Rahul Gandhi leaves out burning issues from speech during brief sojourn in State

IMPHAL, December 10: All India Congress Committee general secretary, Rahul Gandhi visited the state today for a brief one and half hour stay, amidst a tight security arrangement. During his short stay, the AICC general secretary attended a state level convention of local bodies' elected members on 'local self-governance and 16 point flagship programme of the UPA as the chief guest at the Hapta Kangjeibung. The convention was also attended by MPCC president Gaikhangam and state Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh as president and guest of honour respectively. The AICC leader was received by a team led by the MPCC president, Gaikhangam and state Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh at the Imphal Tulihal Airport after his special flight landed at 11:55am. Rahul Gandhi went directly to Hapta Kangjeibung the venue for the convention, where he was received with loud slogan shoutings- "Rahul Gandhi Zindabad", "Congress party Zindabad", etc by party workers and leaders. Starting his speech exactly at 1pm, the AICC general secretary while expressing his fondness for the state said he considers Manipur as his "second home". He continued by expressing his happiness in visiting the North Eastern states including Manipur. "Being a politician, I often ask myself on what steps I should take up for the benefit and welfare of the people", he said before continuing, "I often consider the principles which guide a politician and about how I should use it". Continuing with his speech, the AICC general secretary said that these days, politicians seem to be oblivious of long term visions. Dwelling further on the issue, he said a politician should be able to listen to the people's voice if he aspires to serve the people. Watching boxer Mary Kom during the London Olympic, he thought to himself that she too is from the same family. Though the states may be far from one another, all states are from just one country, he said. The Congress party has presented several schemes for the people like the PMGSY, MGNREGA, RTI, RTE and Right to Food, however all such initiatives of the Congress will only succeed if the 60 MLAs and 4000 local body representatives work hand in hand, he said. The AICC general secretary also said that the process to introduce the devolution of power system which is still absent in states like Jharkhand and J&K is on. Quoting his late father former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi; the Gandhi scion said out of every Re 1 invested by the government for the people, only 15 paise reaches the public. The AICC leader also said that the government in order to bring a direct cash transfer of government money to the actual beneficiaries the general public, the centre will soon implement a Rs 200 crore scheme. Today's vote of thanks was addressed by Health Minister Phungzathang, however the speech had to end abruptly after the spectators and supporters started to leave the ground as soon as the AICC general secretary ended his speech. Meanwhile, after coming down from the stage, Rahul Gandhi broke away from the group accompanying him including state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, MPCC president Gaikhangam and other and mingled with the crowd of supporters through the wooden railings. The AICC general secretary even went to the extent of shaking hands with everyone by crossing the wooden fencing. Meanwhile, speaking at the function, the state Chief Minister said, "Today I acknowledge the tremendous contribution made by the Congress Party-led UPA Government at the Centre to bridge the infrastructure gap to some extent". "We believe the Congress Party-led Union Government's commitment to Manipur's development is unparalleled in history. We continue to look forward to more assistance in the years to come", the state Chief Minister said. Addressing the visiting AICC general secretary, he continued, "Rahul Gandhi as you know, my state has a very rich cultural heritage". "The people of Manipur have hope and faith in Congress party to bring the development to Manipur which had been shown in the last Assembly Elections 2012 by giving historic victory to the Congress party for the third consecutive term", he continued. The state Chief Minister also elaborated on the various successful ventures of the Congress in the state including the conduct of ADC election by the Congress led then state government in the five hill districts of the state. "To bring more transparency in Local Self government, the process of making Ombudsman Act in the pipe line and will be brought sooner", the CM continued. Regarding the 16 points Flagship programmes of the Congress led UPA government, the CM said, "The congress led state government has imple ented 16 point Flagship schemes of Congress led UPA government in delivering its objectives and services to the people". "As the main motto of Congress led Government at Centre to fight corruption and promote transparency, the RTI act has been implemented effectively in Manipur by the present Congress Government here", he said. On the other hand women supporters who had arrived to attend the function were not allowed to carry their hand bags inside the venue and as such they had to leave their bags at the nearby hotels and shops. The supporters were also not allowed to carry anything including water bottles, papers, pens and even the Congress flags, festoons, banners. Some of the supporters who had nowhere to leave their belongings had to stand outside the venue. As soon as Rahul Gandhi entered the venue, the police denied everyone outside the venue entry inside, which angered a lot of the supporters. The supporters were however admitted in the end. *Courtesy: Imphal Free Press

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Two Manipuris held with 50,000 medical tablets

New Delhi, Dec 10, 2012 (IANS) Two people from Manipur were arrested here for possessing 50,000 tablets of a medicine suspected to be abused by drug addicts, police said Monday. "Imtiyaz Khan Sheikh, 23, and Hitler, 26, were arrested from Munirka village in south Delhi Sunday," said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) P.S. Kushwah. "We have recovered a total of 55,000 tablets of Relipen drug from them," said Kushwah, adding that they were booked on drug trafficking charges. "Relipen is a much sought-after drug among addicts. The accused used to smuggle the drugs to Manipur by concealing the cartons in cloth parcels through courier," he said. The accused told police that they would purchase Relipen tablets from different chemist shops here.

