Assam Rifles raided ZRA president’s residence in Manipur

Churachandpur, July 5, 2013 --- The 30th Assam Rifle raided the residence of the president of the Zomi Re-Unification Organisation (ZRO), Thanglianpau Guite on the early morning of July 3 here in Dorcas Veng, New Lamka, about 60 kms away Imphal The Assam Rifles which were posted in Koirengei, Imphal came into Lamka town and ransacked the chief's house damaging a computer and some furniture at around 3 am on July 3. When the incident occurred the ZRO supremo was not present but 11 of his family members including children were present.  Protesting against the alleged brutal acts of the Assam Rifles and the pending political talks between the Central Government with the two groups -- Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF), a public rally has been carried out today in Lamka town by the Zomi Students Federation (ZSF), Hmar Students' Association (HSA) and Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO). ZRO is the political wing of Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA) which is one of the signatories of Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the Government. The ZRO clarified that ZRO is strictly abided to SoO ground rules and believes that SoO will usher a lasting solution to the age-old political problems. The ZRO is strongly committed to the hard-won peace arrived at between the Government and ZRO.  "Raiding the residential complex of ZRO president by the 30th Assam Rifles is a sinister deploys to derail the peace process by some disgruntled security personnel. The ZRO demands that the 30th AR should clarify and make necessary apology to the ZRO for their act of misadventure.  If the security forces are not interested in peace and tranquility let their stand be loud and clear," ZRO said. Zomi Youth Association (ZYA) also condemned the Assam Rifles and asked for clarification of the motive behind raiding the residential complex of the president of ZRO. Meanwhile condemning the indisplined and ungentle men act of the so-called 'Friends of the Hill People' in the strongest term, Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU) urge to all responsible citizens of India to avoid such act as violating the laid down rules which perturbs the peaceful settlement of the people. It is unfortunate, inspite of the ongoing Suspension of Operation between the United People Front (UPF) and the Govt. of India, that the 30th Assam Rifles ransacked the residence and threatened the family of the General Secretary of UPF is a staunch violation of the ground rule of the So0 between the two parties, CDSU stated. The act of 30th AR reflects the lack of commitment and sincerity on the part of the government towards SoO agreement and also to their political aspiration of the tribal within the state, ZSF said.

Tangkhul Shanao Long Delhi Marks 1st Anniversary with Culture and Solidarity

TO UPHOLD the dignity and rights of women, the Tangkhul Shanao Long Delhi (TSLD) celebrated its first anniversary on 29 June 2013 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. Themed “Nurturing Truth and Dignity: Walk with Us,” the event ran from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., bringing together hundreds of Tangkhul youth and well-wishers in traditional attire.

The celebration was graced by Mrs. Masophy Nakhedei, the founding president of TSLD, as Chief Guest, and Mrs. Pakahao Muivah as Guest of Honour, alongside leaders from several organizations and student bodies.

In her presidential speech, TSLD Chairperson Ms. Felicita Shongvah warmly welcomed the attendees and thanked supporters who stood by the organization through its early challenges. She reaffirmed TSLD’s commitment to combating social vices and advocating for women’s rights.

Chief Guest Mrs. Nakhedei encouraged women to stand united in overcoming everyday challenges and praised TSLD as a model for social service.

Mr. Thothuingam Shinglai, President of Tangkhul Katamnao Long Delhi (TKLD), expressed solidarity and pledged collaboration on issues such as gender violence and discrimination against people from the Northeast in Delhi.

Mr. Vareiyo Shatsang, General Secretary of All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), commended TSLD’s impactful work, especially in anti-trafficking efforts. He highlighted the group’s role in rescuing 53 children, primarily from Manipur, from the infamous Grace Home orphanage in Jaipur, where multiple cases of sexual exploitation were uncovered.

A special song was dedicated to the rescued children during the event, marking a heartfelt moment of remembrance and hope.

The celebration featured a rich showcase of cultural performances:

Guru Rewben Mashangva, the “Father of Naga Folk Blues,” moved hearts with his classics including Chonkhom Philava and Saharwon Kapaiwon.

Tangkhul’s only girl band, Minute of Decay, enchanted the audience with their soulful performance.

Ranthing Raleng and Nimnim Ningshen delivered a captivating violin duet.

Magical dance performances by Mohammapur and Safdarjung Shanao Long and a folk showcase by Fraternity of East Eyes Line Society (FEELS) brought the audience back to their roots.

The curtain raiser, “Our Attires, Our History and Identity,” was a stunning fashion parade curated by Jezreel Vashum and Timeless T.O.G.S. Young men and women graced the runway in traditional ensembles, leaving a lasting impression and captivating photographers who eagerly captured every moment.

