19-member team led by CM to take delimitation issue to Centre
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:53:49 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: A meeting of all political parties has decided to send a 19-member delegation of political parties (national as well as regional) operating in the state to New Delhi on December 7 to pressurize the Central authorities not to conduct delimitation work based on “bogus” census report 2001.
The meeting also re-affirmed to continue the struggle by the All Political Party Forum not to allow delimitation works based on the 2001 census to go ahead in the state.
The all political parties meeting held at the chief minister’s bungalow early today reacted to the reports of some MLAs of the state in New Delhi fixing responsibility for any outcome arising out of the proposed delimitation process upon the chief minister.
They had observed that the report was meant to “sabotage” the ongoing efforts of all political parties in the state and to defeat the same.
The controversial census 2001 report came during the tenure of MLA M Hemanta as minister. But instead of fixing responsibility for the same on some people, the political parties in the state were fighting the issue together considering that it was for the state and not for some individuals, the meeting observed and condemned the statement of some people in the media.
Mention may be made that rebel Congress MLAs in a release from New Delhi have said that from the discussion with Justice Kuldip Singh, whom some of them called on, it appears that the only solution lies in issuing an ordinance by the Centre wherein the states like Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are excluded from the delimitation.
The question is whether Ibobi would be able to impress upon the Central government for issuing such an ordinance, the rebels had asked and also said that if any unwanted things happen, the Ibobi led government should be entirely responsible.
‘It’s a big issue which would hurt the interest of the state and talking without the consent of the all political parties campaigning for not conducting of delimitation work based on 2001 census report is an act of irresponsibility,’ the all parties meeting resolved and appealed to refrain talking without authority.
The statement issued by the All Political Party Forum after the meeting reiterated that since the very beginning it was known that the delimitation works in the state was going to be conducted in a wrongful way, and the political parties in the state formed a forum of all political parties and have been giving pressure to all concerned officials, even by going to the Supreme Court.
The forum, All Political Party Forum has been campaigning since 2005 September by calling on the country’s Prime Minister, home minister, delimitation chairman etc. with copies of the resolution of the state Assembly.
The issue of delimitation has again arisen in the state even as a case on the same matter is pending with the Supreme Court after the proposed draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census was intimated to the associate members of the state in the delimitation committee.
It may be mentioned that the draft working papers on the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Manipur prepared by the Delimitation Commission proposed to the reduction of the number of unreserved Assembly segments to four, with the number of ST reserved seats to be increased by three and SC reserved seats by one.
Earlier also on December 1, a meeting of the major political parties on Wednesday unanimously rejected the draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census.
The meeting also insisted the associate members of the delimitation commission for the state to attend the scheduled meeting on December 10 at New Delhi but no other comment came except rejecting the draft working papers.
The meeting which was held at the official bungalow of the chief minister today decided to call on the Prime Minister and Union home minister and chairman of the Delimitation Commission before the scheduled meeting of the working committee of the delimitation commission India for the state of Manipur to be held in New Delhi on December 10.
Today’s meeting also asked all the associate members of the delimitation committee for the state to attend the schedule meeting called by the Delimitation Commission of India with the associate members of delimitation committee from the state and to work out without further comment after putting strong rejection to the draft working papers of delimitation commission for the state.
The delegation will leave on December 7, said a statement issued by NCP on behalf of the all political parties of Manipur today.
The draft plan, mention may be made, was prepared by the commission based on the 2001 census figure which the state government rejected stating it was a “bogus figure”.
The draft work out paper also proposed to increase one Assembly constituency each in the said three hill districts after taking away one each from the valley districts of Imphal east, Imphal west and Bishenpur in the draft work paper.
A case regarding seeking cancellation of the census 2001 and re-conducting of the same is still pending with the Supreme Court and the hearing of the same is scheduled on January 25 next year.
Meanwhile, a release from the Manipur Information Centre said that state chief minister O Ibobi Singh along with 19 representatives of all political parties of Manipur will meet the Central leaders including the Prime Minister of India in connection with delimitation of assembly constituencies of Manipur after they all arrive here on December 7.
