Manipur Boy Develops Mobile App
Baldeep Ningthoujam who is studying 11 statndard at Comet School in Imphal on December 7 has launched his own made mobile app “Scanner Call” in Imphal. He said that he developed the app in less than a week’s time. Baldeep is the eldest among three siblings of Ningthoujam Kishan and Ningthoujam Nebidita Hailing from Kha-Naorem Leikai, Canchipur in Imphal East.
Earlier, Baldeep had developed some websites and apps including “E-Thabak”, “Receipt App” and the game “Coroboi” which were released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020; he was just 13 then.
The just launched “Scanner Call” app, which is available at Play Store, allows users to access the phone numbers detected in an image.
Baldeep explained that the users can take a new image using the phone camera or easily access it from the gallery and then the app will pick up all the phone numbers detected in the image and they will be able to select any of the phone numbers for use without retyping the numbers. The app will greatly be of use especially when the user is dealing with a large list of phone numbers or when the person is multi-tasking.
Baldeep informed the media that further upgrades of the app are already planned i.e., to include multi features like QR scan, text scan and others. “New features will be made available soon in this app,” he added.
Homeless MMA Fighter Jojo Rajkumari Gifted Homestead
Acting on the instruction of the Chief Minister for allotting a plot of land measuring 0.10 acre to internationally acclaimed Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Jojo Rajkumari, popularly known as ‘Cobra Queen’, who has been living in rented house without having her own homestead land, a team led by CM’s brother Nongthombam Rajendra along with Moirang MLA Thongam Shanti, Bishnupur DC Lourembam Bikram, SDO Moirang Jiaur Rahaman and Jojo accompanied by her parents inspected the land allotted by the CM on December 9.
The Cheif Minister has taken up initiative after hearing that Jojo Rajkumari has been staying in a rented house without any homestead land that she expressed during ‘Meet the Stars’ programme broadcast by ISTV as part of the 11th edition of Manipur Sangai festival recently.
The team inspected a plot of land measuring 0.10 acre located on the western side of SDO office Moirang College Gate Mairembam Leikai in Bishnupur District and construction work of a house has also begun.
Speaking in this regard, Jojo lauded CM Nongthombam Biren for extending the help to address plight of her family and problems faced by sports person, reports added.
Manipur’s Johnson Rajkumar conferred with Champions of Film Heritage Award 2022
Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) has honoured Manipuri film archivist Johnson Rajkumar with ‘Champions of Film Heritage Award 2022’ in the opening ceremony of the ongoing Film Preservation and Restoration workshop in Mumbai.
FHF stated in a release that it had conferred the award to Johnson Rajkumar with the citation that read, ‘For his selfless commitment and courage in taking the road less travelled with limited support and resources and taking on the challenge of sparking a movement for film preservation and laying the foundation to building a film archive and training archivists in his home state of Manipur.’
Johnson, who is a trained film archivist has been instrumental in setting up the film archive of Manipur and has been voluntarily working in SN Chand Cine Archive & Museum, it mentioned.
The release said that Johnson has been participating in the ongoing Film Preservation and Restoration workshop as a Tata Trusts Scholar. In the workshop, Johnson along with FHF and experts from L’Immagine Ritrovata, Bologna have been working to save the recently found reels of ‘Mainu Pemcha’ (1948), the first feature film attempted of Manipur.
The workshop which commenced on Sunday was jointly organised by the FHF in partnership with Martin Scorsese’s The Film Foundation and the International Federation of Film Archives in association with the World Cinema Project, the release added.
Union ministries to spend 10 pc of their budget for NE logistics infrastructure
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr. RK Ranjan on December 7 emphasised on creating a sound logistic infrastructure in the region. He said the Prime Minister has identified 55 Union Ministries to spend 10 per cent of their budget for improving logistics infrastructure in Northeast India.