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Manipur man arrested for cheating

New Delhi, Dec 10, 2012 (IANS) A man from Manipur was arrested here for cheating over 23,000 people by claiming that money deposited with him will triple in three months, police said Monday. Ningombam Raju was arrested Friday from south Delhi's Kotla Mubarakpur area where he had taken shelter for some months,Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav told IANS. Raju came to Delhi in 1995 and after some time joined a marketing company at Paschim Vihar in west Delhi. The company was owned by a Manipuri man who fled after cheating many people. Raju learnt the modus operandi and plunged into a career of crime. "He used to tell his victims that if they deposited Rs.10,000, the money would triple in three months," the officer said. "The accused lured many Manipuris into investing in his bogus company by arranging for their visit to Delhi," the officer said. He ended up cheating a staggering 23,000 people.

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'Tripura to be educational hub for northeast'

Tripura will soon be an 'educational hub' for the northeastern states and neighbouring countries, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has said Agartala, Dec 9 [IANS]: Tripura will soon be an 'educational hub' for the northeastern states and neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, with the setting up of several technical, medical and educational institutions, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said here Sunday. "Tripura has achieved the remarkable distinction of being the only capital city in the northeastern region to have two medical colleges," Sarkar said. He said: "The state government has taken up an ambitious plan to set up more technical institutions and degree colleges in each sub-divisions. The educational facilities available in Tripura do not exist in other states." While addressing an inaugural function of a school here, he said Tripura University has been upgraded into a Central University. "Under its ambitious plan, the state government has set up a 240-seat Tripura Institute of Technology (TIT) and ITIs (Industrial Training Institutes) in each block and sub-division." According to the chief minister, the state government has decided to set up three more professional colleges -- dental, ayurvedic and homeopathic -- under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The Ayurvedic college will be established at Udaipur, the homeopathic college at Kailasahar in northern Tripura and the dental college in Agartala. "Besides, one each of agricultural, veterinary and fishery colleges are functioning in the state." Sarkar said: "Private institutions are also being encouraged to supplement government efforts for setting up higher educational institutions in this northeastern state." "Students from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh, are attracted with this increasing number of educational institutions in the bordering state," he stated. Addressing the function, state Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty said that when the state became a full-fledged state in 1972, the literacy rate was 31 percent while now it had risen to 90 percent. "Within the next one year, Tripura would achieve 100 percent literacy," Chakraborty said, adding that the Left Front government has been spending more than 20 percent of its total annual budget in the education sector, while the central government's funding in this sector was less than 10 percent. Tripura will set up an Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Bodhjungnagar, one of the northeastern region's biggest industrial zones, a state official said. "State-owned ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), NEEPCO (Northeastern Electric Power Corporation) and six private industrial houses from West Bengal have expressed willingness to be a partner of the Tripura IIIT," said higher education department secretary Kishore Ambuly.

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Record 86 for Messi as Barca beat Betis

Madrid, Dec 10 (IANS): Lionel Messi made history as he set a new record for the number of goals scored in a calendar year - 86 - netting twice in his side's 2-1 away win to Betis. Messi's goal in the 15th minute of the game levelled the record of 85 goals in a year set by German striker Gerd Muller in 1972 and his second strike 10 minutes later took him to 86 goals in all competitions for 2012, reports Xinhua. The Argentinean's first goal came following a typical run past a host of Betis defenders followed by a left foot shot into the bottom corner of the Betis net. The second, and record breaking strike, arrived after good work from Andres Iniesta left the Barca forward with a lot of space. Messi also hit the Betis post in the closing minutes, it would have saved his side some nerves, but the points were for Barca and the record for their talisman.

