NSCN (KK) group expects GOI’s formal invite

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Source: Imphal Free Press

NEW DELHI, MAY 8 (Vision Comm): The NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) faction is expecting a formal invitation from the government of India soon to initiate peace talks with their group.

It is reliably learnt that the general secretary of the group Kitovi Zhimomi had visited the national capital last week and met high officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.    

Intelligence sources told the Vision Communications that the Centre has taken a decision in principle to start peace talks with Khole-Kitovi faction to find out “possible options” to resolve the long-awaited Naga political problem. It is also learnt that the talks with the NSCN (IM) group is “progressing slowly.”

 It is pertinent to mention here that only on April 27 the government of India has extended ceasefire agreement with the Khole-Kitovi faction for a period of one year without imposing any pre-conditions.

Soon after the agreement was signed the group leader and Supervisor of the Ceasefire Supervisory Board, C Singson told media, “We are ready for political dialogue with the government of India to resolve all contentious issues.”

Soon after, the General Secretary Kitovi Zhimomi rushed to New Delhi and met the officials of the Government of India apparently to give his faction’s nod for initiating peace talks at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the Khaplang faction is under ‘close watch’ of the government of India. The ceasefire agreement with this faction was extended after due date with preconditions that they would never ever extend any kind of assistance to Manipur based insurgent groups and the Assam based Paresh Baruah led ULFA faction. They were also categorically told to restrain their cadres from indulging in any factional clashes.

The Supervisor of the CFSB Lincoln told the media that they are very keen to have a political dialogue with the government of India to resolve the Naga political problem. He also made it clear that his group has never indulged in any factional violence. He expected that the ceasefire ground rule mechanism would take care of this issue.

*The above news story is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. NUM has no responsibility for the sanctity and originality of the news story.

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Racial profiling to be included in UGC norms

Source: Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 8: Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal today assured Northeast delegates on the opening of UGC helpline for NE students with regard to cases of racial profiling and amendment of UGC bye-laws to ban racial discrimination in universities and educational institutes in the country.

The HRD Minister met a host of NE representatives including Prof Oinam Bhagat of JNU, Sanjay Hazarika of Assam, Prof Mrinal Miri Chairman of NE Central universities; Monika Khangembam a Bangalore based student and Yogendra Yadav of CSDS.

Earlier, ban on caste based discrimination was included in the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms. Minister Kapil Sibal has agreed to amend and include racial discrimination also on the banned list.

He however refused to make any comments on racial discrimination outside the institutions and in the case of the murders of Richard Loitam in Bangalore and Dana Sangma in Delhi as it is within the domain of law and order and with the states concerned.

He agreed to organize an interface between the NE students and the Director Generals of Police of various states to discuss issues of racial profiling.

Minister Sibal also agreed to include the issue of racial discrimination in the admission policies of various colleges and universities of the country as an agenda during the conference of vice-chancellors of universities.

Monika Khangembam, a Manipuri student based in Bangalore submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister on behalf of herself, Human Rights Alert and civil society organizations in Imphal pressing for a high level commission to be headed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court on racial discrimination of NE students.

Minister Sibal was non-committal on the demand as he said it was beyond his brief.

The suggested terms of reference for the commission included identification of the challenges and barriers to the protection and promotion of personal security of students and young persons from the Northeast region of India living in other parts of India, with special reference to gender-specific violence in order to enhance participation and integration into the national mainstream and address ethnic profiling of racial and ethnic minorities who do not necessarily belong to religious minorities; examination of the legislative and administrative measures that are in place, and the efficacy in practice and specific inadequacies to address the problems of violence and other forms of abuses faced by students and young persons of the Northeast region in other parts of India; recommendation of specific investigative and punitive steps under the existing law by an independent agency for present and past cases/incidence of crimes including murder, assault, sexual abuse, rape, abuse or discrimination in institutions and workplaces committed against students and young persons of the Northeast region residing in other parts of India; and recommendation of concrete steps to be taken by the ruling central and state governments to strengthen the accountable security measures to protect and promote the safety and personal security of students and young persons from the Northeast region residing for various reasons in other parts of the country.

