Imphal, October 31 : The Manipur Students' Association, Delhi has come out strongly against the brutal murder of Ramchanphy Hongray by an IIT student at Delhi.
In a statement, the student body said that the people of North East have been subjected to racial discrimination for long and chronicled some recent events.
Stating that the North East people are no longer safe in India, MSAD said that Delhi is a glaring example of the series of unabated and deliberate racial discriminations against the people of the North East.
Stating that the murder of Ramchanphy was not the first instance of singling out people from the North East, MSAD said that on April 17 this year, Giupuilu Gangmei, a five year old Zeliangrong girl, was raped and murdered in broad daylight in Mahabalipur.
In the night of September 20,2009m a Chiru Naga boy was severely assaulted with iron rods by local goons at Outram Lines, said MSAD and added that in the night of September 21, 2009, a Moyon Naga girl was molested and beaten up by the neighbours at Munirka.
On October 11, 2009 a Naga couple was assaulted by local goons and the police at first refused to register an FIR.
The FIR was registered only after a hue and cry was raised.
Again on October 14, 2009, locals of Nariana assaulted and attempted to rape a Mao Naga girl, while on October 24, 2009, a 21 year old girl from Arunachal Pradesh was molested by a team of students of a Government run school at Bharat Nagar, claimed the student body.
Imphal, October 31 : An emergency federal assembly of the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), which was held today at its office located at Old Lambulane, endorsed the recommendations of the Public Meeting convened by the students' body on October 24 on the indefinite closure of educational institutions in some valley districts of the state.
Sharing the pains and sorrows of all bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones caused by state and non-state actors especially those of July 23 at BT Road, the federal assembly of ATSUM appealed both the government and the agitating students' bodies (AMSU, MSF and KSA) to lift the 'ban' imposed on all educational institutions, including institutions under CBSE/ICSSE by October 2009, according to a statement issued by the assembly secretary of ATSUM, Ningthou Kamei and its speaker Tonghen Kipgen.
"We justified the agitations launched under the banner of Apunba Lup in protest against the July 23 incident of BT Road.
However, the indefinite closure of all educational institutions in some valley districts as a part of the agitation is uncalled for and is taking the issue beyond the limit," the ATSUM statement noted.
Appealing for allowing private schools to collect their normal school fees so that ttheir teachers continue to get their meager salaries, the ATSUM demanded that the government to treat the ongoing impasse as 'calamity' and compensate the private school teachers if their appeal is not heeded.
"If these two terms are not accepted, ATSUM will use all its might and resources to make a 'token' payment to these teachers even if it is just Rs 1 for a teacher," it asserted.
The TASUM also requested that exams conducted by BSEM, COHSEM and MU be held on normal scheduled.
In case normal classes were not resumed by November, ATSUM will organise 'residential coaching class' at selected centres across the state especially for HSLC and Class XII candidates.
All interested students - tribal and non-tribal - will be welcome for the coaching classes, it added.
The ATSUM also requested the state government to intervene so that any student who is desirous of shifting their institutions within one Board can do it freely.
It further added that ATSUM will be compelled to think of 'alternative options' if the present impasse continues beyond the limit.
Imphal, October 30 : Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Imphal Branch has demanded clarification on the reported abduction of Thangpao Kipgen on October 27 from Leimakhong Bazar as to why he has been abducted.
A statement issued by the information secretary of KSO, Imphal D Letminthang Haokip informed that Thangpao Kipgen (25), son of (L) Lhukhokai Kipgen of Nongmaipal village, Sadar Hills was abducted by around five persons in a white colour Maruti Van (bearing registration number MNA-01-1279) from Leimakhong Bazar.
Stating that the abducted person was innocent, the KSO statement pointed out that he was going to Leimakhong to drop food items for his brothers and sisters studying at Leimakhong.
It added that Thangpao was preparing for the coming VDF recruitment.
Drawing the attention of all concerned authorities, the KSO statement urged the kidnappers to release the abducted person immediately.
