Mary Kom, Sarita strike gold at Asian Championship
By Hueiyen News Service
New Delhi, May 30: Four-time world champion MC Mary Kom notched up her third Asian title while L Sarita Devi clinched her fourth, as Indian boxers finished fourth in the event with two gold, a silver and five bronze medals in Astana, Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Former champion Aswathi Mol settled for silver after losing the light heavy weight (81kg) final 0-5 to China’s Wang Yanrui.
Mary Kom, who got a walkover into the finals after her semifinal opponent failed to turn up yesterday, defeated old rival Jong Ok of Korea 8-1 in the summit clash.
Mary Kom had to settle for the silver in the last edition of the event in Guwahati and the diminutive pin weight (46kg) boxer went one better this time.
Leading 2-1 in the opening round, Mary Kom didn’t let Ok strike a single scoring blow in the next three rounds.
“It has turned out to be easier then expected. The fact that I didn’t compete before the finals because of the walkover also helped. I was feeling fresh which helped my movement in the ring,” the Khel Ratna Awardee said from Astana.
“This was the fourth time we were facing each other and I now lead her 3-1. It feels great,” the jubilant 27-year-old said.
Sarita, an Arjuna Awardee, was equally dominating in her 16-5 win over Mongolia’s Miagmardulan in the fly weight (51kg) final.
“The quarterfinal and semifinal bouts were tougher than this one. I am very happy to have won the gold,” said Sarita, who won a gold the last time around.
The Manipuri had a firm grip over the bout within the first two rounds as she raced to a 9-3 lead. She added seven more points to her scorecard in the next two rounds to clinch the issue with ease.
Earlier, five Indians settled for bronze medals after losing in their respective semifinal bouts yesterday.
Priyanka Chaudhary (54kg) was out-punched 4-11 by Kazakh Shekerbekova Jayana, while Pavitra (57kg) went down 3-12 to Yun Kum Ju of DPR Korea.
Kavita Goyat (60kg) lost 1-4 to China’s Yang Ting Ting, Sonam Yadav was blanked 0-10 by Kazakh Shakimova Dariga and Kavita Chahal was defeated 2-12 by China’s Lin Yun Fei.
Involuntary disappeared persons remembered
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: The Family of Involuntary Disappearance Association Manipur (FIDAM) today remembered those persons who have been missing after the security forces abducted in a function at Manipur Press Club as part of observance of the International Week of Involuntary or Enforced Disappearance.
The function graced by social worker Thounaojam Iboyaima was marked by remembrance of persons disappeared after state and non-state actors by observing two minute silent. The president of FIDAM, Kangujam Ranjit and secretary of United Voluntary Youth Council, Kangjam Maharabi attended as president and guest of honour.
Iboyaima speaking as chief guest blamed the hardship facing by the people today in Manipur, where many persons remained untraceable after security forces or armed groups and violence incidents like killing of people occurred everyday, was the outcome of the state merger into Indian union.
As now the state is within the Indian union, in order to free from the clutch of the woes and suffering, building up a united strength among the people of different section of the society is the need of the hour, he said expressing apprehension that if the present trench of chaotic situation goes on, communities in the state will be vanished.
It is shameful for the government unable to find out those persons disappeared after the security forces abducted. It is amount to disrespect of the right to life of the people.
Recalling that Manipur having its own history of more than 2000 years is one of the oldest kingdom in the South East Asia, he expressed disagree with the government forces killing revolutionaries in the name of terrorists.
People who performed their duties with sacrificing spirit for the nation is very rare in the present day but among the 60 MLAs of the state Irabot (minister of consumer affairs, food and public distribution is seems to be coming out for doing something for the welfare of the people, Iboyaima observed.
Born as a man but unable to thing of doing something for the welfare of the people and live with his/her principal is better to die. “Let us extend corporation with Irabot for the sake of future and die like a man,” he appealed.
In the observance function which was organised with the theme “Help us in finding the involuntarily missing persons” leaders of many civil organisations working in the field talked. Members of the family of disappeared persons also took part.
