Rahul Moirangthem is innocent, says family & friends

New Delhi, July 24, 2015: Rahul Moirangthem is innocent who was arrested and now lodged in Tihar Jail, New Delhi based on false allegations of Delhi Police, claimed the family of Rahul Moirangthem on Friday.

This statement was made by Rahul’s family during the press conference held at Press Club of India, New Delhi on Friday. The press conference was called by the Committee for Justice and Release of Rahul Moirangthem (CJRR), New Delhi, headed by its convener Mr Thothuingam Shinglai, Dr Alana Golmei, founding member & general secretary of North East Support Centre & Helpline (NESCH), Mr David Boyes, Convenor of North East India Forum Against Racisim (NEIFAR), Mr Roshmaani, advoicate, and Ms Supriya Moirangthem, sister of Rahul Moirangthem.

Hand Grenade found in Imphal-Guwahati bound passenger bus

IMPHAL, Nov 7[sangaiexpress]--- Police bomb experts safely retrieved a hand grenade from an Imphal-Guwahati passenger carrier from North AOC this morning.

At around 9.45 am the bomb experts recovered the explosive device from underneath Seat No. 21 of the passenger bus, said to be operating under Network Travels travel agency.

It is said that a passenger grew suspicious after spotting an unclaimed item wrapped in plastic bags of eatables (Potato Crackers) and passed the information to persons manning the travel agency, who subsequently contacted the police.

The police team led by Imphal West police station Officer in-charge Shantikumar also carried out further search of the said bus after off-loading belongings of the passengers.

Reacting sharply against the discovery of the hand-grenade in the bus, a passenger urging all concerned to refrain from such undesired act in the future, said that many innocent people might have been killed in case the bomb exploded.

The passenger also reminded that many students and children travel on public carriers.

KLA warns those involved in killing KLA leader and his daughter

IMPHAL, July 16, 2013 [TSE] --- Condemning in the strongest term the murder of KLO/KLA home secretary and his young daughter, the outfit has warned that it would not let off all those individuals/group involved in the murder.

Speaking to media persons at their designated camp yesterday, KLO/KLA general secretary L Timothy Kuki asked all concerned to explain the double murder on or before July 18 or face dire consequences.

It was a dastardly crime, he decried.

Even if home secretary Seikhopao alias Marwin had committed some mistakes, there was no reason for assaulting his wife and children.

"We want to know the principle and ideology of the group, if they have any", Timothy said.

It was most unfortunate that KLO's home secretary and his daughter were killed at a time when Kuki armed groups as well as civil organisations have come to the path of unification.

The death of Seikhopao alias Marwin is a big loss not only for the outfit but also for whole Manipur.

KLO/KLA's investigation department is investigating the twin murder. But it is too early to name any individual or group, Timothy said.

On behalf of KLO, he conveyed gratitude to all those who helped the wounded and took part in the funeral service from JNIMS mortuary till Saikul.

He also thanked Kuki Inpi Saikul, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, KSO Ghqs, KSO Sadar Hills, Khongsai Inpi Manipur, leaders and cadres of KNO's member organisations and the general public.

The outfit further conveyed solidarity to the bereaved family.

KLO home secretary Seikhopao was assaulted and killed by some unidentified persons near Champhai village along Imphal-Saikul road. His two and a half year old daughter Hoijoukim who sustained injuries in the attacked later succumbed to the injuries.

In addition, Seikhopao's driver and aunt also sustained injuries.

31 children rescued

IMPHAL, Jun 23: Altogether 31 children––15 boys and 16 girls, have been rescued minutes before the were taken to Noida, Uttar Pradesh by a joint team of Child Welfare Committee, Child Line and Anti-Trafficking Squad of Social Welfare Department. Acting on information shared by Imphal East District Police, the joint team went to North AOC yesterday and found all the 31 children seated inside an inter-State bus (MN-01/1515). One Lucy Niang of Sugnu, Thoubal district was arranging to take the children to Father Agnel Bal Bhavan at Greater Noida, UP. Speaking to media persons at Takyelpat Children Home today, CWC Thoubal Chairperson Mala Lisham quoted Lucy Niang as saying that all the children aged between 5 and 17 years were studying at Greater Noida and they were being taken to their place of learning as their vacation period is over. But Lucy Niang could not produce relevant documents whereas some of the children need care and protection under the Juvenile Justice Act. Moreover, there is an order of the Supreme Court which prohibits one from taking children below 12 years across States even if it is for schooling. In view of all these factors, a report was filed at Imphal police station following which Lucy Niang was arrested yesterday itself. Travel fares as well as educational expenses of the children were borne by the Noida children home, Mala said as claimed by Lucy. Taking serious note of the incident, CWCs held a meeting yesterday and decided to keep orphaned children in Government run children homes and return other children to their parents or relatives in accordance with their desire. It was also agreed not to allow anybody take the children to another location until further order or until an enquiry is completed so as to avoid exploitation of the children, Mala said. She said that necessary communications are being made with their Noida counterparts to ascertain details of the children home where the rescued children were purportedly learning. Apart from Uttar Pradesh being a State where the rate of crime against children is highest, Noida is notorious for rackets which deal in illegal organ transplantation, she added. [The Sangai Express | 24-Jun-2013]

17 yr old girl raped in Imphal

Imphal, June 20, 2013 [Manipur Times] --- A 17-year-old girl was raped by unknown persons while she was on her way to procure admission forms from a college and latter dumped at her house on June 19.  According to reports, the girl left her home at around 12.30 pm in order to purchase application form for admission to BA first year from Universal College in Yairipok.  In the evening, she sent an SMS to a male friend telling that she had been abducted by two unknown persons.  Her friend passed the information to her family and a search was launched but without any success. A complaint was also filed with the police.  While the family was going through the trauma of her disappearance, her abductors left her in an unconscious state near her compound around midnight.  She was taken to RIMS Hospital for treatment and forensic tests were conducted on her there.  Sources said she had received hostile messages on her mobile from another mobile (9615097934) recently.

