Manipur Oil Tanker Drivers Stop Service

Imphal, Apr 23 : Oil tanker drivers in the state stopped services from Monday to denounce the abduction of their colleague in Nagaland by unknown gunmen, triggering panic buying by Imphal residents at fuel outlets.

This came amid a growing people's protest against the gunning down of another driver, S Babu, and torching of two loaded trucks at Charoi Pandong area along the Imphal-Jiribam highway by suspected rebels on last Wednesday night.

A motorcade of over 100 loaded fuel tankers escorted by CRPF men was going from Khatkhati in Assam to Manipur on Sunday morning, sources said, adding that when they stopped for a while at Khuzuma area in Nagaland, driver S Surjit was whisked away by unknown armed men.

Condemning the incident, the All Manipur Petroleum Tanker Drivers' Union on Monday afternoon announced they would stop plying fuel tankers till Surjit is freed by his captors.

There have been numerous cases of killing, abduction and harassment of drivers in addition to torching of their vehicles by miscreants along the highways leading to Manipur, lamented Y Bhupenchadra Ghosh, the union's president.

Urging the authorities concerned to secure safe release of the driver, Ghosh also appealed to the people, particularly civil bodies, to extend support to the union's 'democratic' stir.

Owing to a series of bandhs called on the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Jiribam highways by different bodies on and off for the last few days, the stocks of many fuel outlets in the state have dwindled and many of them remained closed. The Union's sudden announcement triggered panic buying of fuel at some outlets in Imphal even as stocks ran dry.

In the meantime, the Transporters' and Drivers' Council ( TDC) donated Rs 50,000 to the bereaved family members of Babu.

The council's president, H Ranjit, handed over the amount to the late Babu's mother at their Samurou Awang Leikai residence in Imphal West on Sunday.

The joint action committee set up against Babu's killing has not taken his body from the mortuary of RIMS here as a token of protest even as deputy chief minister Gaikhangam assured to take stringent action against the culprits.

20 Fake ‘Open Schools’ in Aizawl

AIZAWL, Apr 22 : There are 20 fake 'Open Schools' in Aizawl, according to Mizo Students Union (MSU) that has expressed grave concern.

Fraudulent business by way of deceiving students under National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) is reportedly prevalent in Mizoram.

Expressing grave concern over that development, Mizo Students' Union maintained that while there are only 7 Accredited Institution (AI)/Study Centres of NIOS within Aizawl district, there are many others who run NIOS illegally for sheer business. MSU said that it demands immediate cease of such deceiving activities and fake NIOS.

The MSU said it would take steps to ensure their closure soon.

In connection to the issue, Zodinpuia, president of Mizo Students' Union along with other leaders, interacted with media persons in Aizawl today and informed that they had lodged an FIR to Aizawl police against one NIOS co-ordinator who has created problems to the students.

The MSU president advised the Mizo students to be cautious over the alarming issue, saying there are many people who run 'Open Schools' outside the purview of NIOS Study Centre, which, he said, are illegal.

"Such fake 'Open Schools' charges high amount of money in admission fee, violating the rules of NIOS", he alleged.

While NIOS does not allow for monthly fees to be taken from the students, the fake Open Schools on their take a monthly fee of Rs.300 or Rs.400 per student, the MSU leader stated, adding, "These schools charge Rs.1,500 or Rs. 1,700 as admission fee per student."

Stating that steps are being taken to ensure penalty to the people who run the fake schools and outside the jurisdiction of NIOS, the MSU president warned, "If the people involved do not immediately close their fake open schools, MSU will take further steps."

Mizoram Bans Pig Import From Myanmar

Aizawl, Apr 22 : All the district magistrates of Mizoram, sharing international border with Myanmar, have issued prohibitory orders banning import of pigs from the neighboring country where a dangerous swine fever spreading as an epidemic.

Dr L B Sailo, Director of the state Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department said that while the endemic classical swine fever in the state was subsiding, especially in Aizawl city, measures must be taken to prevent the entry of 'Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome' (PRRS) from Myanmar.

"If the PRRS enters Mizoram, it would be much more disastrous than the classical swine fever," Sailo said, adding that import of pigs from neighbouring states, especially those sharing borders with Myanmar was justified.

Meanwhile, at least 101 pigs have died in South Mizoram's Lunglei district during the past few weeks due to the classical swine fever which hit at least four district out of the total eight districts of the state.

Though pork remained the staple meat of the Mizos, pork sellers were having a hard time as people were reluctant to eat pork while beef, chicken and fish sold like hot cakes replacing the booming pork market due to the prevailing swine fever.

All Mizos Should Learn Hindi: Mizoram Minister

Aizawl, Apr 22 : Mizoram Education Minister Lalsawta has said that Mizos “should learn Hindi.” He said this while attending the Mizoram Hindi Prachar Sabha (MHPS) ‘Biennial General Conference-cum-Election’ at the Agriculture Conference Hall here yesterday.

“Hindi is the most widely spoken language throughout India, and that due to our incompetency in speaking Hindi, the Mizos often times could not come out (successful) as we ought to be,” Lalsawta said.