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One North East girl knocked down by a car in Delhi

A car knocked her down, leaving her unconscious and fled away from the spot New Delhi, Dec 07, 2012: A 21-year-old girl from Manipur was knocked down by a car near Kishangarh bus stand in Aruna Ali Marg on November 27 at around 11am. According to sources reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, Rosy (name changed), was allegedly hit by a car leaving her laying unconscious and the car driver sped away from the spot. The incident took place near Kishangarh bus stand in south Delhi. "While I was on my way to catch a bus an unknown car suddenly hit me on my right leg and fled away leaving me unconscious. My cousin brother was with me at that time, but unfortunately he missed to note down the vehicle's number while attending me as I was lying unconscious. Those nearby us called an ambulance and I was rushed to AIMS Trauma Centre, where I regained my consciousness. I was discharged the same day around 9pm," said Rosy. The Fact Finding Team of NESC Helpline led by its founding member Dr Alana Golmei visited the victim at her residence. The victim's right leg is fractured, five stitches on her left temple and her eyes covered with red blood balls. She could barely move on her own. She is still in pain and it will take many more months to recover.  "I was supposed to give my BA final exams on November 29 and December 4 but I could not do so," Rosy, a student of Kamala Nehru College, told NE Helpline Team while visiting at her rented room in Kishangarh. The victim's sister informed that she along with her brother went to Vasant Kunj Police Station to file an FIR on November 27, but one policeman named Rajbeer, an ASI of Vasant Kunj P/S, who is also incharge of the case, refused them from filling further complaint. "On the advised of Mr. Rajbeer, I have signed a statement saying 'No further assistance is required' as we cannot provide the vehicle's number," the victim's sister told NESC Helpline. "Even after going to the Police Station for three times we could not file a complaint as Mr. Rajbeer blamed us that it was my sister's fault. On the second day, Rajbeer told us to produce Identity (ID) proof of college, rented house as well as the witness. After we got all the documents he said that he is not at the station and told us to come the next day. He also repeatedly rejected my calls when I tried to speak to him," the victim's sister told NESC Helpline. Soon after this information was received yesterday (December 6), North East Support Centre & Helpline intervened and lodged the FIR in Vasant Kunj Police Station.  The case is now registered under section 279 and 337 of IPC, with the support of Mr Malik, Station House Officer and O.P Thakur, Inspector Investigation. Dr. Alana Golmei, Founding member of NE Helpline, while appreciating the prompt action of Mr. O.P Thakur, she also strongly call on the concerned authority to take stern action against Mr. Rajbeer, ASI, who refused to accept the victim's complaint thereby causing more distress to the victim and her sister. Is this the attitude of Delhi Police towards the Northeast victims? This policeman, Rajbeer, who is the case Investigation Officer (IO), must be suspended from his post immediately since he is not performing his duty sincerely and instead harassing the victim and her sister, and her brother. The police hadn't yet arrested the accused in this case. Earlier in a similar incident, a 26-year-old Manipuri girl was mowed down by a car bearing registration no. DL-3CA-0388 on June 7, 2012. An FIR was lodged in Vasant Kunj Police Station. However till today the police remain clueless about the car and the absconding driver. No one arrested so far. The North East Support Centre & Helpline strongly request the higher authority to take stringent action against the policeman who has neglected and suppressed the victim in times of need. We also fervently request the Delhi Police to nab the culprits, who have seriously injured the two North East girls in separate incidents. By Bruce K. Thangkhal, Media Incharge | NE helpline

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The policeman called me a nuisance, says Manipuri girl abused by crowd

Bangalore [CNN-IBN] Dec 07, 2012: In another case of Northeast Indians being targeted, a theatre person from Manipur alleged that she was heckled by a crowd in Bangalore, that passed lewd and racist comments and abused her. What is even more shocking is that the policeman who she turned to for help allegedly ended up shouting back and shoving her and called her a nuisance. Talking about the incident, the girl said, "I was getting really frightened by the crowd that was inching closer to me, so I wanted to sit inside the car till my friends arrive. The policeman refused to help me. I was opening the car door and he just banged the car door. He said I was a public nuisance, the police people are coming and will take me to the police station." She also said that there were almost 30 to 40 men who were harassing her. "The men, 30 to 40 men started doing the same thing. I didn't have a pen and a paper with me, I took a picture of the bike licence plate, so while I was taking the picture, these guys said, we will start taking off our clothes, will you take our pictures? I asked if they were daring me to do that? I said I will take your pictures. I started taking their pictures. They started escalating their sexual gestures and harassment," she said. She said the policeman helped her only after 10 minutes of pleading and he was laughing and watching the incident all through. "After 10 minutes of pleading, the policeman relented and made me sit inside the car. This young boy, must have been 14 or 15 came close to my car window and said he will take off his clothes in Kannada. I understand some Kannada even though I can't speak it. He started unbuttoning his shirt. The policeman was just watching and laughing, threatening me and telling me I'm a public nuisance and I'll get arrested," the victim said. She also said that the women of Northeast India faced more such situations. "For a woman who has the face of someone from the Northeast, we have this long list of historical stereotyping. All these elements have combined together and escalated into this manic crowd which engages in harassing and intimidating a woman who is different. When you are a woman and when you're from the Northeast, the discrimination level escalates to a very very different level," she said. The girl has now filed two FIRs, one against a motorcycle-rider who hit her car and another of physical assault, sexual intimidation and harassment against people from the crowd, including the traffic constable. The incident reportedly took place when a motorcycle hit her car.