In the valedictory address, Mungreiphy Shimary Pochury from Caritas India expressed deep inspiration witnessing the enthusiasm of the youth. She noted that such celebrations foster knowledge, skills, and confidence, and she offered prayers of gratitude and blessings for the future of TSLD.

Cherished Moments Captured from the 1st Anniversary of TSLD...

~ Bruce K. Thangkhal
Special Correspondent
THE MIZORAM POST | MANIPUR CHRONICLE | ZOGAM TODAY

Landlord held for raping foreigner in Delhi

NEW DELHI, JUNE 26, 2013 [TOI] --- A landlord in Hauz Khas, reportedly the nephew of a former Delhi mayor, has been arrested for allegedly raping a foreigner and attempting to rape another in the same building on Sunday night. The two women were staying in his flats as tenants. Rajeev Panwar was arrested on Monday on the complaint of one of the women, who is a US national.  Panwar has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody, till July 8.  Police said the two women had been staying as tenants in different flats owned by Panwar in Hauz Khas for the past several months.  He befriended one of the women—police variously described her as a Russian and an Uzbek—and visited her for dinner on Sunday night. He reportedly stayed back and raped her.  The American woman in her complaint said he later entered her residence and tried to rape her while she was asleep (an offence called technical rape). The woman woke up, raised an alarm and called police.  Panwar's grandfather was a member of Parliament and president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. A case of rape has been registered against him at the Hauz Khas police station.  The family of the accused, however, denied the allegations saying both women had failed to pay rent and on being asked to vacate their flats had falsely implicated him.

Modi’s Himalayan miracle

June 26, 2013 [TOI] --- On the evening of Friday, June 21, as India reeled from the shock of the calamity in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi landed up in Dehradun with a handful of officers. By Sunday, it was claimed that he had rescued 15,000 stranded Gujaratis from the wreckage of Uttarakhand and sent these grateful folks back home. This miracle was played up in media. But how was this feat achieved in a day or so, when India's entire military establishment has struggled to rescue around 40,000 people over 10 days?  Reports say that Modi pulled off this coup with a fleet of 80 Innovas. How did these cars manage to reach places like Kedarnath, across roads that have been washed away, over landslides that have wrecked most access routes?  But let us assume Modi's Innovas had wings as well as helicopter rotors. Including the driver, an Innova is designed to carry seven people. In a tough situation, assume you could pack nine passengers into each car. In that case, a convoy of 80 Innovas could ferry 720 people down the mountains to Dehradun at one go. To get 15,000 people down, the convoy would need to make 21 round trips.  The distance between Dehradun and Kedarnath is 221 km. So 21 trips up and down would mean that each Innova would have to travel nearly 9,300 km.  It takes longer to travel in the hills than in the plains. So, assuming an average speed of 40 km per hour, it would take 233 hours of driving to pull off the feat.  This assumes non-stop driving, without a second's rest to identify the Gujaratis to be rescued and keeping the rest of the distressed folk at bay, or any time to load and unload the vehicles. And forget about any downtime for the gallant rescuers.  That is nearly 10 days of miraculous work. And Modi pulled it off in a day.  Actually, in less than a day: a breathless media reported that by Saturday, 25 luxury buses had brought a group of Gujaratis back to Delhi. For some reason, four Boeing aircraft also idled in some undisclosed place nearby.  Modi, ever modest, himself did not make the claim of rescuing 15,000 Gujaratis from Himalayan disaster in a day. It was likely dumped on a gullible media by his public relations agency, an American outfit called Apco Worldwide. In 2007, Apco was hired, ostensibly to boost the Vibrant Gujarat summits, but to actually burnish Modi's image, for $25,000 a month.  He is in good company. Apco has worked for the dictator of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, the governments of Malaysia and Israel and the American tobacco lobby.  For the latter, it set up front organisations to rubbish evidence which proved that tobacco causes cancer. Apco has also worked for pariah regimes like Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan and Nigerian strongman Sani Abacha.  Its powerful advisory council includes former Israeli diplomats Itamar Rabinovich and Shimon Stein, as well as Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, who was the highest ranked officer in the Israel security agency.  Apco is credited with Modi's makeover and his holographic campaigns. Before Apco, Vibrant Gujarat was a tame affair: the first three summits generated investment promi-ses between $14 billion and $150 billion. After Apco, in 2009 and 2011, these jumped to $253 billion and $450 billion.  Apco worked tirelessly to rope in investor interest from America. It also lobbied with politicians in Washington to remove the ban on Modi travelling to the US. The ban was imposed after the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat as Modi presided over the state in 2002. So far, Apco hasn't succeeded in getting Modi a US visa.  And the Vibrant Gujarat numbers are all hot air. An analysis by my colleague Kingshuk Nag in his biography of Modi shows that only 3.2% of the 2009 number has materialised on the ground. Of the 2011 figure, a mere 0.5% is for real.  But Modi does not need Apco to lie. In 2005 he announced that state-owned company GSPC had made India's biggest gas discovery: 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) valued at more than $50 billion, off Andhra Pradesh. This was 40% more than what Reliance had found in the same area. Modi then egged on GSPC to grab projects in Egypt, Yemen and Australia.  Many suspected that Modi's gas claim was hot air, but in the absence of evidence few could say so. But by 2012, the Centre's directorate general of hydrocarbons (DGH), which analyses and certifies all energy finds, said that it could vouch for only a tenth of Modi's claim: there was only 2 tcf of gas. And that too in areas tough to exploit.  Meanwhile, under Modi's rousing leadership, GSPC had poured in nearly $2 billion into exploration, much of it raised as debt based on its supposed 20 tcf gas find. When the gas vanished, GSPC went bust.  To rescue it, Modi asked the company to venture out into more areas, like city gas distribution. There have been problems with these businesses as well, including a very dubious transaction with a company in Barbados.  In every area the Modi narrative is a tale of bluster and bluff. But his Himalayan miracle is a barefaced, cynical lie. [TOI]