The 19 political leaders are Gaikhangam, president, MPCC, Dr. L Chandramani Singh, president, MPP, O Joy Singh, MLA, MPP, W Nipamacha Singh, president, RJD, Md Helaluddin Khan, MLA, RJD, Dr. Y Mohendra Singh, CPI(M), Sarat Salam, state secretary, CPI(M), P Parijat Singh, minister (health), CPI, Dr. M Nara Singh, CPI, Radhabinod Koijam, president, NCP, K Saratkumar Singh, NCP, Dr. S Dhananjoy, president, Samajwadi Party, S Lala Singh, Dr. H.Borbabu Singh, president BJP, Prof. S Tikendra Singh, BJP, W Kulabidhu Singh, ex-MP, president, JD(S), N Dhiren Singh, JD(S), Y Mani Singh, ex-minister, MSCP and M Ibomcha Singh, president , Samata Party.
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:53:49 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: A meeting of all political parties has decided to send a 19-member delegation of political parties (national as well as regional) operating in the state to New Delhi on December 7 to pressurize the Central authorities not to conduct delimitation work based on “bogus” census report 2001.
The meeting also re-affirmed to continue the struggle by the All Political Party Forum not to allow delimitation works based on the 2001 census to go ahead in the state.
The all political parties meeting held at the chief minister’s bungalow early today reacted to the reports of some MLAs of the state in New Delhi fixing responsibility for any outcome arising out of the proposed delimitation process upon the chief minister.
They had observed that the report was meant to “sabotage” the ongoing efforts of all political parties in the state and to defeat the same.
The controversial census 2001 report came during the tenure of MLA M Hemanta as minister. But instead of fixing responsibility for the same on some people, the political parties in the state were fighting the issue together considering that it was for the state and not for some individuals, the meeting observed and condemned the statement of some people in the media.
Mention may be made that rebel Congress MLAs in a release from New Delhi have said that from the discussion with Justice Kuldip Singh, whom some of them called on, it appears that the only solution lies in issuing an ordinance by the Centre wherein the states like Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are excluded from the delimitation.
The question is whether Ibobi would be able to impress upon the Central government for issuing such an ordinance, the rebels had asked and also said that if any unwanted things happen, the Ibobi led government should be entirely responsible.
‘It’s a big issue which would hurt the interest of the state and talking without the consent of the all political parties campaigning for not conducting of delimitation work based on 2001 census report is an act of irresponsibility,’ the all parties meeting resolved and appealed to refrain talking without authority.
The statement issued by the All Political Party Forum after the meeting reiterated that since the very beginning it was known that the delimitation works in the state was going to be conducted in a wrongful way, and the political parties in the state formed a forum of all political parties and have been giving pressure to all concerned officials, even by going to the Supreme Court.
The forum, All Political Party Forum has been campaigning since 2005 September by calling on the country’s Prime Minister, home minister, delimitation chairman etc. with copies of the resolution of the state Assembly.
The issue of delimitation has again arisen in the state even as a case on the same matter is pending with the Supreme Court after the proposed draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census was intimated to the associate members of the state in the delimitation committee.
It may be mentioned that the draft working papers on the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Manipur prepared by the Delimitation Commission proposed to the reduction of the number of unreserved Assembly segments to four, with the number of ST reserved seats to be increased by three and SC reserved seats by one.
Earlier also on December 1, a meeting of the major political parties on Wednesday unanimously rejected the draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census.
The meeting also insisted the associate members of the delimitation commission for the state to attend the scheduled meeting on December 10 at New Delhi but no other comment came except rejecting the draft working papers.
The meeting which was held at the official bungalow of the chief minister today decided to call on the Prime Minister and Union home minister and chairman of the Delimitation Commission before the scheduled meeting of the working committee of the delimitation commission India for the state of Manipur to be held in New Delhi on December 10.