It also called for a thorough review of the existing curricula of schools, higher institutions and technical institutions including special institutions to train police and armed forces personnel in India with special attention to the inclusion of subjects about the history, culture and present situation of the indigenous ethnic minorities of North East region of India with a view to fill the large lacuna identified and enhance awareness and education about the region and its peoples among the young generations of India.

*The above news story is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. NUM has no responsibility for the sanctity and originality of the news story.

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State IRCS celebrates World Red Cross Day

Source: Imphal Free PressIMPHAL, May 8: The Indian Red Cross Society, Manipur (IRCS) today celebrated “World Red Cross Day” at its branch office, MG Avenue here. The World Red Cross Day is celebrated across the globe on May 8 every year.

Kh Joykishan, MLA, Thangmeiband  constituency, Dr M Lala, general secretary, IRCS and Dr RK Nimai, IAS, Commissioner, Art and Culture attended the celebration as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, MLA Joykishan noted that the Red Cross Society takes great responsibility in serving the injured people in battle fields and remote hill areas, etc. and further applauded for the selfless service provided by the society.

He also expressed his urge to the Manipur branch Red Cross Society to make it par with the service rendered by other branches of Red Cross Society in other parts of the world.

The MLA also generously donated a sum of Rs 10,000 to the Red Cross Society, Manipur.
A painting competition was also organized in connection with the celebration and the winners were honoured with cash prizes, including certificates.

*The above news story is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. NUM has no responsibility for the sanctity and originality of the news story.

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Huge drug haul by police

Source: Imphal Free Press


IMPHAL, May 8: In the past 48 hours, the Imphal West district Police had been able to recover a huge consignment of banned drugs from the Imphal Tulihal Airport originating from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and simultaneously managed to nab two alleged cadres of PREPAK (Pro), besides busting a racket involving fake certificates.


The district police also managed to recover two hand grenades from near the Family Welfare Office, BT Road and recover a Tata truck which was hijacked by some persons after killing the owner at Silchar on December 14, 2011.

The vehicle was recovered from Langthabal area on May 6 evening along with a conspirator of the hijacking of the truck, informed the police.

This was disclosed by the new SP of the Imphal West district K Jayenta todayat a press briefing at his office today.

The SP said, “On receiving specific information regarding the arrival of a major consignment of a banned substance at the Imphal airport on May 8, a team of the district police rushed to the airport and checked the cargos of the arriving flights”.

During the search operation of an Indigo flight arriving from Delhi, the team found a consignment of six cartoons (each cartoon containing 7000 strips each of 10 tablets) of banned ‘Mod’s Acti-feel’ while another 15 cartoons were found from the cargos of a Kingfisher flight and an Air India flight arriving from the same airport, he added.

He added that even though the said drug is a life-saving drug, several individuals have been indulging in stealthily bringing in the drug to be sold under the counter and to spread the illegal use of the drug as an intoxicant among the youth of the state.

He further informed media persons that the district police is trying to confirm the recipient of the consignment and is presently investigating on the case.

Meanwhile, in another operation, the district police has also managed to bust a racket indulging in the preparation and issuing of fake certificates such as Motor Vehicle licence, Smart Card, Registration Books of vehicles, Driving Licence, Domicile/Permanent Residence Certificate etc from a computer shop run by one Sorokhaibam Chaoba (who is still absconding) from a rented shop located at Paona Bazar and recovered a huge number of fake certificates/cards, seals, one computer desktop and a printer, he informed.

He further appealed to the general public to be aware of such illegal practices and remain away from such persons.

Further briefing the media persons, he added that the Permanent Resident Certificate is very useful while applying for an Indian passport.

On the arrest of two alleged cadres of the proscribed PREPAK (Pro) the police officer said that on receiving information about the presence of certain individuals intimidating shop-owners at Thangal Bazar, a team of the district police rushed to the area and conducted a search operation.

The team arrested the two alleged militants while they were intimidating a shop owner Birjit Jain (name changed) of a Steel Store at Thangal Bazar.

