Team to test dengue outbreak in Moreh

Imphal, July 7: The state medical directorate today rushed a team to Moreh in Chandel district following reports of outbreak of fever with dengue-like symptoms.

The border town of Manipur has a record of outbreak of dengue. The outbreak was confirmed by Imphal’s Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in November 2007 after blood samples collected from an eight-year-old girl, M. Vidya, tested positive for dengue at the Mumbai-based SRL Ranbaxy Lab.

Vidya was saved but her elder sister, Puni, 10, who was also brought to the hospital, died of suspected dengue.

The state health department announced total control of dengue outbreak in Moreh within eight days of confirmation of the outbreak.

The medical team headed by Th. Bhubanchandra, additional director (public health), left Imphal for Moreh this morning to investigate a possible outbreak of dengue.

Medical personnel posted at the border town reported that by June 19 a large number of people with fever and nearly 200 patients with dengue-like symptoms, were admitted to the government hospital in the town.

“We could not say whether dengue has returned in Moreh. We will carry out investigations and confirm only after testing blood samples,” Bhubanchandra said before leaving for Moreh.

The medical team, which will stay in Moreh for a few days, will collect blood samples of patients and try to conduct tests to find out if any of the mosquito species carrying dengue virus are present in the town.

After the team collects the samples, the state health department will send them to the Vector Control Research Centre, Pondicherry, for confirmation of dengue and other diseases.

An expert team on malaria is already carrying out investigations in Moreh. Reports said some patients have tested positive.

Moreh, the border town between India and Myanmar, has a large number of floating population, mostly on business trips. Health experts suspect that the source of dengue that broke out in 2007 was the South Asian countries.

Protest

An organisation of Manipuri elders, the Evening Glory Prayer Team, today staged a sit-in at Langol Tarung in Imphal West and demanded a review of the Delhi High Court ruling that gay sex among consenting adults was not a crime.

“Gay sex is against nature and this is not allowed by any religion. The court ruling should be reviewed,” said Rev. Ramkhul Pamei, spokesman for the group and a former general secretary of the Manipur Baptist Convention.

The team has 60 members from different parts of the state and its members are above 60 years of age. They hold daily prayers for world peace at the centre at Langol Tarung from 7am to 9am.

Two killed: Two persons identified as Kopani Rabha, 52, and Panchu Rabha, 45, were killed by unknown criminals at Nalanga Pahartoli under Baguwan police station of Goalpara district on Tuesday night, reports our correspondent.

Five MAPI Council members assaulted

Imphal, February 18 : Five members of the MAPI Council were severely assaulted by suspected UG cadres on their way back from Moreh to Imphal on February 15 .

Strangely, the spot where the MAPI Council members were physically assaulted by the unidentified armed persons was just near the Moreh police station.

The victims of the assault are Lourembam Gunachandra of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, Moirangthem Khoidumbi of Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai, Angom Joychandra of Kakching Khunou, Thangjam Samananda (Assistant Secretary) of Huikap Mayai Leikai and Chungkham Romeo (secretary organisation) of Brahmapur Chungkham Leikai.

Speaking to reporters today, Chungkham Romeo said that the incident took place when they were returning back to a house located just adjacent to Moreh police station after parking their vehicle in the office of the MCM.

As they approached the gate of the house, some armed persons who came in a van from the direction of Moreh gate number 2 and clad in camouflage dress started thrashing without saying anything.

The assailants spoke Kuki dialect, Romeo said.

A case has been registered in Moreh police station in this connection, he said.

MAPI Council president Th Manihar said that he would not like to flare up such small incidents.

Yet he expressed apprehension if such small incidents would affect integrity of the State.

He also sought attention of the Chief Minister to resolve the matter amicably in case the assailants belong to a group currently under SoO pact with the Government.

He also appreciated the reported assurance of the HTC that they would work to bring an understanding on the matter by February 21 .

Moreh protests against alleged rape and murder

Imphal, January 28 : A mass protest rally participated by around 5000 people belonging to different communities was taken out in Moreh town today against the alleged rape and murder of Lamkhothing Mate on January 22 reports our correspondent.

The protest organised under the aegis of the Kuki Women Union and Human Rights (KWU&HR) was supported by the All Community Development Organisation Moreh (ACODOM), Manipuri Muslim Council Moreh, Nupi Khunai Chaokhat Lamjing Lup Moreh, Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup Moreh, Moreh Muslim Minority Development Society, Meetei Council Moreh and Tamil Sangam Moreh.

Throughout the course of the rally, the protesters held placards which read as "Hang the rapist", "We condemn murder", "Down with rapist murder" "Women too are human being", "We demand immediate arrest of rapist" etc.

The rally started from Moreh public ground and terminated at the same point after passing through SRYC, Moreh ward no 4, Moreh gate no 2, Nepali Basti, Muslim basti, Chavangphai , Cannan Veng, Moreh Hospital road and NH 39.The Hill Tribal Council president said that the punishment that should be awarded to the murderer will be decided according to Kuki customary law if he comes out and confesses his crime within three days otherwise there is no other option except taking up steps that may prove risky in the future of the murderer.

On the other hand, because of the 48 hours bandh called in Moreh against the murder of Lamkhothing Mate since yesterday, there was no vehicular movement in the border town.

All shop and business establishments remained closed.

Woman murdered after rape at Moreh

Imphal, January 24  IN A grim incident, a physically challenged woman of 35 years was found murdered in a suspicious manner this morning inside her own shop at Moreh border town in Chandel district.

It is suspected that she was sexually assaulted and then murdered by throttling her.

According to official sources the incident took place in a shop located at Moreh Ward No 9 near a forest gate, which according to the sources belonged to the deceased.

The deceased has been identified as one Lamkhotin Mate @ Tingbu daughter of Jamlet Mate of Thanglom Veng, Moreh Town.

Sources further said that the victim might have been strangulated to death after being raped as she was found with her inner pants pulled down to her knees besides her private parts bleeding and also some strangulation marks on her neck.

Family sources informed that Lamkhotin had been living alone in her shop (pan dukan) for the last one year.

Post mortem on the body has been done at RIMS mortuary and handed over to the family.