Today’s meeting also asked all the associate members of the delimitation committee for the state to attend the schedule meeting called by the Delimitation Commission of India with the associate members of delimitation committee from the state and to work out without further comment after putting strong rejection to the draft working papers of delimitation commission for the state.
The delegation will leave on December 7, said a statement issued by NCP on behalf of the all political parties of Manipur today.
The draft plan, mention may be made, was prepared by the commission based on the 2001 census figure which the state government rejected stating it was a “bogus figure”.
The draft work out paper also proposed to increase one Assembly constituency each in the said three hill districts after taking away one each from the valley districts of Imphal east, Imphal west and Bishenpur in the draft work paper.
A case regarding seeking cancellation of the census 2001 and re-conducting of the same is still pending with the Supreme Court and the hearing of the same is scheduled on January 25 next year.
Meanwhile, a release from the Manipur Information Centre said that state chief minister O Ibobi Singh along with 19 representatives of all political parties of Manipur will meet the Central leaders including the Prime Minister of India in connection with delimitation of assembly constituencies of Manipur after they all arrive here on December 7.
The 19 political leaders are Gaikhangam, president, MPCC, Dr. L Chandramani Singh, president, MPP, O Joy Singh, MLA, MPP, W Nipamacha Singh, president, RJD, Md Helaluddin Khan, MLA, RJD, Dr. Y Mohendra Singh, CPI(M), Sarat Salam, state secretary, CPI(M), P Parijat Singh, minister (health), CPI, Dr. M Nara Singh, CPI, Radhabinod Koijam, president, NCP, K Saratkumar Singh, NCP, Dr. S Dhananjoy, president, Samajwadi Party, S Lala Singh, Dr. H.Borbabu Singh, president BJP, Prof. S Tikendra Singh, BJP, W Kulabidhu Singh, ex-MP, president, JD(S), N Dhiren Singh, JD(S), Y Mani Singh, ex-minister, MSCP and M Ibomcha Singh, president , Samata Party.
=========================
Rebel MLAs blast ‘Ibobi-UNC candidates pact, CM, Wungnaoshang come under fire
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:57:08 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Reacting strongly to a report which appeared in the vernacular Poknapham today claiming that Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur said chief minister Okram Ibobi would stay since he even has the support of opposition parties, the Congress rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi blasted both the chief minister and Wungnaoshang Keishing, the UNC sponsored independent MLA on whose statement the report was based.
Wungnaoshang had told the newspaper that 10 MLAs, including the six sponsored by the UNC had met Chauhan to express their support for the chief minister and Chauhan had promised them Ibobi would not be removed.
In an e-mailed press release signed by M Okendra, the rebel MLAs called this the result of a nexus between Ibobi and the independent MLA sponsored by UNC and an underground organisation who fought against the Congress and stood all along for greater Nagaland and the disintegration of Manipur.
“It is unfortunate that such elements are hired and sent to Delhi to meet Congress leaders just for the sake of saving his chair and also to gift away the interests of Manipur,” the rebels charged Ibobi.
It is now clear that these UNC sponsored candidates fought the last Assembly election against the Congress and won with the help and a clear understanding with Ibobi, conniving with UG outfits, the rebel MLAs alleged. “Ibobi is entirely to blame for the defeat of the Congress candidates in the hills” they further said.
Wungnaoshang Keishing and his team till very recently, including on the floor of the Assembly, were very critical of the Congress-led government about the non-implementation of development programmes in the hills. They have been blaming squarely the SPF government for the lopsided development and for complete failure of administration particularly in the hills, the rebels contended.
They have been all along struggling to destroy and eliminate the Congress Party in Manipur particularly in the hills by using money and muscle power with the backing of secessionist elements, the release further added.
Today the majority of the Congress MLAs and also the people of the state want Ibobi replaced and these same elements are making efforts to rescue him to achieve their goal, the release claimed.
The present struggle for removal of Ibobi from CLP leadership is purely an internal party matter of the Congress. He became the leader by virtue of being elected by the majority of the CLP members. Today, out of the 31 Congress MLAs, 20 are for removing him, the release further said.
