NorthEast Calling

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Newspaper hawkers appeal

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: Against the backdrop of certain elements warning newspaper hawkers to cease distribution from August 31, the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors’ Association has urged all concerned not to harass/target newspaper distributors who are only delivering the newspapers to the public.

A statement issued by the All Manipur Newspaper Sales and Distributors’ Association clarified that the hawkers have no authority over publication/non-publication of news items as it concerns the journalists.

The distributors only deliver the newspapers, which have been packaged by the journalists, to the public and they are not concerned with publication/non-publication of news items.

Instead of threatening and harassing the hawkers, all concerned must sort out their problems with the journalists, it appealed.

Manipur e-pao.net Snippets

Grenade found

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: Miscreants placed a Chinese hand grenade at the gate of Khuraijam Loken (48) s/o Yaima of Yumnam Huidrom Leikai, under Wangoi Police Station in Imphal West district at around 1.30 pm today.

Loken is a contractor and supplier of State PWD.

Police have retrieved the explosive.

Manipur e-pao.net Snippets

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/grenade-found-7/

Auto driver murdered

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: Even as a breakthrough continues to elude the murder of van driver Okram Gyaneshwor of Singjamei Okram Leikai, body of a diesel auto driver hailing from Tera Loukrakpam Leikai has been recovered from a Thoubal district area this morning consequently sparking a wild-cat agitation of road blockade at Tera Bazar area till late afternoon.

The victim identified as Ayekpam Nobin (53) used to operate in between Nagamapal to RIMS Gate and was reportedly missing from home since August 27 evening.

Cause of death is suspected to be from sharp weapon(s) as his throat was found slit and stab-like wounds spotted on his chest area.

After news spread about Nobin’s lifeless corpse lying at a roadside near Kiyam Tangjeng and recovery of his auto some yards away from the body, locals came out to the streets and staged protest at Tera Keithel, thereby disrupting vehicular movement, even as his colleagues joined the protest.

With the number of protestors swelling steadily an emergency meeting was convened that culminated in the formation of ‘JAC Against the Brutal Killing of A Nobin Meitei’ .

The meeting also resolved to meet and hand over memorandums to the Chief Minister and the Deputy CM tomorrow to demand arrest of Nobin’s murderers within a week, post mortem examination of the body tomorrow and not to claim the corpse for a week.

The meeting was also attended by representatives of civil society organisations.

According to family sources, Nobin told his colleagues at RIMS Gate on August 27 evening that he was retiring for the day.

However, after dropping a passenger from his own locality Nobin somehow decided to continue plying.

As he did not show up anxious family members called on his mobile phone with Nobin responding that he is going for some work.

The second call made by the family at around 10 pm was also responded by Nobin telling them he would be returning home soon.

Having failed to return home the third time a family member rang his phone early this morning led to a male stranger saying that he (Nobin) left the phone in his auto and has fled after suffering a slight injury during a scuffle at Kiyam Tangjeng, narrated the family source adding that the stranger also claimed to be injured in the scuffle.

Even as there was confusion and suspicion due to the stranger receiving the phone call, unconfirmed information was received about a body and a diesel auto abandoned at near Kiyam Tangjeng of Thoubal district.

On reaching there relatives spotted a team of Thoubal police led by the SP scanning the spot of crime.

Apart from finding Nobin’s body with injury marks and the auto a few yards away, the relatives also spotted the police team recovering an RC (Vehicle document) book bearing the name Salam Toubi w/o Manjit of Toubul Mayai Leikai.

A police team subsequently deposited Nobin’s body at JNIMS morgue.

Mention may be made that van driver Gyaneshor was found dead at an isolated spot near Langthabal Naran Konjil.

The murder had sparked strong protest and even a State-wide general strike call some days back.

No arrest has been made till date in the case.

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/auto-driver-murdered/

Border intrusion

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: The Central leaders of Communist Party of India (CPI) are likely to bring up the issue of Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing in Parliament tomorrow.

Dr M Nara, secretary, Manipur unit of CPI said MP D Raja, party’s National Secretary will raise a motion in Rajya Sabha for discussion on the Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing that has become a political issue on Thursday.

The State unit of the party has already apprised the CPI Central leadership in detail about the negative aspect of the international border fencing, Nara informed reporters at Irawat Bhawan here Wednesday.

Nara was briefing the media on the preparations being made by Irawat Celebration Committee (ICC) for the upcoming 117 birth anniversary of pioneer Hijam Irawat.

The month-long celebration begins on September 30, the birthday of the Jana Neta.

Border intrusion

ICC chairman and ex-minister N Mangi said Irawat was the lone leader who was in the forefront to safeguard the boundary of Manipur and added that not a single political party came out for defending the border during the time of 1948 .

The CPI leader also made an appeal to all stakeholders to come forward and join together to approach the Centre in the effort to solve the Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing issue.

It can be noted here that several villages of Manipur have included in Myanmar side after the controversial border fencing work.

Following this, several organisations from Manipur have been voicing against the inaction of the government on the matter.

On August 26, the high level Indo-Myanmar Border Fencing Committee headed by Principal Secretary (Home) Dr J Suresh Babu had made a spot assessment of the international border fencing in Manipur’s Chandel district.

Again, on August 27, Manipur Governor Dr Ashwani Kumar visited the border area to assess the situstion.

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/border-intrusion/

Pathetic road condition State likely to lose October rice share

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: Food Corporation of India (FCI) is not likely to be able to provide the State’s full quota of rice for the month of October due to bad road condition.