Bodies of six slain NSCN (K) cadres brought back, three officially identified Songlung gun fight : UNC alleges fake encounter

IMPHAL, Jun 24, 2013 [TSE] --- Contrary to the claim of the PIB (Defence Wing), the United Naga Council (UNC) has today alleged that the six cadres of NSCN-K were mowed down by the Assam Rifles in a fake encounter yesterday at K Songlung village. The Vice-Chairman of Committee for Alternative Arrangement of UNC, Ashinpou Gangmei, who came to RIMS morgue today denied that the NSCN-K cadres were killed in an encounter. Flatly refuting the claim of the Red Shield Division, Ashinpou Gangmei said, "We have reports that the encounter was fake and we have prima facie evidence to prove it." At the invitation of the CO of 10 AR posted at Noney, the NSCN-K cadres, accompanied by a Major of the AR, left for Noney Part-I to have tea on June 22 evening, he said. Not long after they left for Noney Part-I, their mobile phones were switched off, Ashinpou said. Pointing out that the cadres were neither armed nor in camouflage when they went out, Ashinpou wondered how arms were recovered from them and how the slain cadres wore combat dresses when their bodies were recovered. He said the Naga people would take a concrete decision in this regard soon. Meanwhile, three of the slain cadres were identified today after post mortem examination was conducted at RIMS mortuary. The three cadres are DK Chuijanglung Dangmei (36) s/o Kapukhin of Thanagong village, Khoupum Valley in Tamenglong district; Th Leikam Thaimei (37) s/o (L) Khangdimlung of Tousemjang and Ch Ngoubibou (26) s/o (L) Nrialak of Iniam village. The remaining three are suspected to be K Rajenglung of Noney; Labam of Bamgaijang and Majadai of Oinamlong. Official confirmation is awaited till the time of filing this report. All the cadres wore uniform and received multiple bullet injuries. Significantly the NSCN (K) has inked a ceasefire pact with the Government of India, though the ceasefire is not extended to the soil of Manipur. The Army had claimed that the NSCN (K) cadres opened fire when they ran into an ambush laid by the 10 Assam Rifles and 73 Loktak Brigade and were killed when the troops retaliated.