“The movement by the pro-changer group within the Congress is a movement for bringing a better government that is transparent, decentralized and one which can bring about all-round development in Manipur particularly in the remote hill areas”, it added.
The rebels lamented that “outsiders” are being allowed to meddle in the internal affairs of the Congress party, pledging further that even if 100 Wungnaoshangs and Ibobis come together, they would continue to fight to save the state’s integrity and the Congress party.
==============================================
Bomb attack at Lamlong leaves 11 persons injured
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:56:19 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Some 11 persons, including two personnel of the 7th Manipur Rifles, were hurt in a bomb explosion at Khurai Lamlong crossing at around 5.45 pm this evening.
The bomb was apparently hurled by unknown persons to target MR personnel who had just arrived at Khurai Lamlong bazar for security duties.
Most of the injured, who were immediately evacuated to JN hospital by security personnel suffered light splinter injuries and have been discharged after treatment. Some of the more serious victims were referred to RIMS hospital for further treatment, but they too are out of danger.
The blast took place at at a spot just a few metres short of the Khurai Lamlong crossroads, next to the Lamlong boys and Lamlong girls schools.
According to official sources, the bomb was hurled from an unknown direction just as the MR men were arriving at the spot for their assigned duty in two trucks.
However, most of those hurt were passers-by and shoppers, as there was a large turnout at the time for evening marketing at the Khurai Lamlong bazar.
Thongkhopao, 45, havaldar in the 7th MR, and Md Ajimuddin, 35, rifleman who were among the injured, told mediapersons at hospital that they saw sparks and heard fizzling sounds just before the bomb exploded.
The other victims are identified as Thangjam Mocha, 47, of Khurai Puthiba, Athokpam Dhiren 41, of Khurai Sajor Leikai, Sairem Priyokumar, 45, of Khurai Puthiba, Yumkhaibam Mani, 32, of Khurai Thangjam Leikai, Naoroibam Anand, 14, of Khurai Thoudam Leikai, his brother, Naoroibam Puchol, 11, Moirangthem Khamba, 38, of Kongpal, L Manipishak Devi, 46, of Khurai, and Th Ishwarchand, 24, of Yairipok Uyumpok.
Naoroibam Puchol sustained a splinter wound at his left calf, which opened a main vein, and he was refered to RIMS hospital for operation. He was the only one in serious condition, and doctors said all the victims are now out of danger and most have been discharged after medical treatment.
Many of civilian victims said they were caught completely unawares by the blast, and they were totally confused and frightened by the huge sound of the explosion.
==============================================
Cloth merchants’ disappearance brings women knocking on CM’s door
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:55:36 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: At least four women fainted while several others suffered minor injuries when police lathi-charged protestors in front of the chief minister’s bungalow in Imphal Wednesday afternoon.
The protestors, mostly womenfolk, were staging a demonstration denouncing police inaction in tracing two cloth merchants belonging to Thoubal district who have been missing since the middle of last month.
The two missing men, namely Md Yusuf, 28, and Md Taslim, 24, both hailing from Keibung village in Thoubal district were itinerant cloth merchants. Their whereabouts have been unknown since November 19, when they failed to return after leaving their respective homes that morning.
This afternoon, at around 2.15 pm, volunteers of the joint action committee formed in connection with the disappearance of the two, and family members gathered in front of the chief minister’s bungalow, and started shouting slogans and rocking the main entrance gate.
The demonstration continued for around 10 minutes without any intervention from the police. Later, however, Imphal west civil police and commandos lathi-charged them and drove them up to the gates of the telegraph office.
In the process, two women, Sarajan Begum, 40, and Amu Bibi, 20, fainted and were later evacuated to JN hospital.
The protestors stubbornly stayed put in front of the telegraph office for about half an hour despite police attempts to disperse them further. The police finally resorted to water cannon and drove the protestors upto the Nupilal complex.
In this action, at least two more women including an elderly one again fainted. One of them was forcibly taken by the police to the hospital while the other one was evacuated in a private vehicle coming on the road.