“NE seeing dawn of new hopes and opportunities for becoming the manufacturing hub of the country with PM GatiShakti with world class seamless multimodal connectivity being implemented,” Ranjan said while addressing the first ever CII North East Logistics Conclave in Guwahati on December 7, 2022. The conclave was organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with DPIIT, reports said.
The Union Minister mentioned that the PM GATISHAKTI would ensure world class seamless multimodal connectivity providing complete information on resources, manpower and infrastructure projects in the Northeast. The GATISHAKTI would also provide access to difficult areas in the north east through technological intervention and policy initiative giving and a massive boost to the 200 billion logistics economy in the region, he said.
The Union Minister mentioned that the Prime Minister has identified 55 Union Ministries to spend 10% of their budget for improving Logistics Infrastructure in Northeast, reports added.
HC directs CBI to place Babysana death case files in CJM Imphal West
The Manipur High Court on December 6 directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to place before the court all the reports filed in Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Imphal relating to the death of Ningthoujam Babysana. The HC issued the direction during the hearing of the additional affidavit filed by the CBI on November 16, 2021.
The Manipur High Court noted that the report “reflects the sorry state of affairs prevailing in the CBI”. It stated that the order passed on November 16, 2021 by the CJM, Imphal West was accepted on November 26, 2021 and it was decided that it would be complied with. However, the approval of the competent authority was not conveyed to the investigating officer till December 7, 2021, it said.
“There is no explanation forthcoming why it was delayed. Thereafter, the IO was shifted in January, 2022 and his replacement was not sent till mid-February, 2022. The new IO did not take up effective investigation till March 9,” the HC order stated.
Further, following the specific direction of the CJM, Imphal West, the CBI should undertake determination of the blood group of the deceased girl by using the bottle containing her blood without preservatives. It is now stated that as the FSL, Manipur, had already expressed its opinion upon the blood samples, the CBI did not send again for opinion. The CBI chose to sit in appeal over the order passed on November 16, 2021 by the CJM, Imphal West.
The order further stated that the HC was notified that the CBI filed reports before the CJM, Imphal West, after the order of November 16, 2021 passed but it has not been placed on record.
As such, the HC directed the CBI to place all reports filed by the investigation agency in the CJM, Imphal West before it.
It may be mentioned that 13 years-old Babysana of Thangmeiband Imphal West, a hosteller of Standard Robarth School, Canchipur Imphal, was found hanging inside the hostel on July 18, 2019. Her death sparked controversy with family suspecting foul play in the girl’s death though post mortem report suggests the cause of death due to asphyxia by hanging.
Governor Visits Noney District
Manipur Governor La Ganesan visited Noney district and reviewed various developmental works on December 6 and he interacted with district level officers, representatives of civil society organizations, village chiefs and people in the district and assured them all possible help.
La Ganesan also met family members of Marangching landslide victims and expressed deep sorrow and assured to support them, especially the orphans in their education.
Speaking at the interaction programme held at Multipurpose Hall, Longmai- III in the district headquarters, he said, whatever issues and problems raised by the people will be studied well and will ask the authorities including the chief minister to do the needful at the earliest in the larger interest of the people, reports said.
11 Hurt in Kangchup Chiru Eviction Clash
At least 11 people, including eight villagers and three police personnel, were injured in a clash that took place during an eviction drive conducted at Kangchup Reserve Forest Area at Kangchup Chiru village, Manipur on December 6.
The clash occurred when the police evicted two illegal houses that were found constructed in Kangchup Reserved Forest Area at Kangchup Chiru village, Manipur. The two houses belonged to TR Finalson and TR Droibum, both sons of TR Renyson Thoi of Kangchup Chiru, Kangpokpi district, reports said.
On December 2, divisional forest office of Kangpokpi Forest Division, Kangpokpi district had served an eviction notice to both the persons. The notice directed the two persons to remove the illegal structures within three days of issue of the date of notification. If they failed to follow the notification within the said period, eviction proceedings will be carried out under rule 73 of the Manipur Forest Rules, 2021 and anything constructed or deposited on the Reserve Forest land shall be evicted and forfeited to the government and will be followed by legal action for violation of the Forest Act.
