Society / Manipur

Imphal, Jan. 2: The Manipur Human Rights’ Commission has asked the state’s director-general of police to submit a report on an abduction-cum-rape in Bishenpur district by January 15. The commission’s directive came in connection with the alleged rape of a 16-year-old girl by a married man, identified as Kh. Joy Singh of Nambol village in Bishenpur district. The girl, who is from Imphal West district, filed a complaint petition with the commission after the Singjamei police station released the accused. The petition said Joy Singh kept the girl confined for five days and repeatedly raped her...

Imphal, Dec. 30: Members of the outlawed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) today destroyed a large number of Hindi and pornographic videocassettes and discs, burning them in front of newspersons here.

The outfit also destroyed several bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor.

The RPF militants, under the codename Staforce Division-III, seized the cassettes and VCDs from video libraries in Lilong and the area near the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here. Staforce had “executed” two drug traffickers who were caught with a kg of heroin a few months back.

The RPF had banned the screening...

IMPHAL, Dec 29 – In an effort to revive and preserve Pena, an indigenous musical instrument of the traditionally cultured people of Manipur, an eight-day-long Pena Phamshak festival was held here at Naoremthong in Imphal West district for the first time after a gap of more than a decade or so. The colourfully arranged musical festival specially on Pena which began from December 15 concluded Sunday with solo and group performance by eminent Pena players from Meitei and Tangkhul community. Such a rare and eight-day festival of Pena Phamshak was organized by the Epanat 'Punat Thijinba Kanglup...

Imphal, December 19: Ngaranphung Shining Youth club today organized the first cultural meet at Ngaranphung village, Senapati district. It was sponsored by United Committee of Manipur (UCM). Konsam Langamba VP of UCM was the Chief Guest of'the function. Thomas head man of the village presided over the function. Lalit Singh of Romi Bags was the Guest of Honour. The chairman of NSYC giving the welcome address said the cultural meet is organized to preserve the culture though it is declining day by day. Langamba said organization of such festival will inculcate the feeling of living together...

Imphal, December 18: The Manipur Zoological Garden, Iroishemba is today in a pitiable condition thanks to long years of neglect and apathy with its wall developing cracks at many points and crumbling even at some parts. The cages are also in no better shape with many bearing tell-tale signs of neglect. A number of cages have been eaten away by rust and the ravages of time. When The Sangai Express contacted DFO Dr L Puni, who is in charge of the Zoological garden, he said that the Central Zoo Authority released a sum of Rs 7.5 lakhs for wall maintenance last year. The amount has been utilized...

Imphal, Dec. 1: The grandness of a Ratan Thiyam production was missing, but the raw brilliance of pastoral theatre more than made up for it.

The fortnight-long Theatre Summit 2002, organised by the Manipuri Theatre Academy at Wangoi under Imphal West district, ended yesterday with a thought-provoking play on the continuing tussle between militant outfits and the administration. However, what left aficionados of theatre pleasantly surprised was the depth in the performances of the rural groups that participated in the festival.

Of the 22 theatre groups that had been invited to the event...

Imphal, July 12: Set up with funding from the Commonwealth War Graves to honour the Allied soldiers who died fighting the enemy during World War II in this part of the country, the Imphal War Cemetery located just opposite DM College at Kebo Leikai is today ravaged not by the passage of time but by an unfeeling people to whom civic sense and decorum is absent. Undoubtedly the place still has a lot to offer to the visitors in terms of its manicured lawns and scenic beauty but keeping up the good work is proving to be a cumbersome task thanks to the insensitive people who come visiting in hordes...

IMPHAL, July 8?The decision of the State Cabinet to lift the prohibition from the five hill districts of Manipur in an effort to raise the State?s revenue, has led to a widespread opposition from rural bodies, particularly from the women?s organisation based in the hill areas. The State Cabinet took a decision to lift the ban on sale and consumption of Indian-make foreign liquor from the hill areas on June 5 last. However, bodies like Naga Women Union, Manipur, strongly opposed the government?s move to the ban, saying, ?why only in the hill areas.? The president of the Union and prominent Naga...

Imphal, July 03: A visit at the Regional Pony Development Farm at Tingkai Khunou near Oinam belies the State Government's promises or the efforts made to develop and preserve the local breed of horses which have brought immeasurable fame to the State. Of the 70 breeds of the short statured horse species introduced initially at the farm under an ambitious project of the State Government in 1988, a staggering 54 ponies have died over the years due to lack of fodder and treatment facilities at the farm. The condition of those remaining upto the 2000 census are a pity to watch with contracted...

Imphal, June 30: The state archaeology, arts and culture department has picked out 25 historical monuments and sites in the state for their development. According to officials of the department, extensive improvement works on the selected monuments and sites will be carried out under 'Heritage Protection,' a central sponsored scheme. The official told IFP that the entire expenditure has been recommended by the 11th financial commission. Though he declined to disclosed the total amount of the project for obvious reasons, he maintained that it will be made available in a phased wise manner. The...