Nine held in connection with bomb case

Imphal, Sept 27 (PTI) Nine persons have so far been arrested in connection with the September 18 incident in which some unidentified persons kept a car-bomb at Manipur Raj Bhavan complex, officials said today.

They said all the nine were being interrogated.

On September 18, some unknown persons, who came on the pretext of submitting a memorandum to Governor Gurbachan Jagan, left a car laden with 25 kgs of explosives and three hand grenades, they said.

The explosives were later defused by bomb experts of Manipur police.

Militant outfit Kangleipak Communist Party-Military Council had earlier claimed that they had kept the explosives and added that it could hit any VIP area in the state at their will.

Govt begins major revamping of its counter insurgency organs on MHA model

IMPHAL, Sept 26: In what is an obvious statement of intent of the manner the state government plans to conduct its counter insurgency campaign, the government has begun the process of revamping its police along a model recomemded recently by the Ministry of Home Affairs, MHA, Government of India.

The move had been given the green signal by the state Cabinet on September 1.

According to a highly placed official source from the state Home departrment, state the government while taking up measures for the strengthening of the state police force, is paying special priorities to strengthening the state intelligence department.

As the logical next step, the government approved the appointment of 252 additional posts for CID, Special Branch (SB) including one SP, 4 DSPs, one SO, 38 Inspectors, 77 Sub-inspectors, 25 Assistance Sub-inspectors, 29 Head Constable, 76 Constables, 2 UDA, one LDC, and one Sweeper.

Further the state gogverment has initiated the process for the raising an additional strength of 3100 Village Defence Force (VDF) after reviewing the requirement of various districts and sub-divisions.

Total of 300 VDF are approved for the recuritment for Jiribam sub-division of Imphal East district another 300 for Tamenglong, 200 each for Sadar Hills areas, Senapati district and Chandel districts, 300 each for Imphal West, Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts, 400 each for Imphal East and Thoubal districts.

Further, state government in order to meet the additional pressure on training facilities for the new recruits, has also approved the upgradation of the existing Manipu Police Training School Pangei to the status of full fledged Training College and opening of subsidiary training centre at Jiribam sub-division by creating 389 additional posts including on Joint Director at the rank of IGP, three deputy directors at the ranks of DIGs, six assistant director at the rank of SPs/Cos, 23 Subedars, 21 Jamandars, 71 Havildars, 267 Rilfe men, 31 followers, one Medical Officer, one Pharmacist, one nurse, one carrier, one stenographer, one head clerk, two UDC, three LDCs and also approved up the additional posts of 227 of Rilfe men in the ongoing recruitment process the official source added.

Further the governmnet has approved the opening of 11 new police stations at the vulnerable areas of both valley and hill districts of the state, which includes police stations at Yaingangpokpi, Maphou Dam, Boro Bekra at Jiribam sub-division, Heirok, Khongjom, Hiyanglam, Wangoo and New Keithel Manbi, Arong Nongmaikhong, Keibul Lamjao and Phoubakchao.

In order to meet the required strength of the new approved police stations state government also approved for the creation of posts 44 Inspectors, 55 sub-inspectors, 44 Head Constables, 451 constables, 33 drivers, the official source added.

On the other hand, even though the state government has begun the process of the heavy intake of fresh recruits into its police fore it is still unable to the announced the result of the recruitment tests for the different ranks in police department which was conducted more than seven months ago.

This has given ample reason for candidates that bribes may ultimately be the criterion for the induction into the state forces.

Rescheduled hearing on PDS concludes

IMPHAL, Sept 27 : The public hearing conducted by a Central Vigilance Commitee team on PDS participated by consumers card holders representatives of FPS dealers association, NGOs (women self help group), transporters, etc which was rescheduled today was concluded this afternoon at Hotel Imphal.

It may be mention that the public hearing was scheduled for yesterday at Manipur State Guest House in the evening but due public protests alleging that the committee deliberately held the hearing in the evening in order to conclude the hearing without any substantive issues regarding the Public Distribution System (PDS) raised, it had to be rescheduled for today.