ITANAGAR, Oct 29 : The apex students organization of the State, All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) today called for sincere and concerted measures from all concerned to curb the repeated violence being inflicted on students from the North-east studying in various parts of the country.
The Union condemned the molestation of an Arunachalee girl and the gruesome murder of a Naga girl in New Delhi in the last couple of days. It expressed fear that such incidents would have far reaching consequences and would further aggravate the imbalance between the region and mainland India. It urged upon the Delhi Government as well as the Central Government to deal with iron hands with perpetrators and sympathizers of such crimes.
The Union is leading a delegation to the national capital on October 30 next headed by its president Takam Tatung to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other Central leaders. Besides the issue of safety of North-east students and crime committed by mainstream Indians against people from the region, the Union would raise the issue of the repeated claims over Arunachal Pradesh by China.
The Union said, all elected members of Parliament from the region and all State governments of the North-east, cutting across party lines, needed to get together to voice their stand against all atrocities committed on people from the region.
It has further resolved to take the issue to the North East Students’ Organization (NESO) platform to give a united stand of the North East.
GUWAHATI, OCT 29 – The AASU has reiterated its demand to remove politicians from the governing body of all educational institutes of the State. The Government, it may be mentioned, had issued an order seeking removal of all the politicians from the governing body of the educational institutes.
However, another notification from the Principal Secretary, Education (Higher) issued on October 9 conceded that majority of the colleges are yet to abide by the earlier notification and further issued a fresh order stating that the senior most of the two University-nominated would be appointed as the interim-chairman of the governing body of those colleges, which still has politicians in the governing body.
Asked to comment, AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, “We demand that the same rule be made applicable not only for colleges but for all theeducational institutes in the State.”
IMPHAL, Oct 25 : The All Tribal students` Union Manipur, ATSUM in a public meeting held today at the auditorium of the Tribal Research Institute, Adimjati, in connection with the closure of educational institutes, adopted many resolutions after a detailed discussion.
Spokepersons from different organizations and individuals, including KSO, UNC, CNPO, ZSUM, Zelianrong Baudi, Poumei Union, Kuki Inpi Manipur bodies, ex-MP Holkhomang Haokip, Samuel Jendai, gave their views and opinions.
After the discussions, recommendations were adopted by the organizing committee of the ATSUM for further discussion in their federal assembly to chalk out further stands.
In the recommendations the dignitaries, parents and guardians agreed to share the pain and sorrow of the victims of July 23, as a mark of solidarity and also resolved that such discussion was being organized by ATSUM irrespective of community affiliations solely for the benefit of the future generation.
The gathering also agreed to endorse the agitation against fake encounters in the state including the July 23 incident but opposed the boycotting of educational institutions saying this was to much, considering the general loss.
The meet however agreed to ban or boycott government offices and other programme in the state.
It also resolved to appeal to both the state Government and Apunba Lup for bringing an amicable solution before October 30, failing which the students bodies would pressurise the government for conducting compulsory classes for Class X and XII examination as per government schedule.
Recommendations also underscored the necessity for private schools to pay salaries to the private teachers and for parents and guardians to pay fees including to coaching centers and school van services.
It also adopted to appeal the state government to treat the current impasse as natural calamity and rightly compensate the helpless teachers.
It was also agreed that if a negative outcome arises despite the points adopted today the ATSUM would in an effort to save the academic atmosphere starts a free residential coaching programme especially for the Class X and XII for minimum of two months with contribution form the general public and also noted about the apprehension of the centrally sponsored school examinations probably be effected by the boycott stand of the three students` bodies.
While sharing their opinions during the open discussion David Adani, president of the ANSAM urged for a joint fight together in connection with the July 23 incident however he expressed that it was not right to give hindrances to education.
According to L.C Santosh, president of the DESAM, if the present agitation of class boycott continues the loss may be irreversable adding that the DESAM has been contributing its mite to ensure right to education and making education a free zone.