Assam body calls for PM intervention on blockade
By Hueiyen News Service
Silchar, May 30: The Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Mahasova in its general body meeting today discussed the inconvenient experienced by various people living the remote hilly parts and valley of Manipur due to the prolong blockage on the two National highways in Manipur by United Naga Council and further intensification of the blockade by Naga Students’ Federation in Nagaland on NH 39.
A e-mail statement of the body said that general body is very much worried that it may caused communal clash, if blockade is extended and intensified further.
The organization has decided to request the two blockade sponsoring Naga organizations to end the blockade early in interest of the poor people who are suffering a lot and starving as essential food items are not reaching to them.
The general body meeting further decided to conduct a pace and democratic rally in Diphu and Silchar simultaneously during first week of the June to drawn the attention of the people of North east and Governments.
After the meeting, the Vice President of the organization namely Anil Singha Goutam had sent a telegram to the Prime Minister of India for early intervention to ease the matter and bring early solution of the problem to avoid communal clash.
He termed the prolong blockage and non-solving the problem is inhumane and not tolerable.
He also communicated the Prime Minister that the demand on greater Nagaland by integrating of Nagas area of other states like Arunachal, Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and part of Mynmar (Burma) will create more problem and promote immunity amongst the communities of the region which had been living peacefully, the statement added.
Farmers vow for self sustainable food production
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: Farmers Sunday made a join declaration that they will work hard to make Manipur a self sustainable in terms of food production.
Hundreds of farmers took part in the State Level Farmers Meet and Inauguration of Kharif Campaign 2010 organised at GM Hall Imphal organised by the Department of Agriculture today.
Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, state agriculture minister, N Loken asserted that his department is trying its best to import fertilizers require by the farmers convincing the farmers who worried of scarcity of same in the pick season.
“My department has consulted with the Chief Minister to give subsidy to the extra fair charges while procuring the fertilizers from Namarup (in Assam). One hundred trucks will be sent to transport the fertilizers with special security escort,” Loken said.
Before this farmers taking part in the interaction session with the officials of the agriculture department and agricultural scientists and experts of the state expressed apprehension of shortage of fertilizers due to the economic blockade.
And they urged the government to make arrangement and ensure availability of fertilizers timely to the farmers.
In reply to the farmers’ apprehension, deputy director of soil chemist of the agriculture department, Ph Rajendro said that they had consulted the matter at high level and government has agreed to bear the extra expenditure of the fertilizers dealers in procuring the item from Namarup in Assam where state quotas of fertilizers are collected.
The shortest route to collect fertilizers from Namarup in Assam is the Imphal-Dimapur section of the NH-39 but due to economic blockade and total ban of Manipur vehicles in Nagaland, no fertilizers in the stock in the state.
Reiterating that government will bear the extra expenditure in procuring the fertilizers on the NH-53, agriculture minister also appealed the fertilizer dealers not to hike the praises of the fertilizers they are to procure under government special arrangement.
Officials of the state agriculture department estimated the net requirement of fertilizers in a year in Manipur is at 360 metric tones for the first crop.
Apart from agriculture minister, officials of the department, Letkhogin, commissioner (agriculture), L Palandro, director attended as president and guest of honour.
The dignitaries also distributed prizes of the first, second and third positions holders of the crop competition of the farmers of Integrated Pest Management (IMP).
Medical camp held
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: A medical camp was organized together by 21 Assam Rifles and 33 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector under HQ IGAR (South) today at Arong village of Thoubal district. Medical camp was conducted by a team comprising of four Medical officers and 08 paramedical staff of 21 Assam Rifles and 33 Assam Rifles. More than 622 patients from Arong and nearby villages were diagnosed and provided medicines. A lecture on awareness of HIV/AIDS and hygiene/sanitation also conducted by the medical officers. This effort of the Assam Rifles was appreciated by the populace of the area.
Kabui Samiti demands
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: The Kabui Samiti Manipur today drew the attention of authority concerns to include Kabuis as Kabui tribe in the Census exercise which is scheduled to commence from June 1, next.