However, despite the acrimony yesterday the attendance today was aparse with only some people from Churachanpur, Bishnupur, and Imphal East and West districts attending.

Briefing media the Chairman of Central Vigilance Committee D.P. Wadhwa said that the committee has been examining all the reports which were submitted to the committee.

He said a lot of people said that there is always shortage in PDS products reaching the people.

He said in order to ensure performance the committee is going to take all the reports and submit it to the Central government. Those found derelicting thier responsibilities would be awarded punishment as per the directive of the Supreme Court.

The Zomi Economic Planning and Development Agency (ZEPADA) of churanchanpur mentioned that since 2006, the ZEPADA and other Churachandpur-civil societies have been relentlessly trying to improve PDS and in this connection, different forms of protest were held including a "mass empty-Pot rally against malfunctioning of PDS in Churachandpur".

Numerous representation have been made to appropriate authorities and because of its campaign the PDS has improved to some extent but the satisfactory performance is a distant dream still, they said.

Development agencies however maintained that allocation for Churachandpur district is only 5430.30 quintals of food grain, 182 KL of kerosene and 957 quintals of sugar and as per record available with the district FCS department, 9678 BPL families and 5836 AAY card holders are enlisted as PDS beneficiaries which are only 22.75 percent abd 13.71 percent respectively of 42538 households in the district and the district monthly allocation of sugar is only 2 kgs per family.

The agency also suggested the committee that additional allocation of food grain needs to be made for Churachanpur District and to fresh BPL census need to be conducted immediately in order to include all deserving landless tribals residing in the hilly terrain under BPL category which will ensure food security.

Later, the Chairman of the committee gave assurance to the development agency to inquire about the issue by submitting the report to the central government and take necessary action against the agencies and other concern authorities.

The Central Vigilance Committee on Public Distribution System members head by Justice D.P. Wadhwa arrived Imphal yesterday in order to study targeted PDS in Manipur.

Manipur villagers return home

Imphal, Sept. 25: Residents of Chingnungkok, a Meitei village in Manipur’s Imphal East district, returned to their homes today after a meeting with the neighbouring Tangkhul Naga village of Happy Land where they decided to maintain peace in the area and defend themselves from armed groups unitedly. The Chingnungkok villagers had fled their homes yesterday after suspected activists of the Kangleipak Communist Party (Military Council), a militant organisation having a majority of Meitei cadres, abducted two Naga villagers from Happy Land and killed them on Wednesday night.

The bodies of N.K. Jayson, 33, a clerk in the village church, and S. Vencher, 36, a member of the village authority, were found on the road connecting Happy Land and Chingnungkok yesterday.

Amid mounting tension, residents of the two villages held a meeting at Happy Land this morning.

“We held a meeting and agreed to maintain peace in our villages. The situation is now better and Chingnungkok villagers have returned home,” N.K. Ninghor, the secretary of Happy Land Joint Action Committee, said.

Villagers of Happy Land, who were outraged by the attack on Wednesday night, were pacified today after chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh assured a delegation of the Happy Land Joint Action Committee that security would be provided to the villagers.

The delegation submitted a charter of demands to the chief minister. “Had the police or security personnel taken timely measures in the area, the unfortunate incident of kidnapping and killing of two persons and torching of the house of the village chief would not have taken place,” the memorandum stated.

The delegation demanded Rs 10 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of the deceased villagers and a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the chief’s torched kitchen. It has set a deadline of September 27.

“The chief minister assured us that our demands would be considered and fulfilled,” Ninghor said.The villagers of Happy Land received the bodies of Jayson and Vencher from the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences after the chief minister’s assurance.

Five more persons have been arrested in connection with the planting of a car bomb inside the Raj Bhavan in Imphal on September 18, says our correspondent.

“We have arrested five more persons and are questioning them,” Imphal West senior SP L. Kailun said.