Rs 323 crore earmarked for ADCs in Manipur

IMPHAL, Jun 24, 2013 [TSE] --- The State Government has earmarked Rs 323,44,97,000 crore from the State's annual budget of 2013-14 for Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) so that the ADCs can function without any financial glitch. ADCs were re-established in 2010 after a gap of almost 20 years by holding election amidst violent objections and threats, Gaikhangam recalled while discussing certain demands in the State Assembly this afternoon. With the opening of Tribal Affairs and Hills Directorate after restructuring the erstwhile Tribal Development and Hills, ADCs have been streamlined and they have already started functioning. During the current financial year, Rs 426,27,56,000 have been earmarked for Tribal Affairs and Hills in the State budget, and 50 per cent of this amount would be spent in paying salaries and allowance to employees. Out of the total amount of Rs 426,27,56,000, Rs 323,44,97,000 would be transferred to ADCs. It would cater to requirements for non-plan expenditures and payment of salaries to employees. Tribal Affairs and Hills Minister Gaikhangam claimed that his department has been implementing a number of schemes for welfare of the poor and downtrodden. If the amount invested in the department is utilised properly, people would certainly reap some positive results, he asserted. Saying that it looks like some individuals have been misappropriating the schemes meant for underprivileged section of the society, Gaikhangam called upon big Haos to stop eating up small Haos like big fishes eating smaller fishes. To enable people enjoy benefits of the schemes, the department has been sharing information with the people through mass media including internet. Taking part in the demand discussion, IFC Minister Ngamthang Haokip stated that works would be initiated with greater priorities in the valley once the budget amount is released. On account of fund constraints, many works are pending in IFC Department and the department is spending Rs 19,2600,000 a year in paying salaries to its employees. Presently, the department is unable to pay full pending salaries of the employees because of financial difficulties being endured by the Government. Opposition MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, RK Imo, Th Shyamkumar, L Ibomcha, P Brojen, Th Bishwajit and O Lukhoi raised cut motions and participated in discussing the demands. Later, three demands were passed by the House after due deliberation. The demands passed today by the House were Demand No 14 (Tribal Affairs and Hills Department) amounting to Rs 426,27,56,000, Demand No 35 (Stationery and Printing) amounting to Rs 500,36,000 and Demand No 40 (Irrigation and Flood Control Department) amounting to Rs 860,33,00,000.

PM's daughter honoured for rights work

Newyork, Mon Jun 24 2013 Prominent legal activist Amrit Singh has been honoured for her groundbreaking work in the field of human rights law, along with a number of other noted Indian-Americans including US Congressman Ami Bera and USAID chief Rajiv Raj Shah. Singh, 43, the youngest daughter of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, is a senior legal officer for National Security and Counterterrorism at the New York-based Open Society Justice Initiative. She received the India Abroad Publisher's Special Award for Excellence 2012 at an event organised by 'India Abroad' on Friday to honour Indian-American achievers in a wide range of professions. Singh's report 'Globalising Torture: CIA Secret Torture and Extraordinary Rendition', published by the Open Society Justice Initiative, had received widespread attention in the international media for its close look at the global torture network. [Indian Express]

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.

Yamuna recedes in Delhi but flows above danger mark

New Delhi, June 20, 2013 [IANS] --- The water level in the Yamuna started receding in Delhi Thursday morning but stayed above the danger mark of 204.83 metres. Many low-lying areas in the city also remained inundated, a government official said. "The water level, which rose to 207.20 metres mark (on Wednesday), came down to 207.15 metres around 9 a.m. today (Thursday). But it is still above the danger mark of 204.83 metres. We expect the water level to reach 207 metres by afternoon," Dharampal, secretary of Delhi's revenue and disaster management department, told IANS. The official added that the Yamuna's wate level touched 207.25 metres mark by late Wednesday, the highest since 1978 when it reached 207.49 metres, and the food water spilled over to the Outer Ring Road. In 2010, the water level of the flooded river had touched 207.11 metres. "The water level was so high yesterday (Wednesday) that by 8 p.m. the flood water spilled over to the Outer Ring Road. The Tibetan Market was filled with knee-deep waters. As the water level in the river is gradually coming down, the water on the road is draining out," the official said. Over nine lakh cusecs of water has been released into the Yamuna from Hathinikund Barrage in Haryana in the last four days, resulting in rise of water level in the river. "The water level released from Haryana has reduced significantly," he added. A man drowned in the swollen river while bathing near Majnu Ka Tila in north Delhi Wednesday, the official said. Nearly 5,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas like Usmanpur, Yamuna Bazar, Bhajanpura and Shastri Park in east Delhi, and shifted to about 900 relief camps set up by the city government. However, people complained that there were not enough tents to house all those displaced. The muddy, swirling waters of the Yamuna river crossed over the danger mark Tuesday, leading to the closure of the city's 145-year-old rail-cum-road bridge, which connects east Delhi with the heart of the national capital.

300 from Bihar missing in Uttarakhand

Patna, June 20, 2013 [IANS] --- Former Bihar minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey's two relatives were killed while he survived nature's fury at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, a state where 300 people from Bihar are missing. Choubey, along with his close relatives, a family priest and security personnel, was on a trip to Kedarnath when they were trapped in the landslides and strong currents of the Ganga river. According to his personal staff, his close relative Subodh Mishra and his wife Rubi Mishra were killed in landslides. Choubey and his other family members were airlifted by helicopters and brought to Dehradun first and then to Delhi, a relative of Choubeys said Thursday here. "Choubey's three security personnel, his priest and a relative are still missing. There is no information about them," an official said. The reports reaching here from different parts of the state suggest that more than three hundreds people are missing there. Thousands are said to be missing in Uttarakhand after unprecedented rains and cloudburst led to landslides and flash floods. More than 100 people were killed and 62,000 have been stranded.