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Bangalore: Manipur girl racially abused, heckled by crowd; gets no help from policeman

Bangalore [CNN-IBN], Dec 07, 2012: In another case of Northeast Indians being targeted, a theatre person from Manipur alleged that she was heckled by a crowd in Bangalore, that passed lewd and racist comments and abused her. What is even more shocking is that the policeman who she turned to for help allegedly ended up shouting back and shoving her. She has now filed two FIRs, one against a motorcycle-rider who hit her car and another of physical assault, sexual intimidation and harassment against people from the crowd, including the traffic constable. The incident reportedly took place when a motorcycle hit her car. The incident comes amidst several incidents of sexual harassment and molestation being reported from different parts of the country. In Amritsar, a policemen was shot dead on Wednesday after allegedly trying to save his daughter from molesters. In another case on Monday, a 19-year-old boy was stabbed to death by five people in Mumbai - four of the boys are minors, when he protested against the boys harassing a female friend.

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MIZORAM TO LAUNCH HELICOPER SERVICE IN REMOTE AREAS

People of Mizoram can now avail of helicopter  services. The helicopter service has been introduced in remote and bordering areas to oversee developmental works, provide connectivity to people in emergency situations and carry dignitaries.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla flagged off the helicopter service from the main operational hub, Thuampui helipad in Aizawl recently. The helicopter service would be utilized for supervising developmental works in remote areas, offering medical care during emergencies in far-flung places, facilitating visits of dignitaries and tourists in inaccessible areas and carrying passengers in an emergency situation.

One twin-engine helicopter with carrying capacity of minimum seven passengers excluding crew would be operated by India’s national helicopter company Pawan Hans Helicopter Ltd. The chopper service would be operated between capital Aizawl and nine district and sub-divisional towns. It will help improve accessibility in remote, hilly areas and those bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh during monsoon (June to September) or in emergency situations.

The chopper service can be charted at a cost of Rs. 70,000 per hour with free waiting charge for 45 minutes. The waiting charge will be Rs. 10,000 per 30 minutes after the stipulated 45 minutes. The

helicopter service will be available on all days except Sundays. The chopper service would be immensely

beneficial for people of Mizoram where landslides frequently cut off road connectivity during rains.

It would be helpful for the tourists and for immediate carrying of critical patients from the rural and remote areas to the state capital. For the last 10 years, the Pawan Hans Helicopters company has been operating services in the interior areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland and Manipur with the Union Home Ministry subsidizing fares by up to 75 percent.

 [Source: NeNewsletter, Vol. XIV. No. 9, September, 2012 ]

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Insisting on dialogue, KNO refuses to pact extension, UPF for extension till Aug Govt keeps date with SoO signatories, mixed results