Locals of the Kangchup Chiru, decrying the eviction notice demonstrated protest along the Kangchup road and blocked the road by burning tyres. At around 10 am, when the Kangpokpi forest division came to start the eviction work along with the director of the state forest department and Kangpokpi district police, the protesters blocked them from starting the eviction work, giving rise to tension between the two. To control the mob, police fired several rounds of tear gas shells while the protesters pelted stones in return. In the incident, at least eight villagers were injured in which three villagers were evacuated to RIMS hospital, Lamphel for first aid. Besides, at least three police personnel were also injured, reports added.
No Anglo-Kuki War of 1917-1919: Federation of Haomee
The Federation of Haomee on December 6 stated that there was no Anglo-Kuki War, 1917-1919 in Manipur and that there is no country of Kuki in Manipur. It said the Manipur Government should punish those who make false history of the state.
Speaking to the media on December 6 at Federation of Haomee office located at Dewlahland, Federation spokesperson Y Shyamkumar said that there was an incident of the Khongjai people supporting Chingakham Sanajaoba by paying a tax of Re 1 instead of Rs 3 while he was fighting against Churachand (King).
There is a document of clarification from 12 Khongjai (who were arrested during battle) and it is mentioned by the Chief Commissioner of Assam submitted to the secretary to the government of India, foreign and political department, vide letter number 631P political department, branch, Shillong dated June 27, 1919, Shyamkumar said. The responsibility of creating war was imputed to Sanajaoba and he was sent to Andaman Nicobar as a prisoner, Shyamkumar added.
Non-incident Anglo-Kuki War has a centenary stone pillar at Kuki Inn and there is a pillar with the name of Chief Minister N Biren at Asian village, Saikhul block too, the spokesperson of FoH said, adding that there is a stone pillar of the Anglo-Kuki war in every Kuki village, reports said.
KSO Against ST Demand
After All Tribal Students’ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and All Naga Students’ Association Manipur (ANSAM), the Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO), General Headquarters has placed its stand against the STDCM demand for inclusion of Meitei under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.
The Kuki students’ apex body of Manipur said that the demand for inclusion of Meitei under the Scheduled Tribe category is considered with the greatest trepidation from the tribal communities of the state.
Strongly opposing the STDCM demand for recognition of ST status, the KSO General Headquarters submitted a memorandum to the Hill Areas Committee (HAC) Chairman, Dinganglung Gangmei.
In its memorandum, the KSO stated that in Manipur the tribal people have always been beset with many issues but the demand by the Meitei community for ST status is going to have the most adverse impact on the tribal people as whatever constitutional protection that the tribal people in the state have now will all be rendered meaningless once the Meitei community becomes a Scheduled Tribe.
Hand Grenade Attack in Imphal East
A Chinese made hand grenade was hurled into the residence Khaidem Yamba, 53, son of late Khaidem Birchandra of Khurai Konsam Leikai under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East on December 6 morning.
Khaidem Yamba is a nominee of CAF & PD, and he has received monetary demands from as many as four UG groups. The hand grenade was collected by a team of State Bomb Detection & Disposal Squad around 11.45 am and safely disposed of at Awa Ching, which falls under Nongmaijing Ching range, around 12.19 pm, reports said.
One Arrested With Ak-47 in Moreh
Personnel of Moreh Battalion, 5 Assam Rifles, have apprehended an individual and an assault rifle seized from his possession in Moreh on December 5.
The individual has been identified as one Paobul Mate, 47, son of Khatliam Mate, from Lhangnom Veng, Moreh Ward No IX. He was arrested in the forest area of Leiyangphai village near the iron bridge at the India-Myanmar border around 11:45 pm on December 5.
One AK 47 assault rifle (No.18132), one magazine, five rounds of AK 47 (7.62mm Burmese origin) were seized from his possession. One mobile phone along with a SIM Card and a Kenbo Bike were also seized from him, reports added.