Mentioning that there are some people within Mizoram who dole out fake Hindi Certificates, the minister said this could have serious impact upon the Mizos. “The State don’t need such people who indulge in fraudulent activities,” the minister said.

MHPS secretary John P.C. Rema gave the Annual Report and mentioned that the State government has allotted the plot for MHPS Office Building at New Secretariat Complex.

MHPS at constant rate enrolls more than 1000 learners and it now has 9 Exam Centres in Aizawl, Lunglei, Serchhip, Lawngtlai, Champhai, Kolasib, Saiha, Saitual and Chawngte.

As part of its programme to promote Hindi, MHPS, in partnership with Mizoram State Sports Council, used to organize one-month Spoken Hindi Class for Sportspersons who represented Mizoram at State, National and International levels.

Manipur Rifles Man Killed, 17 Hurt in Blasts

Imphal, Apr 22 : A Manipur Rifles personnel was killed and 17 others, including a superintending engineer and nine security personnel, were injured in separate explosions in Chandel and Imphal West districts of Manipur on Sunday, officials said.

They said suspected insurgents ambushed an official team, including the superintending engineer and Manipur Rifles personnel of 8th Battalion escorting them, by exploding two bombs and opening fire at a place between Khudengtabi and Kwatha Lamkhai, about 110 km south-east of here, at around 7.45 am.

An Army personnel, identified as Sushil Singh, was killed on the spot and 10 persons — six Manipur Rifles personnel and four civilians including the engineer — were injured by bomb splinters, sources said, adding the team was returning to Imphal from the border town of Moreh after inspecting the condition of some roads in the area.

Official reports from Chandel district said the injured civilians included an assistant engineer and two drivers.

All the injured were taken to a hospital in Imphal, they said, adding the condition of some of them was stated to be serious. Four hours later, suspected insurgents also exploded a powerful bomb attached to a vehicle at the roadside at Sekmai area in Imphal West district injuring three CRPF personnel and four civilians, sources said, adding that condition of the injured was not stated to be serious.

No individual or group has claimed responsibility though the spots where the explosions took place were the operating zone of insurgents of different groups. The police said security and police forces rushed to both the spots after the explosions were reported and launched massive search operations by blocking all exit points.

The insurgents, who reportedly exploded the bombs by using remote control device, escaped into the nearby thick jungles and hilly areas.

PMO Hit Back With 'Empty Promises' in Mizoram

Aizawl, Apr 19 : With Mizoram state assembly elections around the corner, hollow promises made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chair Sonia Gandi and her would-be prime minister son Rahul Gandhi before the last polls have reverberated in the Prime Minister Office.

The Mizo National 'Youth' Front, the largest opposition in the Congress-ruled state, submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister today telling him and the mother-son duo not to visit Mizoram only to visit Mizoram to lure voters with tall promises during election campaign anymore.

In the memorandum, the MNYF recollected how the state Congress chief Lal Thanhawla and others promised the people of Mizoram that the Congress party if voted to power would distributed not less than one lakh rupees to all families under its flagship programme New Land Use Policy (NLUP) which will be implemented with Prime Minister special package.

'The people were convinced when the central Congress leaders, Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi reaffirmed this commitment in their public speechehes in Aizawl in the run-up to the 2008 December polls,' the memorandum stated, adding that this was the major factor behind the Congress' thumping victory in the elections, capturing 32 of the total 40 seats.

However, contrary to the pre-poll promises, the Congress government has implemented the NLUP from the state plan fund, resulting in a serious developmental setback.

It was stated that from 2009-10 fiscal to 2013-14 fiscal, the Congress government in Mizoram has earmarked Rs 100 crore, Rs 234.87 crore, Rs 234 crore, Rs 370 crore and Rs 370 crore respectively. As a result, over forty development-oriented departments had heavily reduced budgetary allocation during the last five years.

To make matter worse, 98.88 percent of the NLUP beneficiaries belonged to the ruling Congress party, as revealed by an independent survey conducted by the state's largest church Mizoram Presbyterian Synod's social front.

"Huge amount of fund allocated for the NLUP remains unutilised. The Congress government saved the amount to woo voters as Mizoram is going to the polls by November end or early December this year," MNYF president P C Laltlansanga said.

The MNYF memorandum further stated that when Mizoram had met with major disasters during the last two decades no central leaders visited Mizoram or provided monetary relief on a par with other states. "Why was all such comforts and monetary aids showered on other states restricted for Mizoram? Is Mizoram not considered a part of India?" the MNYF asked the PM.

The MNYF said that six major disasters took place in Mizoram during the period and the Congress party ruled both at the Centre and in the state when all the said tragedies struck Mizoram.

The MNYF demanded that if the central Congress leaders had refrained from visiting Mizoram when the people need them most, they should as well refrain from visiting the state for the sole purpose of "cheating" voters during election campaign. MNYF president said on the sideline of submitting memorandum to the Prime Minister, he and his colleagues met South Korea embassy cultural centre director Kim Kum-pioung where they discussed the prospect of establishing Korean language institute in Mizoram where Korean culture influence the youth.