DELHI/IMPHAL, Dec 5, 2012 [TSE] : Even as the United People's Front has agreed to the proposal of the Government to extend the Suspension of Operation pact till August next year, the Kuki National Organisation has refused to any extension proposal, insisting that written assurance be given by the Centre that a political dialogue would soon start. As notified earlier, officials from the Union Home Minister, officials from the State Government and representatives from the KNO and the UPA, the two conglomerate organisations of Kuki armed groups met at Hotel Ashok, New Delhi today. Significantly the Government officials met the repre- sentatives of KNO and UPA separately. The meeting was first held with the KNO representatives at 2 pm, while the meeting with UPF was held later at 4 pm. Talking to our Delhi correspondent, KNO spokesperson Seilen Haokip said, "Today we sat down for the talk for only 10 minutes, wherein representatives from the Centre and the State Government were present. When the Joint Secretary of the Union Home Ministry (North East), Shambu Singh asked for extending the SoO pact for another year, we demanded a written statement/assurance from the Union Home Ministry that the political dialogue would start. We also made it clear that even if we sign the SoO pact, it would be for three months and not one year. "We also reminded the Government that we have waited for 7 years to start a political dialogue," said Seilen Haokip. "On November 22 we verbally agreed with the Government of Manipur to wait till the Parliament session gets over to start the dialogue, but that was only in principal," said Haokip The Government representatives, both from the Centre and the State however could not give any assurance and hence we asked them to convey our stand to the Union Home Minister, added Seilen. On being contacted, PRO in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Kuldeep Singh in- formed our Delhi Correspondent that "The SoO pact with UPF is signed and has been extended till August". Since the proposal mooted by the KNO to review the SoO pact within a period of two months and start a political dialogue was too short, it was decided to discuss the matter later, he explained. Speaking to The Sangai Express a Government official who took part in the talk said that nothing is as yet clear on the question of extending the pact, as far as the KNO, is concerned. Everything may become clear by tomorrow, he said. However the UPF has agreed to the proposal to extend the pact till August 21 next year, he said and added that the Centre, the State Government and the UPF have signed the extension pact. Talking to The Sangai Express, convenor of the UPF, Aaron Kipgen said that after the ongoing session of Parliament gets over, Joint Secretary (Home, NE in charge), Shambu Singh and other officials will arrive at Imphal on December 30 or 31 to chalk out the ground modalities for the political dialogue to start. The Zomi Re-unification Front, which recently switched side from the KNO to the UPF was also a signatory to the SoO extension. It was also agreed that the stipend for the cadres of KRA (U), which is with the UPF, will be deposited in the account of the UPF, said Kipgen further. Other than Shambu Singh, Joint Director of Intelligence Bureau and an official from the Military Intelligence represented the Centre. Chief Secretary DS Poonia led the State officials which also included Additional DGP LM Khaute. On the other hand, the earlier plan that the KNO and the UPF would sit down together and talk things over before today's talk did not materialise. The proposed meeting was supposed to discuss the central idea of the demand put up by the Kuki State Demand Committee and other points.

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Better Services Act to roll out from April 2013 in Assam

Guwahati, Dec. 5: Dispur will be rolling out the Assam Right to Public Services Act, 2012, which was passed in the last budget session, from April next year.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by chief minister Tarun Gogoi before leaving for Calcutta on his way to Ho Chi Minh city on Monday.

Rajiv Kumar Bora, principal secretary of personnel, administrative reforms and training and IT, who is co-ordinating the efforts for the smooth launch of the services, told The Telegraph this evening that 47 services covering 13 departments have been identified for the launch from Bohag Bihu.

"More services will be added in subsequent phases. Administrative reforms are a key focus area of the government and almost everything is in place for a smooth roll out.

The whole idea is to ensure government services within a stipulated timeframe. Officials not meeting the deadline despite everything being in order from the applicants' side will be penalised," Bora said.

Sources said the government has been gearing up the departments involved in the roll out since April. The act was notified in May and the rules governing it were passed in October.

They also said the administrative reforms department was ready for the rollout from January but for the ensuing panchayat elections, which is likely to be held between January-February.

The public faces a lot of trouble in availing these services and in most cases they have to bribe their way to get the work done in time, the sources said.

The services, proposed, to be notified initially include land holding certificate, certified copy of jamabandi, land valuation certificate, certified copy of mutation order, land partition, duplicate marksheet, duplicate pass certificate, migration certificate, valuation certificate of animal/bird for insurance.

Other services include birth and death certificates, building construction permission, trade licence, municipal holding certificate/holding mutation, driving licence and a host of other essential public services.

Source

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Changes in Armed Forces Special Powers Act on cards, government tells Supreme Court

NEW DELHI(TOI): The Centre on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it was considering amendments to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which provides sweeping powers to security forces in areas declared disturbed due to militancy.

The ministry of home affairs, in its response to a petition by Th Suresh Singh seeking repeal of the law, said it would not be prudent to repeal AFSPA or withdraw it from northeastern states, even though the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had recommended its repeal and amending Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to achieve the purpose of AFSPA.

"However, the grim security situation in the northeast, more so in Manipur, caused by unlawful underground militant groups bent upon separation of Manipur from the country, has also been considered by the government on the basis of the advice of the Army, police and other security and intelligence agencies," the ministry said. "Therefore, it was considered not a prudent step to repeal AFSPA as recommended by the committee. The matter was placed before the Cabinet for making a few amendments in the act after following inter-ministerial consultation procedure. It was advised to place the matter before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) first."