AAI exploring upgradation of Agartala/Imphal airports

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is exploring the possibility of upgrading the Agartala and Imphal airports in the north eastern region after Guwahati to facilitate travel for high-level international business delegations from bordering countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan, official sources said today.

Sources said a high level meeting of the AAI would be held here on June 6 for upgradation of the Agartala airport which would be attended by Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava and Chairman of AAI, V P Agarwal, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and top officials of the state government.

Sources said as part of its "Look East" policy, India was now trying to establish connectivity and trade with Southeast Asian countries like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan.

The North Eastern Council (NEC) has invited fresh bids recently for a dedicated airline in the region, sources in NEC said.

Sources said Rs 160 crore would be spent to build up infrastructure like air traffic control towers, runway etc to gradually develop Imphal and Agartala airports to international standards.

There are 11 operational airports in the Northeast, including Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Silchar in Assam, Dimapur in Nagaland, Agartala in Tripura, Aizawl in Mizoram, Imphal in Manipur and Barapani in Meghalaya.

The proposed regional airline will also be connected with Bagdogra airport in north Bengal.

Tripura Transport Secretary Kishore Ambuly said the meeting would also discuss about developing two abandoned airports, Kailashahar in Unakoti district and Kamalpur in Dhalai district.

Source:EconomicsTimes

25-year-old woman found murdered, husband suspected

Imphal, May 8, 2013 [Hueiyen News Service] --- A 25 years old housewife was found murdered after hitting with a club at Monumphai area near Kondong Lairembi, Moreh. The incident occurred around 2 pm yesterday. The victim has been identified as Nekhohat Kilong, w/o Vijay, a Non Manipuri worker of BRTF presently living at Moreh Ward No 9. There were injuries on the head of the victim. Police have also recovered a blood stained club from near the site where the victim was found. Even though police are yet to identify  the murderer, locals suspect the involvement of her husband. Moreh Police have registered a case over the incident and the body has been deposited at the mortuary of JNIMS for post mortem.

Imphal airport to go international in June

IMPHAL, May 1, 2013[TNN/TimesofIndia]--- The Imphal airport will be converted into an international airport soon - probably by June - as the construction and improvement of necessary infrastructural facilities are underway at a fast pace there.

K Kemalatha, regional executive director, Guwahati, and her entire team of engineers and the technical team of the Airports Authority of India (AII) called on chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh at his office on Monday.

During the meeting, the progress of construction and improvement of facilities for customs, immigration and security inside the airport were reviewed, said a statement issued by the secretary to the CM. "This will facilitate the start of international operations from Imphal Tulihal airport shortly," the statement said, adding that the revenue minister, chief secretary, DGP and other senior state officials also joined the meeting. The government has already acquired the required land for converting the Imphal airport into an international airport. Currently, over a dozen flights land on a daily basis at the airport, located at the Malom village in Imphal West district.

Manipur: Angry mob torches house of 3 accused in Satyabhama murder case

IMPHAL, April 9 [IFP] --- The public announcement of the three main accused in the N Satyabhama murder case today was followed by irate protestors including JAC supporters and residents of Kakwa area taking the law into their hands and setting fire to the homes of the three involved. The house of the main accused, Kshetrimayum Biju alias Holendro, 28, son of Ksh Ibochouba of Irilbung bazaar and a shop located at the road side belonging to the family were dismantled and all household items inside the house destroyed  and later, put to flames by the angry mob who had come from Kakwa and other areas in a huge procession. Angry mob also dismantled the  house of co-accused  Thoudam Jibon, 28, son of Th Thoiba of Irilbung Machahal Mayai Leikai  and burnt it down.  It may be mentioned that Jibon was a candidate  in the recently held Panchayat elections for the post of a Member from the Bamon Kampu  Gram Panchayat. None of the family members of the accused  were present in the area during the time of the incidents today. Meanwhile, the angry mob also brunt down the house of Toijam James alias Boy at Thambalkong Sabal Leikai this evening around 3pm. The mob numbering around a 1000 came in trucks, auto's and two wheeler mopeds rushed into the accused's house and started to rampage the household commodities and burnt down the house. Finding no one at James's house,  the mob went to the neighboring house and found it locked from the inside. Enraged over the neighbor's failure to reply to the call of the mob, the mob then  started breaking the doors and windows of the house. When it was found that James had shifted some of his household items to the neighbor's house, it only fanned the anger of the mob who went on a rampage and burnt the house down. On further inquiry from the media later, Toijam Thoinu the neighbor said the family had no idea about the accused shifting his items to their house and said the accused could have moved them in while the family were at another neighbor's. "The way the mob acted today is inappropriate. Damaging and burning down the house without any inquiring is inappropriate", she said, before lamenting, "They have vented their anger, now where do we go to live?" After the burning of the first house, the mob continued to move towards Chingmeirong with a similar intention of burning down the house of another accused Phungsokwung alias Ashok. The mob was however blocked by the Imphal West police. After a long confrontation between the police and the angry mob; police resorted to firing a couple of tear gas shells and mock bomb to disperse the mob.