According to an FCI official source, 24 wagons of rice which were transported upto Jiribam by Railways is still due to be lifted from the wagon site.

The source further said that lifting has been delayed as empty trucks could not reach the wagon site due to dilapidated road condition.

Although, Railways officials have given the assurance of repairing the road at the earliest during a meeting with FCI authority held at Lamding on August 19, no step has been taken up so far, added the source.

As such FCI is not likely to provide the full quota of rice of October month to the State Government.

shoddy road

Out of the total quota of 11489 MT of rice for September month, FCI could lift only 9777 MT so far, the source said.

Informing that the FCI godowns in Manipur currently have 6536 MT of rice and 1368 MT of wheat, the source said that the godown at Jiribam has a stock of 2030 MT of rice, while Koirengei and Sangaiprou godowns have 549 MT and 3957 MT respectively.

Sangaiprou godown currently has wheat stock of 1142 MT while Koirengei has 226 MT.

In the meantime, as sugar stock at Sangaiprou godown has depleted to 18 MT, FCI is not likely to provide 1368 MT of sugar which was due for May month to Consumer Affairs Food and Public Distribution.

The source said that there is no more sugar to be brought in by FCI to the State other than the remaining 18 MT.

Saying that out of this 18 MT of sugar, only 8 MT is consumable, the source said that remaining 10 MT would be disposed off at the earliest.

It further said that the remaining 8 MT would also get expired if it is not lifted at the earliest.

As FCI would be unable to provide 1368 MT of sugar which was due for May month, the Corporation is likely to refund the deposited amount for this remaining quantity of sugar to the State Government or adjust it with rice and wheat.

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/pathetic-road-condition-state-likely-to-lose-october-rice-share/

Urea sold at inflated rate of Rs 600 to Rs 800 per bag Farmers cry foul against fertiliser scarcity

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: Besides purchasing a bag of Urea at an inflated price ranging from Rs 500 to 800, farmers of the nine districts of the State have yet again raised complaints over the recurrent scarcity of fertilisers in State.

Meanwhile, the North East Dialogue Forum has submitted a memorandum highlighting amongst others the problems faced by the farmers due to scarcity of fertilizers to the Prime Minister, Union Agriculture Minister, Union Home Minister, DoNER Minister, the State Governor, Manipur Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister.

The forum also demanded investigation into the scarcity of fertilisers in the State, formulation of Farmers Policy for Manipur, etc through its representation.

A farmer from Senapati district, R Rajo Kharam while addressing a press meet organised by North East Dialogue Forum at Manipur Press Club today lamented that farmers have down the years faced the problem of fertilizers scarcity.

Urea bags which are in scarcity in the State but available at inflated rates

Repeated appeals to the authority concerned to make the fertilizers available at subsidised rate to the farmers have fallen on deaf ears, he rued.

Insisting the authority concerned to investigate the matter at the earliest, Rajo Kharam also urged for the formulation of a State Agriculture and Farmers policy.

Pointing out that a bag of Urea is sold at Rs 500 – Rs 800 in Senapati district, he also conveyed the desperation of the farmers in getting the necessary fertilisers at such inflated price.

Achungngam Jajo of Ukhrul district said farmers of Ukhrul discontinue using fertilizers due to unavailability of chemical fertilizers in the district.

As such, the farmers mainly relied on manure to fertilise land for farming purpose, he said.

Surjit from Thoubal district said that paucity of fertilizers in the district, inflation of price of fertilisers and flooding of agriculture land are the problems faced by farmers of the district.

2000 to 3000 paris of agriculture land have been inundated by flood water this year, he said.

A farmer from Churachandpur, Chongleirang Kom said Urea is sold at Rs 600-650 per bag by dealers in the district.

He said the Government announcement to avail Urea at the rate of Rs 289 per bag is a distant dream.

Even if there is a scheme to avail 600 bags each of urea through local MLA, the same is not available to the farmers, he pointed out adding crop insurance benefit is also not extended to the farmers.

Chandramani of Bishnupur district said a bag of Urea is sold at Rs 650 – Rs 750 in the district.

To top this, the fertilizer is now not available in the district.

He urged the Government to intervene so as to assuage the farmers.

M Renubala of Imphal West district said Urea is sold in the district at the rate of Rs 650- Rs 700.Although Urea is sold at inflated rate, the same is not available in abundance.

She said a bag of Potassium is sold at Rs 1240 .

Zanet Kangsong of Tamenglong district said farmers of the district do not use fertilizer due to transportation and market problems.

Kopham W of Chandel urged the authority concerned to improve the transportation and market problem in the district.

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/urea-sold-at-inflated-rate-of-rs-600-to-rs-800-per-bag-farmers-cry-foul-against-fertiliser-scarcity/

Mishap claims 1

Source:

Imphal, August 28 2013: A four-year-old boy was killed after he was knocked down by a DI mini truck near ISKCON temple on Tiddim road at around 9.30 this morning.

The boy – Paonam Angamba s/o Ningthem of Ghari Mayai Leikai – came with his mother to ISKCON temple in a passenger diesel autorickshaw.

Even as the mother was talking with the autorickshaw driver regarding the fare, Angamba was hit by a DI mini truck (MN01K-8868) as he tried to cross the road.

The boy died at the spot.

Lamphel Police have seized the mini truck and registered a case in connection with the incident.

The body of the boy has been deposited at RIMS morgue for post mortem examination.

Manipur e-pao.net Snippets

via NorthEast Calling - NorthEast India | India's No1 online News Magazine http://necalling.com/mishap-claims-1-2/