The two have been identified as Sapam Dinachandra Singh alias Main, 24 son of S Kunjo Singh of Okram Chuthek, Imphal East and Okram Sarojkumar Singh, 22 son of O Biren Singh of Okram Chuthek.
The police also recovered two mobile handsets from their possession, he added.

Further according to the police officer, the Imphal West district police have also recovered one Tata truck bearing registration no AS 18C-1117 and nabbed one of the accused in the hijacking of the truck from Silchar on December 14, 2011.

The truck was recovered from Langthabal area on May 6. He further added that the accused is presently undergoing interrogation.

The IW district police have also recovered two live Chinese Grenades near the gate of Family Welfare office, he said.

The press briefing was also attended by Addl SP Isak Shah, Addl SP Ops Herojit and City OC Tejbir and Imphal OC Shantikumar.

*The above news story is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. NUM has no responsibility for the sanctity and originality of the news story.

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ZSUM calls for govt`s attention

Source: Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 8: The Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur has called for the state government’s attention over the slow progress in the construction work of suspended Bailey bridge being under taken over the Barak River.

According to a release of the student body, it has expressed deep concern and dissatisfaction over the slow progress in the construction work of suspended Bailey bridge being under taken over the Barak River in between Dikiuram and Katang in Tamenglong district under the NEC program of 2006-2007.

It has further continued that the ZSUM has recieved many complaints from various sections of the people regarding the slow pace of progress and substandard work in construction of the bridge.

ZSUM said, in the absence of proper bridge, people of the district has to depend on the traditional mode of transportation like bamboo rafts to cross the river, and because of which many precious lives have been lost.

Further, it has continued that the district highway stretching from Khongsang to Tamenglong is being neglected since the last many years and the said road is in a deplorable condition. The matter had also been reported to the GOM but it is still kept in abeyance, it continued.

ZSUM also said that they hope the CM and his good office would respond in a befitting manner if his Ministry feels that Tamenglong is part of Manipur and equitable development should also be implemented in the hills districts too.

*The above news story is as published by respected news daily at Imphal, whose name is duly marked as 'Source'. NUM has no responsibility for the sanctity and originality of the news story.

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Students Demand Justice for Richard

KOCHI: The city witnessed a unique show of protest on Monday when about 100 students took out a march demanding action against the killing of a Manipuri architecture student Loitam Richard in Bengaluru on April 17.

On Monday at around 3 pm, the students took out the protest march from Ernakulam Boat Jetty to Kerala High Court.

The protest was organised by the group ‘Justice for Loitam Richard,’ which has been organising similar campaigns at the various parts of the city. The activists of ‘Justice for Loitam Richard’ pointed out that Richard had a tiff with a classmate following which the incidents leading to his death occurred.

“There are strong evidences that Richard suffered multiple assaults on his head and face. The photographs also showed massive swelling and bleeding around his head, which has been substantiated by the preliminary post mortem report,” they pointed out. The student activists strongly condemned the accusation that Richard was a drug abuser.

The ‘Justice for Loitam Richard’ campaign demanded that the case should be treated as a case of homicide as the post mortem report shows proof of severe physical assault and internal injury. “I trust the Indian judicial system. I expect immediate punishment of the culprits whoever they are,” said a communication sent by Loitam Richard’s mother.

The mysterious death of 19-year-old Loitam Richard in a college hostel in Bengaluru has raised many eyebrows.

Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh has urged Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to expedite the investigation into the incident.

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Indian Women boxers all set for World Championship

Indian team members posing for group photograph.

New Delhi: In a historic year for Women’s boxing, with the discipline making its debut at the Olympic Games in London, women boxers looking to create Olympic history will have to pass the crucial test of qualification at the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships. The Championship will take place at the Olympic Stadium in Qinhuangdao, China from May 9th – May 20th, 2012. A nineteen member strong Indian boxing contingent including 10 boxers and support staff will depart for the port city in China on Tuesday from the IGI Airport in New Delhi.