MPDF Seeks Sufficient Irrigation to Enable Adequate Food Production
The Manipur People’s Democratic Front (MPDF) appealed to the Manipur Government to provide sufficient irrigation facilities throughout the cultivating season to enable adequate production.
Speaking to the media at a press conference held at Manipur Press Club on December 4, MPDF Secretary, Sapam Samungou said it is unfortunate to talk big when the state is depending on others for food. The departments like water resources, minor irrigation, command area development authority, and agriculture must work sincerely so as to make the state self-sustained and break free from being dependent on others.
Seminars or workshops will not solve problems, only pragmatic measures are the need of the hour; he said adding it is the responsibility of the state government to support farmers for more production. “This year, tenant farmers face trouble producing paddy due to water scarcity. Most of the tenant farmers are unable to harvest paddy, had the state government timely addressed the matter in time, this could have been avoided,” Samungou said.
Doctors Continues Hunger Strike
Doctors in Tamenglong district under the banner of the All Manipur Health Services Doctor’s Association staged a relay hunger strike in front of District Hospital Duigailong, Tamenglong on December 4. This is the second attempt the doctors in Tamenglong staged a relay hunger strike. Their first attempt was foiled by the police.
Moreover, in continuation of the ongoing relay hunger strike of the All Manipur Health Services Doctor’s Association (AMHSDA), doctors of the office of the Chief Medical Officer, Porompat, Imphal East also organised a relay hunger strike on December 3 at its office campus, reports added.
Students Protest Thoubal Rape Case
Students of Heirok Higher Secondary School staged a protest against the Thoubal rape case urging the state government and the authorities concerned demanding befitting punishment for Chinglenkhomba, who repeatedly raped an 11-year-old girl.
The protest was held at the school campus on December 7. They strongly condemned the act and urged the authorities concerned to take up necessary legal action against the accused. He also encouraged other schools to join in the protest.
Placards that reads “Rapists Are Nothing Just Animals”, “We Want Justice For The victim”, “Rape Is Never A Mistake”, “Show Some Love To The Rape Victim”, “Kill The Rapist”, “Ostracise Khomba from Heirok” and “Save Women, stop rapes” were displayed during the protest and various slogans were chanted, reports said.
It may be recalled that 33-year-old Chinglenkhomba son of L Ningthou from Heirok part III, a married man had repeatedly raped the minor by luring her with money.
First Gonmei Conference Held
The first ever ‘Gonmei’ clan Conference 2022, All ‘Gonmei Kaikhuang’ (AGK) Assam, Manipur and Nagaland was held at Longmai Part-1 Noney district headquarters under the theme of ‘Growing Together’ on December 7.
Making of sacred fire, traditional slogan and cultural dance were the main highlights of the opening day. As a part of the programme, a solidarity speech from different dignitaries, during which the history of All Gonmei Kaikhuang (AGK) Assam, Manipur and Nagaland was elaborated, reports said.
As a part of the conference, ‘Gonmei Kaikhuang’ Assembly session was held and various agendas were discussed. The first conference also resolved to organise the next conference of All Gonmei Kaikhuang (AGK) Assam, Manipur and Nagaland after five years.
It was resolved that the research of Gonmei clan history will be taken up soon under the initiatives of All Gonmei Kaikhuang and Gonmei Chabuan Phuam (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland). It was also decided the name of clan spelling should be ‘Gonmei’ during the assembly session.
First conference declared that December 7 will be observed as ‘Gonmei day’ every year and imposed a prohibition of marriage within the clan, reports added.
Sit-in-Protest Against Legalisation of Liquor
Sit-in-Protests against the Cabinet dicision to partially lift the prohibition of manufacture and sale of liquors in Manipur continue. Another Sit-in-Protest jointly organised by Nupi Samaj and the Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) in collaboration with the vendors association of Singjamei Bazar was held on December 8.