He requested the concerned organizations to repeal the boycott stance and instead adopt other means.
While delivering his key note address during the meet, Thomas Taishya, president of the ATSUM, revealed that the union is deeply pained and distressed by the BT Road incident and asserted they condemn the incident terming it as barbarous act of the state police leadinh to loss of precious human lives.
While stating that the ATSUM shares all the pain and loss of the victim families inflicted by both state and non-state actor, it asserted the agitation launched to protest the July 23 incident under the banner of Apunba Lup and the two JAC formed in connection with the said incident was justifiable in all respect.
He further held that the accusation hurled at the state police, commandos and IRB personnel by individuals and civil society seems to hold water as with even the media have come out with it openly and to the point of boycotting the state government and it is also the responsibility of the government to find a ways and means to resolve the impasse to restore normal life functioning of education in the state.
Lamka, October 24 : Claiming that something fishy is going on in the entire affairs of the UBI scam, wherein more than 4 crores was withdrawn fraudulently by unidentified persons, Churachandpur District Students' Union has petitioned the Officer-in-Charge to include the circumstances under which huge funds for MSDP were credited into EE/DRDA's (an individual's) account.
The CDSU noted that was really doubtful why and how such a huge fund of the Government meant for development programme was not deposited into the department's account but in an individual person's account.
"Is the MSDP fund already stolen or was it deposited into an individual person's account with an evil intention to steal them instead of giving away to the beneficiaries," the union asked in its petition to the OC.
Accodingly, an FIR No.55(10)09CCP-PS was registered under section 419/420/468/471/120-B IPC by the police.
Though, unconfirmed there were reports about the UBI terminating the services of some of its employees and the police investigation making a credible headway.
IMPHAL, Oct 23: The Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur, DESAM, today informed the media that if the three students organisation, AMSU, MSF and KSA, spearheading the class boycott agitation failed to withdraw their stance by the month of October, 2009, the DESAM would organize a public meeting on November 2 at Bhagyachandra Open Air Theater.
In this regards a press conference was held today at the office of the DESAM, at Keishampat, during which the president of the students` body, revealed that considering the importance of right to education, All Tribal Students` Union Manipur (ATSUM) and DESAM had planned to organize a public meeting on October 21 however due to pressures from senior citizens, parents and guardians, the meeting has been delayed, the DESAM president said.
He said right to education was the ideological foundation of the DESAM and considering this, the DESAM decided to convene the meet and also urged students, parents and guardians to attend the meeting.
The DESAM further said that the resolution taken in the meeting would be converted into action by the students` body and appealed from any individuals against this would not be entertain by DESAM, he said.
It may be recalled ATSUM and DESAM in had planned to organize a public meeting on October 21 however it was postponed and the ATSUM is now set to organize a public meeting in this connection on October 24.
The boycott call by the AMSU, MSF and KSA was on the issue of making the government accountable in the July 23 daylight fake encounter killing of a young ex-militant, Ch Sanjit at Khwairamband.
The students along with the Apunba Lup are demanding the chief minister, Okram Ibobi to vacate office on moral ground.
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| AASU activists burn the effigy of food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam in Guwahati on Monday. Picture by Eastern Projections |
Guwahati, Oct. 19: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) refrained from celebrating the birthday of its advisor, Samujjal Bhattacharyya, today and instead took to the streets to protest against the skyrocketing prices of essential commodities.
The AASU activists also burnt the effigy of food and civil supplies minister Nazrul Islam to protest alleged government failure to control the price rise in the state.
A senior leader of the students’ body said they did not celebrate Bhattacharyya’s birthday because the soaring prices of essential commodities had badly affected the poor, lower middle and middle class families.
“It is hard to celebrate when the rising prices has put a great burden on not just the poor but also on the middle class,” an AASU member said.
The activists of the “anchalik” units of the AASU burnt the effigy of the food and civil supplies minister in their respective areas across the state today.