In the meantime, speaking to mediapersons during the demonstration, Abdul Hasim, president of the JAC, said the JAC had made every effort to trace the missing Yusuf and Taslim, and had lodged a missing person complaint to the Thoubal police station on November 26.
The JAC had also submitted a memorandum on December 3 to the chief minister, O Ibobi, who is also their local MLA to take up appropriate action to find out the two missing persons. With no action forthcoming from the authorities, the JAC had come to put further pressure on the CM in this connection, he said.
Apprehension of something untoward having happened to them increased in the minds of the people of their locality after the body of a youth who had been abandoned after shooting to death was recovered on December 2 last. Initially police suspected the slain man to be one of the missing persons but it was not.
===================================================
48-hr chakka bandh called over traffic restrictions
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:54:34 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Denouncing the restrictions imposed on the entry of three-wheelers and four-wheelers in the Imphal bazar area, transport operators servicing the bazar area this morning staged a sit-in demonstration at the Hatta Kangjeibung in the Palace Compound.
The transporters have also announced they are calling a 48-hour statewide chakka bandh over the issue on December 7 and 8.
In a show of strength, the transporters gathered over a thousand vehicles, including auto-rickshaws and DI vehicles at the Hatta Kangjeibung from 8 am this morning.
However, they were forced to leave by the Imphal east district police some two or three hours later on the grounds that they had not obtained permission for the demonstration.
The transporters subsequently converged at their respective parking spots and staged sit-ins there.
In this connection, the Passenger Transport Joint Action Committee, Imphal Bazar Area president K Bedeshwor, said the imposition of restrictions on the entry of three/four wheelers in the bazar area from November 17 last in the wake of the bomb attack at a shop in Paona Bazar, had seriously inconvenienced passenger transporters who usually parked in the bazar area as well as the general public.
In this connection, he said, the transporters had had submitted memoranda to the chief minister O Ibobi, and the state transport commissioner urging that parking of their vehicles within the bazar area should be allowed. However, no one has taken the responsibility, he lamented.
Regarding their ouster from the protest site, he said attempts had been made to seek permission from the DC, Imphal east to stage the protest, but they failed to meet him.
He pointed out that most transporters serving the bazar area were facing major loss of income due to the restrictions on entry in the bazar area. Many of them have bought their vehicles with loans obtained from banks, and were required to make monthly loan repayments, he further observed.
The JAC, in a separately issued statement, said as part of their campaign to get the restrictions lifted, the transporters are calling a statewide chakka bandh from midnight of December 6 till midnight of December 8. However, vehicles engaged on medical emergencies, religious ceremonies, and for transporting students would be exempted.
The statement added that if the authorities continue to be unresponsive even after the bandh, the transporters would surrender their vehicle documents to the state transport director from December 14 onwards.
It may be mentioned, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench, had yesterday reportedly quashed the original order issued by the SP, Imphal west imposing restrictions on the entry of vehicles in the bazar area. However, the state transport department had issued a separate order re-imposing the same restrictions.
==========================================
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:57:08 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Reacting strongly to a report which appeared in the vernacular Poknapham today claiming that Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur said chief minister Okram Ibobi would stay since he even has the support of opposition parties, the Congress rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi blasted both the chief minister and Wungnaoshang Keishing, the UNC sponsored independent MLA on whose statement the report was based.
Wungnaoshang had told the newspaper that 10 MLAs, including the six sponsored by the UNC had met Chauhan to express their support for the chief minister and Chauhan had promised them Ibobi would not be removed.
In an e-mailed press release signed by M Okendra, the rebel MLAs called this the result of a nexus between Ibobi and the independent MLA sponsored by UNC and an underground organisation who fought against the Congress and stood all along for greater Nagaland and the disintegration of Manipur.
“It is unfortunate that such elements are hired and sent to Delhi to meet Congress leaders just for the sake of saving his chair and also to gift away the interests of Manipur,” the rebels charged Ibobi.