Strongly opposing the government’s move to lift the prohibition order, Nupi Samaj president Thokchom Ramani on December 8 called on the government to save “our children”, and said legalise liquor only if they consider choking the fate of the future pillars of Manipur.
“If the government is really concerned about the fate of Manipur’s future, it should withdraw the cabinet decision to lift prohibition,” she said during a protest held at Singjamei Bazar in Imphal West against the government’s move to legalise selling and brewing of liquor in Manipur.
Calling for revoking the government’s decision to legalise liquor, the protesters raised several slogans: “Liquor cannot be legalised at Manipur,” “Revoke the cabinet decision,” and “Let’s save our children from falling into substance abuse” among others reports added.
RPF Reiterates Its Stand Against Indian Made Foreign Liquor
Reiterating its policy to prohibit drugs and Alcohol, the banned Revolutionary Peoples’ Front (RPF) has warned that the outfit will take up befit-ting action against those persons involved in importing and selling of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) in the State.
RPF Deputy Secretary, Publicity Roben Khuman in a press release stated that the party’s stand against drug and alcohol still re mains unchanged and there is no question of lifting prohibition on IMFL. The party will take those persons involved in importing and trading IMFL as agents of Colonial India Government. When the party takes up fitting action against such persons as done to an enemy’s agent, people should not view them as innocent. People should stay away from such persons to avoid casualties, it warned.
After inebriated substances and alcohol severely affected the Manipur society, locals club members and womenfolk in the form of “Nisaban” were playing a pivotal role to save the people from drugs and alcohol before the birth of PLA and Meira Paibi.
With the opening of a new chapter of the liberation movement in Manipur, the Indian Government unleashed its best effort to fight it and deployed huge numbers of Indian occupied forces to Manipur in the beginning of 1980, it stated. The outfit stated that having known that Revolutionary cadres do not consume inebriated substances; the IOF devised a strategy to discourage and annihilate the revolutionaries using drugs and alcohol as a tool. With the canteens of the Indian Army, Paramilitary and the State forces being made as a hub, they started supplying IMFL to the people on a large scale. At that time, if the people were carrying along with IMFL, they were safe while crossing the Army frisking. Even many PLA cadres also carried liquor on various occasions to escape from the Army frisking comfortably, it continued. Despite this fact, RPF was compelled to prohibit import and sale of IMFL in the State since 1990s taking into account of the use of IMFL as a tool of covert military operation by the enemy to suppress the liberation movement, drowning of Manipur society in the ocean of liquor and its serious impact on the economy of our poor State. The stand of the outfit is still unchanged, RPF stated in the release.
MP Leishemba Sanajaoba Raises India-Myanmar Border Issues in Parliament
Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba has demanded Central government’s intervention for completion of the border fencing along Manipur-Myanmar border and to resolve the India-Myanmar border issue.
The MP raised the issue as special mention during the ongoing parliamentary session on December 8, saying that the Manipur government’s War on Drugs is being hampered by the issue of infiltration of illegal immigrants and drugs smuggling from Myanmar due to the porous border.
MP Sanajaoba demanded the completion of the pending border fencing work in order that Manipur government’s ‘War on Drug’ campaign become successful and the infiltration of illegal migrants through the porous border areas are stopped.
One Arrested With 3.046 Kg of Suspected Brown Sugar in Kangpokpi
As a part of the ongoing intensive drive against illicit drug trafficking in Manipur, a combined team of Saikul police led by SI Seiginlen Kipgen and 22 AR COB Saikul led by Major Bhopesh Sharma arrested a drug peddler on December 7, at around 5.30 pm.
The accused was identified as 32-year-old Ngamlenthang Khongsai, son of Chingjang Khongsai from Maojang village, Kangpokpi district. The police team arrested the peddler in possession of 3.046 kg of suspected brown sugar while carrying out intensive frisking and checking at Saikul village near a water supply. The drug peddler came on a scooter (NTORQ 125, Red and Black in colour) with no registration number, reports said.