In Guwahati, the members of All Guwahati Students Union set Islam’s effigy on fire near Gauhati High Court around 12.30pm and shouted anti-government slogans for its failure to arrest price rise.
The protesters alleged that the worthlessness of the minister and the state government had led to a rise in the prices of essential commodities in the state.
They also criticised chief minister Tarun Gogoi for indirectly supporting the price rise by arguing in favour of the traders.
The AASU activists will stage a dharna at all district headquarters of the state tomorrow to protest the government’s inaction. The sit-ins will be organised outside the deputy commissioners’ offices.
The Opposition AGP this evening announced a Dispur chalo march on October 26 to protest against price rise.
Agartala, Oct. 19: The euphoria over recognition extended by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to the Tripura Medical College (TMC) has now given way to desperation, owing to the low-key response from students for admission to the first year MBBS course.
The college is in a dilemma over the lack of response from the students, apparently due to a relatively high admission fee fixed by the Society for Tripura Medical College.
The latter, which runs the college, is a government-sponsored society headed by health commissioner Yashpal Singh.
Out of a total of 85 seats under state quota, only 37 seats have been filled up by local candidates. The society and B.R. Ambedkar Hospital had prepared a waiting list of 35 candidates.
Official sources said that if the state quota seats remained open even after intake from the waiting list, an open entrance examination, regardless of ranks in the joint entrance examination, would be held after the last date for admission (October 20) is over.
Sources said that while disposing of a case on October 9 filed by the college on the issue of MCI recognition, the Supreme Court had directed that the process of admission for the current academic session be completed by October 20. “As things stand, we will have to draw upon the waiting list and if the quota is not filled up, even then we will have to conduct an admission test at the earliest. Fifteen of the total of 100 seats fall in the central quota,” said Dr J.K. Nag, the superintendent of TMC.
“A new entrant to the first year will have to deposit Rs 3.5 lakh as tuition fee, Rs 50,000 more for caution deposit and an additional Rs 24,000 as hostel charge. This sounds exorbitant in a state like Tripura but there is no other option because the state government is not in a position to subsidise the expensive medical education in the state,” Dr Nag said.
He also added that the fee structure would marginally fall in the remaining three years of the course for students because no security money would have to be deposited afresh.
The lukewarm response to the admission process and fee structure has already triggered a controversy with the Opposition leader Ratanlal Nath pointing out the difference in fee structures of the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) and the TMC.
“In AGMC, students are required to pay Rs 1 lakh for the first year excluding caution money and hostel charge and Rs 65,000 for each subsequent year. In contrast, the fee structure at TMC appears exorbitant,” Nath said, describing the difference in fee structure as an “instance of gross discrimination”.
He also asserted that the state government was “actually planning to hand over the management of TMC to a private party very soon and that is why the government is determined not to compromise on the fee structure despite demands from the people”.
Imphal, October 20 : Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Chandel and Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) have urged the Tribal Development Minister to give preference to local candidates in selecting the teachers under ADC for which written examination was conducted on October 11 .
A memorandum submitted jointly by the two students' bodies has also urged the concerned minister to cancel roll numbers from 01 to 200 in the recent recruitment examination in respect to Chandel district.
The memorandum informed that the two students' bodies will look into the matter of alleged bribery and pledged to take up appropriate and necessary action against anyone found indulging in bribery - be they Ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats, or CM.
The students' bodies also warned that excess number of teachers and illegal appointment should not be committed while pointing the existence of such case in the recruitment of teachers conducted in 2006. Asserting that provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 will be used in checking answer scripts in the event of any discrepancy, the KSO and NSUC warned to launch any form of democratic agitation if the authority fails to fulfill the demands.
IMPHAL, Oct 17: Alleging that the H.S.L.C certificate, 1997 of the present Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chandel district autonomous council was fake, the Thadou Students Association, TSA, demanded government to take appropriate actions against the CEO, S. Wurngam Anal, and also to replace the CEO, with another qualified person.
