Indian Air Force fighter jets carried out drills over the Imphal skies, maybe having something to do with the rough weather at the Indo-China border, while state journalists were awarded meritorious prizes for excellence in journalism during the week. There have also been a spate of WWII bomb recoveries in the state, along with a drugs seizure and the turning down of an court appeal by an IPS officer seeking an injunction in a drugs related case.
Sukhoi Drills Over Imphal
Sukhoi MK-30 fighter jets hovering across Imphal city drew the attention of the public on November 18 and 19 for hours.
Reports say the fighter jets from Tezpur Air Force Station are on routine aerial reconnaissance and are stationed at the Imphal International Airport.
Similar air drills were carried out over Dimapur on November 20 and 21. The Dimapur Airport, and Airports Authority of India informed about the air drills on November 17, reports added.
State Journalists Awarded
Eight journalists from different media houses have been awarded Manipur State Journalists Awards for outstanding work on the occasion of the National Press Day held on November 16 at the DIPR auditorium in Imphal.
Recipients of the awards are Ningombam Hemantakumar, Editor, Sanaleibak for Best Editor award, Khangembam Shanker Singh, Sr. Reporter, Sanaleibak (Science and Technology reporting), Kshetri Meghajit, Sub-Editor, Naharolgi Thoudang (Parliamentary reporting), Ngangom Suraj Kumar Singh, Staff reporter, Sanaleibak (Reporting with Special Reference to Women and Children), Maibam Kenedy Singh, Staff reporter, Sanaleibak (Reporting on Art and Culture), Sapam Aruna, Staff reporter, Sangai Express (Rural reporting), Khangembam Rabikumar Meitei, Staff reporter, Sanaleibak (Sports reporting) and Angom Ranjit Singh, Chief reporter, Poknapham (Reporting on Public Health and Hygiene).
Khangembam Rabikumar Meitei is an alumni of the Free Press School of Journalism (FPSJ).
The DIPR has increased the cash award for the Best Editor Award on National Integration and Communal Harmony to Rs. 40,000, from Rs. 25,000. Further, pensions for journalists have been increased to Rs. 8,000 from 4,000, and family pension to Rs. 5,000 from Rs. 2,000.
WWII Bombs Found
As many as 122 unexploded World War II bombs were unearthed at Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh in Manipur on November 17.
Reports say that the bombs and artillery shells were unearthed while leveling a plot of land for a house construction at Gangte Veng in Indo-Myanmar border town Moreh. The plot belongs to Thangkhotinlal Gangte.
Police retrieved the bombs safely from the excavation site to be disposed of.
In July, 27 unexploded World War II bombs, 43 empty cases of bombs and 15 empty boxes were accidentally dug up by an excavator levelling a plot of land for house construction at Lhangnom Veng, Moreh. The plot belongs to 35-year-old Kampu Doungel.
Again in July, six unexploded World War II bombs were found during another house construction work of one Ayub Khan at Hatta near the Indian Army War Cemetery in Imphal.
In June, two bombs suspected to be of World War II were found near L Molvom village, Churachandpur district.
The two bombs were found at two different sites – one at the cemetery of the village while the villagers were digging a grave, and the other was found by a JCB driver who was working near the spot.
Reports say another two unexploded bombs suspected to be World War II bombs were also found from Hatta near Imphal Indian Army War Cemetery in June.
Court Rejects Appeal of IPS Officer
The Court of District Judge, Imphal East passed a judgment on November 20 rejecting IPS Officer, Themthing Ngasangva’s appeal praying for ex-parte temporary injunction order to restrain fellow police officer, Thounaojam Brinda and media houses from speaking, publishing or writing any comment or content against him during pendency of a drugs related trial.
Reports say a civil appeal case was filed by Ngasangva against Laimayum Basanta Sharma, Publisher of The Morning Bell; Rounder Alex, Editor of The Morning Bell; GS Vasu Owner and Publisher of New Indian Express; Rajesh Kumar, Executive Editor of New Indian Express; Prashanta Majumdar, Staff Correspondent of New Indian Express; CEO Facebook; CEO Google; CEO YouTube, LLC; as principal respondents and Thounaojam Brinda, Additional SP of Manipur Police.
3.30 Cr Drugs Seized
A combined team of 43 Assam Rifles, including Women Assam Rifles, and Moreh Police personnel seized brown sugar and WY tablets worth Rs. 3.30 crore from a house in Phaicham Veng in Moreh on November 17.
Reports say that the combined team also arrested a woman, identified as Sangi Sailo, 35, w/o Ngura Sailo of Moreh Phaicham Veng.
According to reports, the security forces raided a house in Phaicham Veng following a tipoff and seized as many as 97 soap cases containing brown sugar weighing 1.164 kg found wrapped in eight new blankets inside a trunk. The contraband drugs are estimated to be worth around Rs. 2.32 crore in the international market.
Assam Rifles-NSCN (IM) Clashes
Troops of Assam Rifles launched an operation against suspected militants of Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – NSCN (IM) in the dense forest area near Chingmei Kabui village also known as Pungsanmei in Noney district.
Reports say at least three suspected militants of NSCN (IM) were injured in a gunfight with security forces in the area on November 18. The security forces also busted a temporary camp used by the suspected militants. The operation was launched on the basis of intelligence inputs.
Assam Rifles of Spear Corps, Indian Army also apprehended two militants of the proscribed NSCN (IM) near Buela in Chakpikarong, Manipur.
Reports said one 9mm pistol, one magazine and three live rounds were recovered from them.
2 Hurt in Blast at RIMS
A couple suffered injuries in a bomb blast near the gate of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) amid Ningol Chakkouba celebrations in the state.
The couple has been identified as Papao Guite, 42, and his wife, Hoipi Guite, 38, from S Molnom, Kangpokpi district, reports said.
Call for Doctors in Tamenglong
A joint students’ body has given 10 days’ time to the state government to post all required specialist doctors at Tamenglong District Hospital and establish a blood bank and a dialysis unit.
Following media reports of the acute shortage of specialist doctors and lack of facilities in the Tamenglong district hospital, a joint students’ body went around the hospital at Duigailong on November 16.
Reports say the joint students’ body included the RNSOM, AISU, ZSOM, and LNKR.
The student leaders said they would agitate if the government did not post the required doctors.
They have also met Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren, Tamenglong DC Armstrong Pame and CMO Dr. Chambo Gonmei, but no action has been taken yet, reports said quoting the students who also have said that going to Imphal for urgent treatment is very difficult.