The seventh edition of the tournament will serve as the only qualifying event for the London 2012 Games. At the Olympics, there will be three weight categories for women, which will be flyweight (51kg), lightweight (60kg) and middleweight (75kg). However, the World Championships features ten categories in total, from light flyweight (46-49kg) to super heavyweight (over 81kg). With 24 quotas places up for grabs – eight in each of the Olympic weight categories – the 2012 Women’s World Boxing Championships is sure to be fiercely competitive. Asia has been awarded 2 quota places in both the fly and the light weight division and 1 quota in the middle weight class.

National Coach D Chandra Lal believes Indian boxers have a good chance to qualify, but a lot will depend on the draw of the championship. He added, “Asian Championships earlier this year was the big litmus test for us and our girls passed with flying colours. It was a great performance that has brought us into the fray in a big way. With only five quota places available for the Asian continent, winning a qualification will be tough, but we have two prime boxers in our side, Mary Kom and Sarita Dev, who are well prepared and all set to give their best”.

With five world titles already to her name, MC Mary Kom (51kg) will be gunning for a sixth consecutive gold medal at the Championships in Qinhuangdao. Kom, who is no less than a living legend in sport of women’s boxing, has won world titles four times in the pin weight and once in the fly weight division, which was at Barbados in 2010. This will be the first time the 29 year old will compete in the 51 kilogram weight class. The veteran boxer gave a sterling performance at the Asian Championships bagging the fly weight title; she beat the reigning World Champion in 51 kg and the 2010 Asian Games gold medallist Ren Cancan of China en route to winning the gold. Magnificent Mary (as nicknamed by AIBA the International Boxing Association) has left no stones unturned in her preparation for the mega event and is all geared up to realize her Olympic dream. “The World Championships will be different ball game this time around. With an Olympic berth at stake everyone with put their best foot forward. I have been training very hard to make sure I do well and garb that all important qualification spot”, expressed Kom during her training session at the Karnail Singh Stadium, in New Delhi.

Another strong contender for India at the world championship will be the former World Champion and five times Asian Champion L Sarita Devi (60kg). In the previous edition of the Championships at Barbados, Sarita participated in the 51 kg weight and lost out in the preliminaries. She shifted to the 60 kilogram weight class before the 2012 Asian Championships owing to her Olympic preparation and went on to bag her fifth consecutive gold medal at the continental championship, beating the likes of Asian Games gold medallist and former World Champion Cheng Dong of China. The 30 year old veteran, who has competed and won medals in five different weight division over the years, said changing weights has been a challenge for her, but now she is well settled in the 60 kilogram and is confident of a good performance. She added, “The competition is going to be tough at the Championships, but we have been preparing hard for this moment for a long time now and hopefully things will work out as planned”. Accompanying the two veterans of the sport will be 2012 Asian Championships silver-medallist Pooja Rani (75kg). She will be competing in the third Olympic weight division and will make her World Championship debut this year. 

Talking about India chances at the world championships Chief Coach Anoop Kumar said, “All the girls selected to partake in the event are the best in their weight division and are peaking at the right time. It’s very tough to predict the kind of results we can expect as the nature of the competition is going to be very tough, but we are hopeful of a good performance”.

Indian Squad :

Olympic Weight Class:

 MC Mary Kom (Fly Weight -51kg), L Sarita Devi (Light Weight -60kg), Pooja Rani (Middle Weight -75kg). 

Other Weight Divisions: 

Pinky Jangra (Light Fly Weight-48kg), Sonia Lather (Bantam Weight-54kg), K Mandakini Chanu Feather Weight (57kg), Meena Rani ( Light Welter Weight -64kg), Neetu Chahal (Welter weight-69kg), Jenny RL (Light Heavy Weight 81kg), Kavita Chahal (Heavy Weight +81kg)

Support Staff: Brig PK Muralidharan Raja ( Manager), Anoop Kumar (Coach), D Chandra Lal (Coach), Sagar Mal Dhayal (Coach), Hemlata Negi (Coach),Geeta Chanu Oinam (Coach)

Sanjogita Soodan (Doctor), Janhavi Jathar (Physiotherapist), Monique Fraser (Physiotherapist)

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