Narrating the procedure for amendment of the act, the ministry said, "The CCS did not approve the same. As suggested by the competent authority, the process of further consultation between the ministries has been undertaken and a final decision can only be taken by the Cabinet."

It added, "Moreover, the unmanageability of the powerful militant groups by the local police also compels the state government of Manipur to seek aid of central security forces to keep the insurgent groups under check. Nevertheless, the exercise of amending AFSPA is under consideration of the government."

The Union government said around 1,500 militants were holding a population of 23 lakh in Manipur to ransom and keeping them in constant fear. "The root cause of militancy in Manipur is the constant endeavour of these insurgent groups to spread fear so that they can continue to extort money and the leaders of such groups can continue to lead luxurious life in foreign countries," it said.

Referring to the high percentage of voting in the last two assembly elections in Manipur, the home ministry said people of the state had always demonstrated their faith in the country's institutions. It said, "The ethnic rivalries among different tribes, viz Meiteis, Kukis and Nagas, are deep-rooted and the militant groups fervently advance their ideologies by taking advantage of the porous international border with Myanmar, which is 256 km long, heavily forested and contains some of the most difficult terrain. "Taking advantage of this situation, the militant outfits utilize the other side of the border (which is beyond the jurisdiction of the Indian armed forces) for conveniently conducting their operations of extortions/kidnapping/killing/looting and ambushing the security forces."

The government said counter-insurgency operations seldom affected the common man. The petitions on extra-judicial killings in Manipur and a plea for withdrawal of AFSPA from the state will come up for hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday. 

source: TimesOfIndia

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Manipur Aids

LEITUNG a natna teng lah ah zauhuoi pen a kigen, AIDS/HIV khu i tenna gam ngei uah a tam chih chientah a muthei ahi. Manipur ah AIDS/HIV natna khu 1990 in kimu khia hi. Tunai a World AIDS Day (Dec 1) kizatna ah Sept 1986 apat Oct 2012 kikal a mi 6,52,687 si san kitest lah ah 42,116 khu HIV/AIDS vei chi’n mu khia ua, tualah ah numei 11,778 leh naupang 2,773 tel uhi chi’n Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) in chiemte hi. Tam bang natna khu i gam uah bei tahtah theilou dinmun ah um a, a vei pung semsem in kigen lai hi. Tuaziehin mi nautang dinmun zong a zauthawng huoi sah pha hi.

 

India pumpi ah kum 2007 sa’ng 2011 ah HIV zieh a shi mi 60,000 in tam zaw chi’n kichiemte hi. A beisa kum 10 sungin India ah HIV vei 75% in kiem a, kum 15-49 mi lah ah 0.27% (2011) leh 0.33% (2007) in kiem suh hi. Ning kum in HIV/AIDS vei mi 21 lakh um hi’n kituot a, naupang (K 15 nuoi) 7% in vei a, kum 15-49 kikalte 86% vei hidan in kituot hi. Tambang a akiem lai in HIV/AIDS vei treatment pieh ding pung semsem in kigen a, India in zong a buoipi mama khat suo hi.

 

World AIDS Day nia Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Aza in “Numei HIV vei 39% (8.16 lakh) pha a, piching (adults) 39% leh naupang 14,500 in vei tha (new) kimu khie” chi hi.  Tuoleh ning kum maimai in AIDS/HIV vei tha mi 1.16 lakh kimu khia a, tualah avei tamna pente lahah Manipur zong tel a, a vei tam pen (1.22%) in kichiemte zawbawn hi. Adangte ahileh Andhra Pradesh (0.75%), Mizoram (0.74%), Nagaland (0.73%), Karnataka (0.52%), Goa (0.43%) leh Maharashtra (0.42%) ahi uhi. Ning kum sunga AIDS a shi mi 1.48 lakh pha hi.

 

India AIDS record a Manipur bang a penpente lah a atel khu ngaihsut tham ching hi. Tambang natna apat kiven kikep dan mipi’n a thei kul hi. Phang la’ng tah a hinkhuo zangte din pumpel thei ahisih ding a, mi pilvangte adia zong va kaai kha thei sil khat ahi. Tuazieh in AIDS/HIV awareness campaign hoi bawl tousem di’n adeihuoi hi. Tuahileh mi nautang in kiven kikep dan ah piching tah in um thei ding uh chi a lamet huoi hi. Solkal leh NGO te’n AIDS/HIV dal ding dan nasahtah in buoipi a, hinanleh suhbei thei tuonlou uhi. Mi nautang in zong tam suh damtheilou ahidan leh a zauhuoi dan kitheisiem sah banah kivenna dan pibawl sem ding chi khu sil poimaw mama khat ahi.