A statement of the Samiti signed by its general secretary PG Makuningbou Kabui reminded that Kabui tribe is included among the list of tribes in the Indian Constitution. As per the census report of 2001, the total number was 62,216 which is not the actual count as some groups of people who do not want to be Kabui claimed themselves to other tribes which were not included in the list of tribes in the constitution.
As a result of this, the population of the tribe was reduced the Samiti assumed and appealed the concern authorities to give Kabui tribes in upcoming census report.
CM Ibobi meets ADC candidates in Imphal
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi today met with the candidates Autonomous District Councils elections taking refuge at the secure place in Imphal and assured safety measure for their life.
As many as 85 candidates including two women contesting the elections in ADCs in Naga dominated four hill districts of Senapati, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul were taking shelter at the Youth Hostel and Youth Centre at Khuman Lampak, Imphal following receive of threats on their live for refusing to retire from candidatures by various civil bodies boycotting the elections.
Chief Minister, O Ibobi met with the candidates for about an hour, from 8.45 am to 9.45 am and held interaction with the candidates to know their grievances.
During the interaction held at the Youth Hostel, the Chief Minister after hearing the pressures and intimations received by them to withdraw their candidatures reportedly assured that government will take up all measure to safeguard their life.
The Chief Minister further informed that government had taken up all measures for the polling for the second phase schedule on June 2 next, they said.
Government is providing shelter for the candidates in the ADC elections as they were under threats with the expiry of deadline set by the United Naga Council, Manipur particularly to the Naga candidates.
With the expired of the deadline on May 16 last, candidates in the fray in Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts coming down to Imphal were given shelters at SAI Youth Hostel and State Youth Centre at Khuman Lampak, Imphal where security force guarding round the clock.
In the meantime, in the midst of reports of recent kidnapping and threatening to the ADC candidates in Naga dominated hill districts a report of assaulting a candidate in Ukhrul district reported.
After escaping from the miscreants, the candidate reportedly reached Imphal last night. However, till the time of filing this report, the particular of the candidate could not be revealed.
Thirty out of 85 candidates in the fray in ADC elections taking shelter were from Tamenglong district, 26 from Senapati district and 24 including the two women candidates from Ukhrul while the rest five from Chandel district where election had already conducted on May 26 last.
Meanwhile, when polling personnel for the 2nd phase election to be conducted on June 2 next is getting underway in four Naga dominated hill districts and started leaving for their respective polling stations from today, four candidates in Tamenglong district have submitted their retirement notice to the district election officers.
Out Tamenglong correspondent said the four candidates who submitted their retirement notices were Dikham contesting in 52/9 Oinamlong ADC seat, Tangambou in 52/1 Kuilong ADC seat, Kaighachung Khumba in 53/7 Haochong ADC seat and G Apoukhui in 54/2. They were all independent candidates.
On the other hand despite the boycott called by various civil societies, many people in the district wanted to participate in the election.
“If no one disturb everybody is willing to use their franchise. I and my family also willing to cast votes on polling day,” a resident of Tamenglong district who wanted to omit his name said over phone when contacted by this correspondent. But he clarified that if hard resistant coming up, they will not go for casting votes.
Meanwhile, nine polling personnel have left district headquarters today for their respective polling stations in Tuosem sub-division.
On June 2, polling will be conducted in 184 polling stations in 30 ADC constituencies, out of which a maximum of 20 in Tamenglong district and four in Senapati and six in Ukhrul district.
Lone candidates in the rest 66 constituencies had already declared elected contested by the election authority. There are a total of 96 (24 each) seats in the four ADCs.
Hazi Park running loss due to economic blockade
By Hueiyen News Service
Dimapur, May 30: Traders in Hazi Park have been running loss for more than a month. The economic blockade in Manipur has almost brought business in Hazi Park to a halt. For more than a month now, ‘Burma’ goods from Manipur have not reached the market and businessmen are incurring heavy loses.
Morung Express has reported that ‘Burma’ or ‘Moreh’ goods dominate Hazi Park and there are more than 200 wholesale dealers in the market. Burma goods mainly comprise of cosmetics, footwear, crockery, electronic and processed food. Everyday dozens of vehicles loaded with goods arrive in the market. Businesses are carried out mainly by Manipuri and Mao women who buy goods from Moreh- a place bordering Manipur- and sell it to other areas of Manipur and Nagaland. Some of these goods are sent to Shillong and neighbouring Assam as well. Though Kohima is closer, most goods are brought to Dimapur because market is bigger and better here.