Showing keen interest settling up Korean language institute in Mizoram, Kim Kum-pioung hoped that understanding Korean language would pave the way for employing jobless Mizo youths in Korean companies. He also said that 70 percent of the expenditure in setting up such institute would be borne by the South Korea government.

Foreign Models' Ffirst Foray Into Manipur Fashion Scene

By K Sarojkumar Sharma

Imphal, Apr 19 : Ten professional models from Russia, Brazil, Moldova and Ukraine are all set to walk the ramp in Imphal for the first time on April 27, giving a new dimension to fashion industry of strife-torn Manipur.

Under the banner 'Elegance of the Indigenous- A Showcase of Manipur Ethnic Attires', the models will walk the ramp in different Manipuri ethnic designs by eminent designers of the state.

"The foreign models - six from Russia, one each from Moldova and Brazil and two from Ukraine - have already given their consent to coming to Imphal. We have also conducted their audition in New Delhi recently," said Khoisnam Nishikanta Singh, choreographer and event director of the gala event.

Indian authorities have already cleared visas for the 10 foreign models. The models now don't require the Protected Area Permit (PAP) for visiting the state as the Centre has lifted it from Manipur in 2011.

"The models are currently staying in New Delhi as they have already obtained a three-month visa from the Indian authorities through a fashion agency based in the national capital," said Nishikanta .

Nishikanta, who choreographed over 50 fashion parades across the country, including Delhi and Mumbai, said the models would perform with six selective Manipuri models in the event to be held at Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre (Boat) at the historic palace compound in the heart of Imphal.

The primary objective of the event, he said, is to focus on ushering in peace through diversity. "We hope that showcasing traditional Manipuri attire with ethnic patterns and textures during the show will attract national and foreign buyers in the near future," he said. He added that foreign models will land in Imphal on April 25.

On the eve of the event, the models would be taken to various historic and tourist spots where they can have a glimpse of Manipuri culture and tradition, said the young choreographer .

There will be four rounds in the event being organized by Imphal-based 'Blue Wings' and sponsored by Manipur Development Society (MDS) and Manipur Skill Development Society (MSDS) with support from Manipur tourism department.

The opening round will showcase the natural charms of different communities of the state through their ethnic attires which the models will wear.

"We have been trying to organize this event since the last couple of years and now it's nearly a dream come true as all concerned - models, related government and private agencies - have extended help to our sincere endeavour," said Nishikanta, who hails from Imphal West.

To make the event more meaningful and elegant, various ethnic Manipuri fabric patterns collected from different Meitei and tribal villages across the state, would be used by the designers, he added.

Models from other parts of India also come down to Imphal occasionally and walk the ramp popularizing the traditional attires of Manipuri women. The latest show christened "Manipur Fashion Extravaganza" was held in Hotel Imphal on January 6 this year. Gorgeous models from Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad added a new dimension to the gala event.

More Quakes Could Hit India: Experts

By Charu Sudan Kasturi

New Delhi, Apr 18 :  Tuesday’s 7.8 magnitude temblor near the Iran-Pakistan border could realign the region’s tectonic plates, potentially setting off follow-up earthquakes closer to India in the coming days and weeks, scientists have cautioned.

From Ahmedabad in Gujarat to Nongpoh in Meghalaya, India was on Tuesday shaken by a ring of earthquakes that scientists say were most likely unrelated, but could trigger aftershocks. The quakes have triggered fresh concerns over preparedness in the country’s burgeoning urban spreads.

The Iran quake occurred close to the line where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, west of Gujarat in Pakistan. Proximity to that line makes western India — home to Latur, Maharashtra and Bhuj, Gujarat that were epicentres of two of India’s most destructive recent earthquakes — vulnerable.

“When a major earthquake occurs on one plate near where it meets another plate, it causes shifts on the other adjoining plate,” Ramancharia Pradeep Kumar, earthquake engineer and professor at the Indian Institute of Information Technology in Hyderabad told HT. “There will also be aftershocks in neighbouring areas.”

Though most aftershocks occur within 24 hours, there have been instances of the follow-up tremors waiting for weeks before striking.

A quake measuring 4.4 on the Richter Scale with an epicentre in Nongpoh, Meghalaya triggered tremors across northeast India and even Odisha early on Tuesday morning. It was 49.2 km deep. Deeper quakes cause less damage as they lose most of their energy by the time they reach the earth’s surface. 

Early afternoon, just after 2pm, a second quake shook northeast India. This 5.3 magnitude earthquake had its epicentre in Motuo in eastern Tibet, and was 31 km deep. A few hours later, the biggest quake of the day struck, near Khash in Iran.

The sequence of the quakes and the distance between eastern Tibet and Iran makes it highly improbable that the two were related, said BK Rastogi, Director of the Institute of Seismological Research in Gandhinagar.

But the quakes have cast fresh focus on India’s preparedness to handle large quakes closer home.

After the 2001 Bhuj earthquake that killed about 20,000 people, India set up a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to formulate a strategy for national crises. Several states have also set up similar agencies.

But when it comes to ensuring earthquake-resistant building codes, little has been done, the scientists said. “The only solution is to make earthquake-resistant design non-negotiable for buildings,” Kumar said.