It is now clear that these UNC sponsored candidates fought the last Assembly election against the Congress and won with the help and a clear understanding with Ibobi, conniving with UG outfits, the rebel MLAs alleged. “Ibobi is entirely to blame for the defeat of the Congress candidates in the hills” they further said.
Wungnaoshang Keishing and his team till very recently, including on the floor of the Assembly, were very critical of the Congress-led government about the non-implementation of development programmes in the hills. They have been blaming squarely the SPF government for the lopsided development and for complete failure of administration particularly in the hills, the rebels contended.
They have been all along struggling to destroy and eliminate the Congress Party in Manipur particularly in the hills by using money and muscle power with the backing of secessionist elements, the release further added.
Today the majority of the Congress MLAs and also the people of the state want Ibobi replaced and these same elements are making efforts to rescue him to achieve their goal, the release claimed.
The present struggle for removal of Ibobi from CLP leadership is purely an internal party matter of the Congress. He became the leader by virtue of being elected by the majority of the CLP members. Today, out of the 31 Congress MLAs, 20 are for removing him, the release further said.
“The movement by the pro-changer group within the Congress is a movement for bringing a better government that is transparent, decentralized and one which can bring about all-round development in Manipur particularly in the remote hill areas”, it added.
The rebels lamented that “outsiders” are being allowed to meddle in the internal affairs of the Congress party, pledging further that even if 100 Wungnaoshangs and Ibobis come together, they would continue to fight to save the state’s integrity and the Congress party.
==============================================
Bomb attack at Lamlong leaves 11 persons injured
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:56:19 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Some 11 persons, including two personnel of the 7th Manipur Rifles, were hurt in a bomb explosion at Khurai Lamlong crossing at around 5.45 pm this evening.
The bomb was apparently hurled by unknown persons to target MR personnel who had just arrived at Khurai Lamlong bazar for security duties.
Most of the injured, who were immediately evacuated to JN hospital by security personnel suffered light splinter injuries and have been discharged after treatment. Some of the more serious victims were referred to RIMS hospital for further treatment, but they too are out of danger.
The blast took place at at a spot just a few metres short of the Khurai Lamlong crossroads, next to the Lamlong boys and Lamlong girls schools.
According to official sources, the bomb was hurled from an unknown direction just as the MR men were arriving at the spot for their assigned duty in two trucks.
However, most of those hurt were passers-by and shoppers, as there was a large turnout at the time for evening marketing at the Khurai Lamlong bazar.
Thongkhopao, 45, havaldar in the 7th MR, and Md Ajimuddin, 35, rifleman who were among the injured, told mediapersons at hospital that they saw sparks and heard fizzling sounds just before the bomb exploded.
The other victims are identified as Thangjam Mocha, 47, of Khurai Puthiba, Athokpam Dhiren 41, of Khurai Sajor Leikai, Sairem Priyokumar, 45, of Khurai Puthiba, Yumkhaibam Mani, 32, of Khurai Thangjam Leikai, Naoroibam Anand, 14, of Khurai Thoudam Leikai, his brother, Naoroibam Puchol, 11, Moirangthem Khamba, 38, of Kongpal, L Manipishak Devi, 46, of Khurai, and Th Ishwarchand, 24, of Yairipok Uyumpok.
Naoroibam Puchol sustained a splinter wound at his left calf, which opened a main vein, and he was refered to RIMS hospital for operation. He was the only one in serious condition, and doctors said all the victims are now out of danger and most have been discharged after medical treatment.
Many of civilian victims said they were caught completely unawares by the blast, and they were totally confused and frightened by the huge sound of the explosion.
==============================================
Cloth merchants’ disappearance brings women knocking on CM’s door
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:55:36 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: At least four women fainted while several others suffered minor injuries when police lathi-charged protestors in front of the chief minister’s bungalow in Imphal Wednesday afternoon.
The protestors, mostly womenfolk, were staging a demonstration denouncing police inaction in tracing two cloth merchants belonging to Thoubal district who have been missing since the middle of last month.
