The state education minister has said that colleges which fail to get minimum credit score of 2.5 of NAAC will have their pays held up, while truckers were attacked on the NH-37 by suspected militants, and Y Erabot who came in second in the 2017 elections from the Wangkhei constituency has been declared the elected MLA after Okram Henry who held the seat was disqualified. The AMWJU has also urged the state government for passage for fleeing Myanmar journalists.
Militants Attack Trucks on NH-37
Unknown armed persons suspected to be militants opened fire at trucks transporting goods from outside Manipur at Kaiphundai along the National Highway-37 (Imphal-Jiribam) Road at about 8 am of April 16. However, no one was injured in the attack.
Reports said the trucks loaded with cement were heading towards Imphal from Jiribam. The armed persons reportedly ordered the drivers to get down from their trucks and shots were fired inflicting damage to at least four vehicles in their tyres and fuel tanks.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers’ and Motor Workers’ Union in a statement urged the Manipur government to depute highway protection force for the safety of drivers who are discharging their duties irrespective of road condition, weather and other issues on highway.
Condemning the incident vehemently, the union cautioned the authority that the transporters will resort to cease work strike if necessary steps are not taken for their (transporter) safety, it added.
Yumkham Erabot Elected MLA
The High Court of Manipur on April 15 declared the election of Okram Henry as a Congress MLA of 15-Wangkhei Assembly Constituency in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly null and void. The judgement was given by Justice MV Muralidaran on an election petition of 2017 filed by Yumkham Erabot, the BJP Candidate against Okram Henry.
Further, the court declared that Yumkham Erabot is duly elected MLA of 15-Wangkhei Assembly Constituency in the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly.
The petition cited that Okram Henry filed his highest educational qualification as “Class XII from Manipur Public School, CBSE” in the nomination for the 11the Manipur Legislative Assembly Election 2017 while he filed his highest educational qualification as BA from Punjab University in his nomination for the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly Election 2012.
The Petition also cited that Okram Henry had not disclosed a criminal case and a narcotic case against him to the Election Commission of India in his nomination for the 2017 election.
AMWJU Pleads for Myanmar Scribes
The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) has expressed serious concern over the prevailing situation in Myanmar and the latest developments as three Mizzima journalists fled the country and took shelter in Moreh, Manipur.
President of AMWJU Bijoy Kakchingtabam in a statement issue on April 15 appealed to the government of Manipur to give them the respect which journalists are accorded anywhere in the world, and to give them safe passage to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, New Delhi, where they can seek official refugee status under the international convention on refugees.
No Pay for Non-scoring Colleges
Manipur Education Minister S Rajen Singh has said that colleges in the state should work to get a minimum credit score of 2.5 of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). Salaries for the staff of those colleges failing to score the minimum credit point may be held up. The Department of Education (U) will issue a notice in this regard, he added.
Man Jailed for Supporting Samarjit
One of two persons who made a Facebook post allegedly against the Manipur government showing support to Salai Holdings Founder and Director Samarjit Narengbam has been arrested and remanded to judicial custody for 15 days.
Reports said the accused Ngasam Chaa Yumleppa, 34, son of Ngasam Chaa Raghumani of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel Leikai was arrested from his residence on April 9 morning by a team of Imphal Police station under charges of sedition. The other accused identified as Raj Kumari Gambhini as per her Facebook account, is still at large.
The court order mentioned an FIR against the two persons and stated that Raj Kumari Ghambhini and Ngasam Chaa Yumleppa uploaded a post containing statements of sedition i.e. disaffection, disloyalty, all feelings of enmity and criminally intimidating the lawfully established government, reports added.
UNC Urged to Review Decision on ADC
The People’s Progressive Council (PPC) on April 12 stated that the creation of Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) for new districts is not a political package but a legitimate right and demand of the people of the four hill districts to bring equal development and justice.