While briefing media persons, the president of the TSA, Nagmboi Haokip, revealed that the state vigilance commission has taken investigation under an FIR case No. 23 (10) 2000 VPS U/S 471/1488/420 IPC on 4/10/2000 besides the issue has also be taken up at the floor of the state Legislative Assembly during which it was informed that his (CEO) case was under investigation.
However, the TSA held that so far there has been no development in connection with the investigation and urged the concerned authority not to declare the results of the primary teachers candidates of Chandel district from Roll No. 1 to 200 adding that the president further alleged that manipulations has been carried out by the CEO.
Further, Ngamboi Haokip, pointed out that while recruiting 80 teachers for district autonomous council, in 1993 only five Thadou Kuki were appointed besides that no Thadou Kuki were selected in 1996 where in no advertisement was also made in that regards etc, said Ngamboi and further asserted that there has been no interest following such disparity around 15 schools in the Chandel district were without any Thadou Kuki teachers and urged the concerned authority to select more Thadou Kuki in the recently concluded primary teachers examination.
TAMENGLONG, Oct 17 : The Zeliangrong Student`s Union Manipur, ZSUM want free and fair and select on the merit basis of the candidates who appeared in the written test for recruitment of the primary teachers under Tamenglong Autonomous District Council. The written test for recruitment of the primary teachers under Tamenglong Autonomous District Council was held on 11 October 2009 at Tamenglong.
While disclosing to media persons at Tamenglong today K. Humaliabou, Chairman of ZSUM said that concern authority should be maintain free and fair and select the educated talented candidates on merit basis of the primary teachers. He also requested all NGOs and specially the underground groups not to give pressure or give hindrance to the selection committee on the process of selection of the primary teachers.
He also maintained that the ZSUM is ready to take up any actions if the concern authorities are taking bribe, not select the educated and talented candidates and found any unfair means in selection process.
He also mentioned that some rumors after the written test was over, the UGs and some social leaders are pressuring the ADC officials to allot or select under their quotas. It also spread rumors that some officials are taking bribe from the candidates by collecting huge amount of money. He appealed all concerns not give any hindrance in the selection process in the larger interest of the Zeliangrong people.
Further he appeal the concern authority of the ADC to declare the written test results of the recruitment without any delay.
Imphal, Oct 17 : The newly formed All Manipur Students Guardians` Organisation (AMSGO), Manipur, said the organisation has been running from pillar to post to have the administration intervene and ensure the condition whereby schools and colleges can resume classes.
The general secretary of the organisation O Yaima Singh said they have met several key figures in the government including the chief minister to press them to resolve with the Apunba Lup and other leaders of the current stir against the July 23 killings by commandos at the Khwairamband Bazar.
He said in a meeting the chief minister has assured them that hectic efforts are being made by the state government to restore peaceful academic conditions of the state by holding talks with the agitating student bodies in connection with the total paralysed of educations arising out of the Khwairamband bazar incident of July 23.
According to the AMSGO general secretary the education minister, L Jayantakumar, works minister, K Ranjit, power minister, Phungzathang Tonsing, IFCD minister N Biren and director education (S) Here Krishna were present at the meeting.
The organisation spkesperson further mentioned that, the organisation in their memorandum to the government called for appropriate resolution to the current turmoil in the education arising out of the unfortunate incident at Khwairamband bazar on July 23.
Their memorandum further narrated that, after the july 23 incident at BT Road all the educational institutions in the state are not imparting regular classes since, August 9, this year thereby creating turmoil in the areas of education.
The students at large are left with an uncertain future it said.
Further, the memorandum also mentioned that, the AMSGO, had called a meeting of parents of students on October 14 this month at the premises of Iboyaima Shumang Lila Shanglen, Imphal, to know what they are feeling about the education of their children.
In the said meeting the guardians and parents equivocally appealed all concerned, both government and agitators to agree with the proposal that all educational institutions should be declared as free zone and students should be allowed to go to schools from October 21.