With this the total number of persons arrested has gone up to nine.

The five arrested yesterday were identified as Kh. Jiten, Ch. Laingam, Kh. Naba, R.K. Ingocha and S. Sanayaima.

They were produced before the judicial magistrate, first class, Shantibala Devi, this afternoon and remanded in police custody till October 3. The other four are also in police custody.

The KCP (MC) had claimed to be behind the parking of the Maruti 800, with 25kg explosives hidden under its cushion cover, in the parking lot of the Raj Bhavan.

The focus of the investigation now is to find out the real owner of the car and the two mobile phones fitted to the improvised explosive device in the car.
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PDS public hearing adjurned amidst heated protests

Imphal, Sept 26 : A Public Hearing with consumers (card holders), representatives of FDS dealers association, NGOs (Women Self Help Group), transporters and etc which was organized by Central Vigilance Committee on Public Distribution System (PDS) today at Manipur State Guest House concluded somewhat on a pessimistic note.

The audience publicly charged the committee of intentionally holding the hearing in the evening so that the people did not have the time to come up with substantive questions regarding the PDS.

They alleged that the organisers would certainly be aware that people residing in the far flung areas would have difficulty travelling in the evening.

The concern however was put at rest with the committee agreeing to make amends by rescheduling the same hearing tomorrow morning at Hotel Imphal in the interest of people.

Earlier denying the allegation of deliberate manipulation of time, Committee Chairman Justice D.P. Wadhwa said that it was not intentional. He said the committee does not have any hidden agenda in its present campaign.

It may be recalled, the committee is headed by Justice D.P. Wadhwa, as chairman, Dayan Krishnan, Head of the Legal Team, Meenakshi Chauhan, Maomi Chandra and Shohit Choudhary, members.

The team is on a visit to the state to study targeted PDS in Manipur. The committee arrived today at Imphal by the afternoon flight and after arriving at the Imphal airport directly proceed to meet with chief secretary, principal secretary, department of FCS and other concerned officers and regional head of FCI at Manipur secretariat, Imphal.

Later they held a public hearing at Manipur State Guest House at Sanjenthong.

The Public hearing was attended by various representatives, presidents of each and every locality of the state and NGOs who come up with several question regarding the irregularities of PDS to the public in their localities in particular and to the entire state in general.

President of Luwang Consumer Club from Imphal East area maintained that the consumers in his locality do not get sufficient rice for a long time and on 19 percent of the commodity was distributed against the stipulated 35 percent each consumer is entitled.

He further noted the locality also does not get the exact amount of kerosene when it was distributed to the people, when 4 litres of Kerosene should be distribute they only get 2 litres.

He also revealed that the club receive around 30 to 40 complaints lodged by the consumers of the locality. He requested the committee to look into the matter and help the people especially those living Below the Poverty Line.

Another woman from Khongjom Sapam Mayai Leikai stressed that it is due to the negligence and weakness of the state government that the people of the state are facing various forms of problems with regard to the PDS.

Such problems have been endemic for a long time. In fact they are today a new tradition of governance.

She said it is the high time the committee did the needful to address these issues earnestly.

Women lead movement against human right violations in Imphal

IMPHAL - Women here took out a torch rally intensifying movement against the human right violations allegedly by security personnel.

Apunba Lup, an umbrella organization of local groups, has been spearheading the agitation demanding removal of state Chief Minister Okram Ibobi, and punishment to the involved commandos.

Protesters alleged that police personnel used tear gas shells, rubber bullets, mock bombs, batons and firearms to suppress the mass movement.

“What people want is that if government doesn’t take any action then we will participate in the mass movement led by Apunba Lup ceaselessly. If we don’t support this movement, then all women here would become widows. So, we have to go forward with the movement with courage,” said Ibemhal Devi, a protestor.

The mass movement has intensified since September 22. Several rallies have been conducted in all the districts of the state and effigies are regularly burnt.