Editorial, Zogam Today | Dec 5, 2012

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Three Jamia students held for gang rape

NEW DELHI, Dec 5, 2012 [TOI] --- Six young men, including three law students from Jamia Milia Islamia University, allegedly kept a 16-year-old girl by force in a Defence Colony house in south Delhi, and raped her repeatedly for 10-12 days. Four of them have been arrested while two are on the run.  The victim, a class XI student, had in September run away from her parents' home in Delhi and had been living with a woman friend. Her parents have been informed and her statement recorded in front of the magistrate. A medical examination has confirmed the rape.  The girl's parents had earlier lodged a case of kidnapping after she went missing. The victim is believed to have been taken to a house in Sarai Jullena, south Delhi, and sexually assaulted there as well.  Police sources said the girl initially stayed with a woman friend who on November 15 asked the victim to find other accommodation as she had to shift to another house. The victim alleged that her friend suggested she could stay with her friend, Pulkit Chaudhry, one of the accused, who claimed to be in Delhi Police.  Rapists kept girl quiet with threats  Pulkit Chaudhry, who hails from Panipat, and his friends soon came to know that she had left home and allegedly began to intimidate her. They also threatened to inform her parents about her whereabouts. The accused then allegedly raped her. Even Pulkit's friends, who visited him, raped the girl, police said.  The victim also told the police that Pulkit posed as a sub-inspector and his friend, Amandeep Katyan, as an advocate. They often talked about police stations to frighten her.  Pulkit and Amandeep, who is from Rohtak, are among the four arrested. The others are Rupanshu Pratap Singh from Bihar and Sharad Shekhar. All four are between 21 and 25 years old. One of them works with a private company while the others are law students.  Police said a hunt is on to nab the other two accused. The girl, who is of Nepali origin, said in her complaint that she tried to escape from the Defence Colony house several times, but failed. She finally managed to give her captors a slip on November 29 and reached New Friends Colony after which she approached the local police and lodged her complaint.  "On the basis of the victim's statement, a case was filed at the Defence Colony police station and the medical examination of the girl was carried, which confirmed rape. Following more investigations, the accused were held," a cop said.

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AFSPA extended in Manipur

Imphal, Dec 5 : The Manipur government has decided to extend the "disturbed area" status to all parts of the state barring the Imphal Municipal areas for one more year, an official said on Tuesday.

The decision, under which the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 was imposed, was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh on Monday night.

"The cabinet has decided to extend the disturbed area status in all parts of Manipur, except in Imphal Municipal areas, based on reports submitted by security agencies," a government official said.

In the last few months, rebel groups have triggered over 30 blasts, killing and injuring security forces and civilians.

There are more than 20 rebel groups active in Manipur, a state bordering Myanmar, with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy.

The Manipur government had lifted the controversial AFSPA in the seven assembly constituencies two years ago.

Manipur was declared a disturbed area in September 1980.

Besides Manipur, the AFSPA is also in force in Tripura (excluding the Imphal Municipal Council area), Assam and Nagaland, and in the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Irom Sharmila Chanu, a human rights activist, has been on an indefinite strike for nearly a decade in Manipur, demanding the withdrawal of the APSPA from the state.

Several rights groups, including the powerful North East Students Organisation (NESO), have also demanded the withdrawal of AFSPA from the northeastern region.

Source: Sinlung.com

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SSC launches NE regional recruitment site

The website, www.sscner.org.in, provides information about ongoing recruitments in the Northeastern states

Guwahati (IANS): The Staff Selection Commission has launched a regional website for the Northeastern states and provide information about recruitments from the region. Chairman of the commission N.K. Raghupathy inaugurated the website (www.sscner.org.in) and said students and youths from the region will be beneficial from the new regional web-site.

"This is the ninth regional website of SSC, apart from two main website of our commission. Using the regional website, students and youths from the region will be able to view advertisement of different central government examinations conducted by our commission especially for the region. Students can also check status of their applications, schedule for interview/skill test, physical endurance test and can even download their call letters," Raghupathy said.

The new website for the northeast can take 1000 concurrent hits. Raghupathy said the SSC main website received 1.2 lakh hits every day. The SSC is mandated by the government of India to recruit Group B non-gazzetted and Group C (non-technical) personnel in various ministries/departments.