Everyday hundreds of people visit the market including those from outstation. Businessmen from other district buy goods from Hazi Park as the prices are low compared to Kohima. But with the blockade on, the market is experiencing lull. According to an estimate made by some businessmen, the market is suffering losses running into several lakh rupees daily. The little goods sold in the market these days are those coming from Delhi. However, the shopkeepers said that the goods, which are mainly counterfeit Chinese goods from Palika Bazar and Chandini Chowk in Delhi, have few buyers. “People prefer Burma goods,” a shopkeeper said. He said that cosmetics, food and electronic goods are the most popular items, and not having stock a big loss for them. “In a day I used to sell at least five to six racquets for killing insects,” the shopkeeper said.
Traders, though, are not likely to get respite soon as lifting the economic blockade remains uncertain. Meantime, traders can only hope they can sustain their businesses till things return to normal.
Headmaster kidnapped on Rs 10 lakh ransom
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: Headmaster of a government school in Imphal has been taken into captivity by suspected activists of the People Revolutionary Front of Kangleipak (PREPAK) on the extortion demand of Rs 10 lakh.
Official source Sunday said that Telem Ratankumar, headmaster of Khurai Popular High School, a resident of Khurai Sajor Leikai was kept confined by the suspected PREPAK activists after summoning him to an undisclosed place on last Friday, during school hour.
The group is demanding Rs 10 lakh from the headmaster which he was reportedly asked to divert from the fund mean for the school development sanctioned by the government from time to time.
While, he was summoned, activists also asked the teachers of the school not to leave their station until the headmaster is released with strong warning not to inform to the police.
Police has registered a case and started investigation into the case, the official source said.
In another militancy related incident, a hand grenade hurled by suspected underground activists blasted at the house of a government contractor, N Ibotombi, a resident of Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai in Imphal west last night, at about 7.45 pm.
No casualty reported in the explosion of bomb at one of the rooms of the house as children who were playing in room were out as power supply cut-off minutes before the bomb triggers.
Decrying the bomb attack at the residential area and causing panicky to the people, womenfolk of Keishamthong area in Imphal west today carried out a sit-in protest in the locality.
Strongly condemning the act of the undergrounds, they asked whether they are waging war against the people or for the people.
“We would like to ask whether they (underground) are coming out for justice or to kill people,” a women leader taking part in the protest asked. She further cautioned that if undergrounds continued to attack to the people and extort money, people may raised voice against them and teach a lesson.
Nagaland truck torched in Assam The truck was carrying about 50 two wheelers
By Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 30: A truck of Nagaland transporting two wheelers to that state was set on fire by some unknown persons at Thomarukh under Golaghat Police Station in Assam around 7.20 pm today.
Reports reaching here said that the truck, which was carrying about 50 motorcyles, had left Guwahati for Nagaland this morning.
The incident happened when about 10 unknown persons stopped the truck on National Highway-39 at Thomarukh about 100 km from Jhokhlaband. The moment the truck stopped, the unknown persons pulled the driver and the handyman out of the truck, and sprinkled petrol and diseal on the truck and the load of two wheelers, and set on fire.
As the truck and the load started burning, local people immediately informed the fire service located nearby. However, due to time lapsed, most parts of the truck and the motorcyles were burnt.
Reports said a team of Assam Police led by an IG has rushed to the spot. Details were awaited.
It is not yet known who committed the arson. However, it may be recalled that All Assam Manipuri Students’ Union, Nagaon district, Assam, organisations based in Karbi Anglong and more than 12 other organisations had announced an ultimatum that unless the blockade against Manipur’s trucks and goods was not lifted within 48 hours, the organisations would launch a counter blockade against Nagaland’s vehicles.
At the same time, the Nagaland Students’ Federaion (NSF) had claimed that the threat of counter economic blockade in Assam against Nagaland was a cration of some people.