Manipur has been on the boil since the killing of a pregnant woman and a suspected militant in a shootout on July 23 near the building of the state legislature in Imphal. Five others were injured in the shootout.

Protestors in the state are demanding stringent action against the police commandos allegedly involved in the shootout, which they have branded as a ‘fake encounter’.

Civil leaders' arrest protested at Delhi

New Delhi, September 25 : Showing their solidarity and support to the people of Manipur in their demand for justice, civil society groups, social activists and other eminent individuals staged a protest demonstration in front of Manipur Bhavan here today.

In the wake of the arrest of environmentalist Jiten Yumnam, who was allegedly tortured by the state police, the demonstrators demanded immediate and unconditional release of all social activists arrested along with him.

Civil society members and human right activists staging a protest at Manipur Bhavan, New Delhi

They also demanded befitting punishment of all police personnel who were responsible for the BT Road killings as well as scrapping of AFSPA.

A memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi was also submitted to Resident Commissioner Shambhu Singh.

The same memorandum would be sent to the Prime Minister with endorsement from civil organisations and other eminent individuals in the day.

The organisations that took part in the demonstration today included National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW), All India Students Association (AISA), SAHELI, All India Progressive Women's Association, Peoples' Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR), Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Campaign for Peace and Democracy (Manipur), People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG).

The memorandum signed by more than 30 organisations and several other eminent individuals from all over India was also sent to UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Referring to the July 23 Khwairamband killings, the memorandum observed that instead of responding to the democratic and legitimate demands of its people for justice and action against guilty police personnel, the State Government led by Okram Ibobi has replied with brute force and imposed curfew in the state, and tried to cover up the story in the State Legislative Assembly.

To the democratic protests of the people for resignation of Chief Minister Okram Ibobi and punishment of the guilty police personnel, the Government of Manipur responded with repressive measures like imposition of curfew, violent attacks on the protesters and the arrest of the civil society organisation leaders.

It cited the arrest of several members of the Apunba Lup, the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) and environmental activist Jiten Yumnam who has been allegedly subjected to third degree torture in police custody.

"The severity of the current crisis in Manipur can be judged by the fact that it is almost impossible to find legal assistance for those arrested in the state today.

The situation is absolutely unacceptable.

There is an urgent need to intervene against the undemocratic and autocratic nature of the Government in Manipur", it pointed out.

Rights panel summons Manipur cops

Imphal, Sept. 24: The Manipur Human Rights Commission today issued summons to two police officers in connection with the July 23 firing that killed Rabina Devi and Ch. Sanjit.

Defying the Okram Ibobi Singh government’s directive to discontinue the inquiry proceedings, the commission issued the summons to the senior superintendent of police, Imphal West, L. Kailun, and the officer-in-charge of the police commando unit of the district, Krishna Tombi Singh, asking them to appear before it on September 29 at its Lamphelpat office.

The state human rights commission took up the case after Rabina’s husband Thokchom Chinglensana lodged a complaint with it.

The government has appointed P.G. Agrawal, a retired judge of Gauhati High Court, to conduct the probe. The judicial commission was set up on August 27.

It will ascertain the circumstances leading to the incident and make recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.

The rights panel has sought identities and particulars of the policemen who witnessed the incident.

It also directed the director-general of police, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, to submit a copy of the statement given by chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh on the floor of the Assembly in connection with the firing on the day of the incident.

In a letter dated August 26, the government asked the rights panel to stop its inquiry into the killing of the pregnant woman and the former militant on the ground that a judicial inquiry was in place to find out the circumstances leading to the deaths and injuries to five others on Bir Tikendrajit Road here.

In his statement, Ibobi Singh, who is also the home minister, told the House that indiscriminate firing by Sanjit killed Rabina Devi and wounded five others.

Ibobi Singh said Sanjit had fired at a police frisking party and was killed in retaliatory fire.

The Apunba Lup, a conglomeration of NGOs, has decided not to depose before the judicial commission and called the process a meaningless exercise.