wish the Wide Angle, PVCHR & RCT all success in their future endeavors.

                                

                                                                                         

     Yambem laba

                                                                                        Former Member

                                                                        Manipur Human Rights Commission

AMSU announces indefinite class boycott from today

2009-09-09 | 08:21:50

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 08: The All Manipur Student’s Union today announced class boycott infinitely starting from tomorrow (September 9) to all schools stating that there is no value of study in the prevailing lawless situation where there no life security.

AMSU took the decision to boycott classes indefinitely thinking that it would be batter to ensure life security first in the state where there is no security for the civil populace as dead is the last, a statement issued by the AMSU signed by its general secretary, Md Alamgir expressed.

The boycott is part of the solidarity to the people agitation demanding resignation of chief minister O Ibobi, befitting punishment to the police commando personnel involved in the July 23, shooting incident, total elimination of state terrorism, repeal of AFSPA and unconditional release of the volunteers of Apunba Lup spearheading the agitations.

The class boycott stir will continue till the demands are fulfilled, the statement said citing that when there is no security for life and state actors committed in extra judicial killing, it is meaningless to go to school for study.

The prevailing situation where people are living under a government enforcing “marital law” and “dictatorship”, where people are killing by the state actors and no one could tell when will die, there is no meaning of remaining in the class. What is the value of education when people are killing whenever they like, the statement asked.

AMSU well understand the loss to be suffered by the class boycott and also the impact of bandh, blockade etc. to the people. But considering for the security of the students in particular and for the people of the state in general, the decision has been taken, said the statement appealing the parents, guardians and other to bear with the body and extend support.

In the state, in the last around 30 years, spree of killing may be by the underground or security forces are continue unchecked. Thousands of people lost their life while many more had been hurt. Government forces have killed so many people after picked up, many picked up by them were missing apart from raping, molesting many women.

The state following democracy is not like having no people government but rule by dictator by in forcing martial law. Every body who thing of the land know what the state of condition prevailing in the state.

Since the beginning of the regime of the Ibobi as chief minister of the state in 2002, in the name of counter insurgency operation, people are killing in fake encounter without a day break. The reports published in the print and electronic media had evidenced how many people have lost their life in the hand of the security forces, the statement said.

'Tehelka report is fake'

2009-09-08 | 07:05:33

Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 07: Full hearing on the city police failure to register FIR case as per complaint lodged by the husband of the Th Rabina who was killed in a shoot out at Khwairamband Bazar on July 23 started today in the court of justice Ashok Potshangbam of Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench.

State DGP counter charged that the photographs and reports published in the Tehelka news magazine about the killing of Sanjit as fake ones and make up story in the counter affidavit submitted through his counsel advocate N Kumarjit to the court during the hearing.

In the affidavit, it also claimed that the statement given by the chief minister, O Ibobi in the floor of the state Assembly as true apart from commenting that there is no reason for registering another FIR case in the same incident as City Police has already taken an FIR case on the incident.

During the hearing, government counsel, senior advocated Th Ibohal and counsel of the DGP, N Kumarjit argued citing rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court that said that City police station had already registered an FIR case with regard to the incident. With this reason behind, no necessary arises for registering another FIR case when another complaint on the same incident comes up.

On other hand, the counsel of mother in-law of Rabina, Thokchom Mema who filed the case against non-register of FIR case, advocate Khaidem Mani while giving his argument said that objected the observation of the government and DGP counsel on the basis of other rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court and insisted that police should register FIR case based on the complaint lodged by husband of the deceased Rabina, Chinglensana.

City police taken up an FIR case on the July 23 shooting incident based on the report filed by one Herojit, a police commando personnel under section 302/326/307/536 of IPC and under section 25 (1-B) of section 17/20 of UA (P) A Act. The case was registered against the deceased Ch Sanjit who was killed in the shoot out. There was no ruling from any court that a case cannot be registered based on the complaint lodged by the husband of the killed woman in the same incident, Mani argued.
In the complaint note of husband of Rabina, it was stated in the police firing on that day Rabina died while five other injure.

In the writ petition of Mema, it can be mentioned that she prayed the court to direct the state government to investigate the case to an independent body like the CBI and award adequate compensation to the victims.