Reports said the PPC in reference to the April 10 press note of United Naga Council (UNC) has appealed the UNC and its frontal organisations to review their decision not to accept the newly created four districts in Naga areas.
Stating that it is the bounden duty of every civil society or individual to fight for the socio-politico economic transformation rather than blaming the state authority, PPC derided the protest against the formation of Kamjong, Pherzawl, Tengnoupal and Noney districts as completely uncalled for.
Man in Custody for Obscene Video
A man charged for uploading an obscene video of his fiancée on a pornographic website was remanded to judicial custody for 15 days till April 16 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West on April 12.
Reports said the accused, Kapur Nongthombam Meetei, 28, son of N Ibohanbi Meetei of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai was arrested on April 6 by Cyber Crime police, following a complaint lodged by the victim’s father on March 4.
The complaint stated that his daughter was working as an air hostess and staying at Bengaluru. It stated that she was informed that her video was published on one pornographic website by an unknown user by creating a fake user ID and her contact number was mentioned as well. As her daughter’s mobile number was provided on the website, she received numerous calls from unknown numbers which caused mental harassment to her, reports added.
Compensation Sought for Sintha
Rights groups on April 14 alleged the police registered an FIR based on false charges in the arrest of Sintha Laishram and urged the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to direct the Chief Secretary of Manipur to provide adequate compensation for violation of his fundamental rights and mental trauma inflicted upon him.
Reports said the rights groups HRD Alert-India (HRDA), Human Rights Alert (HRA) and Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) sought NHRC intervention in the alleged misuse of law and non-compliance with mandatory procedures by the Manipur Police to harass, ill-treat and falsely implicate human rights defender Sintha Laishram who is also the General Secretary of Coalition Against Drug and Alcohol (CADA), Thoubal district.
CADA recently had organised a protest meeting against the acquittal of chairman ADC Moreh, Lhukhosei Zou.
AR Gate Closure Costs Man’s Life
A critically ill man died on April 12 night on Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road as he could not access emergency treatment due to alleged delay of more than an hour in opening a gate erected on the highway by the 20 Assam Rifles.
Reports said the death of an ailing man on the way to hospital allegedly due to the Assam Rifles’ delay in opening its entry gate triggered a protest in Manipur’s Tengnoupal district on April 13.
Reports said a 58-year-old man from Sita village of Tengnoupal district reportedly died inside the vehicle in which he was being transported for medical treatment to Imphal after his condition became serious late April 12 night. He reportedly succumbed at the entry gate erected by the Assam Rifles at Sita Lamkhai along NH-102 where the vehicle had to remain stopped after the Assam Rifles allegedly delayed in opening the gate.
Panchayats Demand Funds
Manipur Panchayat Parishad on April 16 staged a sit-in-protest at Porompat in Imphal East District, demanding release of funds under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGS).
Reports said Panchayat functionaries from six districts protested the non-release of funds under 15th Finance Commission Award (2nd instalments) and demanded their honorarium from October 2019 to March 2021.
COCOMI Urges Asylum Policy
The Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has urged the State Government to give asylum to the Myanmar citizens fleeing from the political unrest and violence raging through the neighbouring country by enacting a proper policy.
The policy should have a provision of sending them back once the situation calms down in their home country, said the COCOMI coordinator.
Clashes Erupt at Ukhrul
Four persons, including one police personnel, were injured in violent clashes between the Hunphung locals and Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) in Ukhrul district on April 16.
The TNL and Hunphung residents have been fighting over a land ownership dispute pertaining to Ukhrul Higher Secondary School, one of the oldest educational institutions in the district, reports added.
Thingyan 2021 at MU
Thingyan festival, commonly referred to as the water festival celebrated across Myanmar as a New Year festival has not been celebrated this year following the military coup and the subsequent protests which have rocked the nation. However, expressing solidarity to the people of Myanmar, Manipur University’s Centre for Myanmar Studies organised a two-day Thingyan festival.