The two missing men, namely Md Yusuf, 28, and Md Taslim, 24, both hailing from Keibung village in Thoubal district were itinerant cloth merchants. Their whereabouts have been unknown since November 19, when they failed to return after leaving their respective homes that morning.
This afternoon, at around 2.15 pm, volunteers of the joint action committee formed in connection with the disappearance of the two, and family members gathered in front of the chief minister’s bungalow, and started shouting slogans and rocking the main entrance gate.
The demonstration continued for around 10 minutes without any intervention from the police. Later, however, Imphal west civil police and commandos lathi-charged them and drove them up to the gates of the telegraph office.
In the process, two women, Sarajan Begum, 40, and Amu Bibi, 20, fainted and were later evacuated to JN hospital.
The protestors stubbornly stayed put in front of the telegraph office for about half an hour despite police attempts to disperse them further. The police finally resorted to water cannon and drove the protestors upto the Nupilal complex.
In this action, at least two more women including an elderly one again fainted. One of them was forcibly taken by the police to the hospital while the other one was evacuated in a private vehicle coming on the road.
In the meantime, speaking to mediapersons during the demonstration, Abdul Hasim, president of the JAC, said the JAC had made every effort to trace the missing Yusuf and Taslim, and had lodged a missing person complaint to the Thoubal police station on November 26.
The JAC had also submitted a memorandum on December 3 to the chief minister, O Ibobi, who is also their local MLA to take up appropriate action to find out the two missing persons. With no action forthcoming from the authorities, the JAC had come to put further pressure on the CM in this connection, he said.
Apprehension of something untoward having happened to them increased in the minds of the people of their locality after the body of a youth who had been abandoned after shooting to death was recovered on December 2 last. Initially police suspected the slain man to be one of the missing persons but it was not.
===================================================
48-hr chakka bandh called over traffic restrictions
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:54:34 AM
IMPHAL, Dec 5: Denouncing the restrictions imposed on the entry of three-wheelers and four-wheelers in the Imphal bazar area, transport operators servicing the bazar area this morning staged a sit-in demonstration at the Hatta Kangjeibung in the Palace Compound.
The transporters have also announced they are calling a 48-hour statewide chakka bandh over the issue on December 7 and 8.
In a show of strength, the transporters gathered over a thousand vehicles, including auto-rickshaws and DI vehicles at the Hatta Kangjeibung from 8 am this morning.
However, they were forced to leave by the Imphal east district police some two or three hours later on the grounds that they had not obtained permission for the demonstration.
The transporters subsequently converged at their respective parking spots and staged sit-ins there.
In this connection, the Passenger Transport Joint Action Committee, Imphal Bazar Area president K Bedeshwor, said the imposition of restrictions on the entry of three/four wheelers in the bazar area from November 17 last in the wake of the bomb attack at a shop in Paona Bazar, had seriously inconvenienced passenger transporters who usually parked in the bazar area as well as the general public.
In this connection, he said, the transporters had had submitted memoranda to the chief minister O Ibobi, and the state transport commissioner urging that parking of their vehicles within the bazar area should be allowed. However, no one has taken the responsibility, he lamented.
Regarding their ouster from the protest site, he said attempts had been made to seek permission from the DC, Imphal east to stage the protest, but they failed to meet him.
He pointed out that most transporters serving the bazar area were facing major loss of income due to the restrictions on entry in the bazar area. Many of them have bought their vehicles with loans obtained from banks, and were required to make monthly loan repayments, he further observed.
The JAC, in a separately issued statement, said as part of their campaign to get the restrictions lifted, the transporters are calling a statewide chakka bandh from midnight of December 6 till midnight of December 8. However, vehicles engaged on medical emergencies, religious ceremonies, and for transporting students would be exempted.
The statement added that if the authorities continue to be unresponsive even after the bandh, the transporters would surrender their vehicle documents to the state transport director from December 14 onwards.
It may be mentioned, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench, had yesterday reportedly quashed the original order issued by the SP, Imphal west imposing restrictions on the entry of vehicles in the bazar area. However, the state transport department had issued a separate order re-imposing the same restrictions.
==========================================
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