The commission is handling the recruitment of constables and riflemen in central forces of Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal, Central Reserve Police Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police under ministry of home affairs. It will recruit 2,994 constables and riflemen from the Northeast during the year 2013, advertisement for which will be published on December 15. Arunachal Pradesh has maximum number of vacancies with 879 posts followed by Assam (552), Nagaland (373), Tripura (330), Meghalaya (301), Mizoram (290) and Manipur (269).

Raghupathy said the SSC was taking some special measures to woo youths of the Northeast as number of applicants from the region was still low even as Assam and Manipur had shown improvement over the last two years. The SSC had recruited 4, 483 personnel from the Northeast during the year 2011-12 and highest number of candidates from Assam (3131) were recruited. It had received 3, 83, 041 applications from the region during the period.

Raghupathy said the SSC had received around 36 lakh applications from across the country and this year it was expecting around 40 lakh applications.

IANS

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Limca Book of Record on Bible reading

Imphal, December 01, 2012: The Gangte community of Manipur is gearing up to celebrate its hundredth year of embracing Christianity on December 13 at Chiengkonpang in Churachandpur district and a mass Bible reading attempting Limca Book of World Records will be an amazing part of the centenary celebration.

Christianity came to the Gangte region (Gangte Biel) in 1912 with Saichang village in Henglep Sub-division of Churachandpr district being the first place to have received the good news of the Gospel, said the Christian Gospel Centenary Celebration Committee on Saturday.

Evan Thangvang and Evan Damsuok were the pioneer missionaries.

Eleven people of the Saichang village first accepted the good news of the Gospel in the year 1912 and hence the centenary celebration falls this year, the Gangte Christian Gospel Centenary Celebration Committee, said.

The main highlights of the 4-day long celebration will be Gospel Messages from speakers, centenary choir and Lenkhawm etc.

Attempting Limca Book of World Records will be another special attraction of the celebration when a mass Bible reading will be organized during the gala event.

The multitude of the gathering will read out the whole book of Romans.

As part of the Gangte Gospel Centenary, four believers have devoted to write Gangte holy Bible with their own hands.

They are Mawithangkim, Paubik, Director, Synod Education Board of K Laitui, Tinglalchawi and Chongneihzo, the committee further said.

Source: The Sangai Express / NNN

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Kuki map unacceptable asserts NPO

SENAPATI, Nov 29 [TSE] : The Naga People's Organization (NPO) has joined other Naga civil organizations in Manipur in voicing against the Kuki State Demand Committee's (KSDC) projected map.

The apex Naga body of Senapati district has termed the claim of the KSDC as 'unacceptable and fabricated'. The NPO has asked the Kuki organization to immediately withdraw the map to prevent confusion among the general public.

"Defining and demarcating its boundary without any historical facts is disturbing and provoking. Moreover, claiming its rights over the land which are within the ownership of the Nagas is all the more resenting and immature on the part of the KSDC.

"Therefore, it is advised that, the KSDC ceases to project all artificial claims for public interest and communal harmony," the NPO advised.

"The Nagas in Senapati district since time immemorial have been defending its ancestral identity, land and resources, and it will continue to do so if asked for", it asserted. While respecting the genuine aspirations and movement of KSDC for a separate administration, it should be clear to all, that the Nagas will not part an inch of its ancestral land. Making tall claims without any ownership and historical basis will only hamper the pursue for peaceful co-existence of different communities.

The NPO advised the KSDC to be instead aware of anti-tribal forces within the State Government that seek to jeopardize the peaceful movement for resolving tribal issues in Manipur.

Hitting out at organisations based in the valley, the NPO said that commenting on the Naga and Kuki movements through ethnic lines and past records, such organizations have been instrumental only in inciting communal tension rather than bridging the gap between the difference among the tribals and the State Govt.

The NPO endorses the decision of the UNC for Alternative Arrangement through a peaceful parting with the majority community. It said that harmony among the brothers can be achieved with.

"Moreover, the step-motherly attitude of the State Government towards the tribal movement is obvious and visible by past and recent policies in the form of endorsing the communal voice of the valley based organizations which claims to defend the integrity of the state while the tribals are neglected, discriminated and repressed everyday," the NPO said.

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TET exam conducted in Church

IMPHAL, Nov 28 [TSE]: The farce continues. Members of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, New Checkon have taken strong exception to the conduct of the TET examination inside the Church today. Speaking to The Sangai Express members of the Church said that the Headmaster of Covenant English School informed them that the examination was conducted inside the Church as per the directives of BOSEM. Strongly condemning the incident, the members in a statement said that the disrectpectful conduct of the school and BOSEM is uncalled for and urged all concerned not to repeat such acts in the future.

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