The memroandum of AMSGO further elaborated that, the Parliament passed the Right of Children to free and compulsory education Act on August 14, 2009 making education a Fundamental Rights for every child of the country.
The deprivation of such a fundamental right of children will have far reaching consequences to the society`s future it said.
This being the case, there has arisen an urgent need for an administrative intervention to end the crisis.
Nearly 3,000 students from various states and union territories (UTs) will participate in the 55th National School Games, being organised by the Chandigarh education department here Oct 22-27.
'The education department will organise national school games in the disciplines of softball, fencing, gymnastics and dodge-ball from Oct 22. Our preparations, to make this event a huge success, are going on in full swing,' said Chandigarh Home-cum-Education Secretary Ram Niwas here Friday.
'All the venues of games and accommodation have been finalised and all the concerned officials have been assigned their respective duties. We have also told senior officials of Chandigarh police to make suitable security measures especially for girls' teams and at the games venues,' he added.
According to an official spokesperson, around 3,000 students from different states and UTs like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Delhi, Daman-Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are participating in these games.
'Seven schools each for the accommodation of boys' and girls' teams have been identified. Good quality food, sufficient drinking water, clean toilets and continuous supply of electricity will be made available at the schools,' Ram Niwas said.
The schools identified for the accommodation purpose would remain closed till the games are over.
Sonahat (Assam): Thousands of students formed a human chain in the Sonahat region in Assam on Tuesday to demand fences along India-Bangladesh border.
Insurgency-hit Assam shares a 272-kilometer long border with Bangladesh of which about 70 per cent has been fenced with barbed wire.
All Assam Students Union (AASU), an influential student organization in the state, organised the event.
Demanding implementation of the Assam Accord within a specific time frame protestors demanded the completion of border fencing on a war footing.
"If the Government can seal India-Pakistan border within three years so why not in case of Indo-Bangladesh border…it is a crime on the part of Government at the Centre and Assam…through this illegal Bangladeshi immigrants the ISI (Pakistan spy agency Inter Services Intelligence), HUJI (Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, a Bangladesh based militant outfit) and other fundamentalist groups have entered," said Sammujal Bhattacharya, advisor, All Assam Students Union.
The Assam Accord was a Memorandum of Settlement signed between representatives of the Government of India and the leaders of the Assam Agitation in New Delhi on August 15, 1985.
Though the Accord brought an end to the Assam Agitation or Assam Movement, a popular movement led by AASU and other outfits against illegal immigrants in Assam between 1979 and 1985.
The porous India-Bangladesh border has always been a bone of contention with allegations that hordes of illegal Bangladeshi migrants enter Assam for livelihood, thereby upsetting the region''s demographic profile.
Guwahati, Oct 13 (PTI) The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today formed a human chain along the Indo-Bangladesh frontier in Assam's Dhubri district demanding completion of border fencing at the earliest.
The influential students' body formed the chain at Sonahat area in protest against illegal infiltration and the government's alleged failure in completing fencing.
The AASU is also demanding resolution of the illegal foreigners' issue through implementation of the Assam Accord within a definite time frame.
Officials said there was no report of any untoward incident during the protest.
The AASU had staged a sit-in demonstration and hunger strike on October 10 to press for the same demands.
Imphal, October 10 2009: Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Chandel district expressed doubt on the move of the CEO Chandel in allotting roll numbers on admit cards for candidates of ADC teachers exam while also expressing gratitude to the DC and SP of Chandel for initiating the smooth conduct of the exam.
A statement issued by information and publicity secretary of KSO, Chandel, Doumang Haokip pointed out that the CEO begins allotting roll no from '201' instead of beginning it with '01' .
The statement demanded a lucid report on the matter while also demanding the CEO to make the total number of applicants and the actual number of candidates who take the exam once the exam is over.
The KSO further demanded the concerned authority to make selection purely on merit basis.
It added that the KSO will remain watchful over any discrepancy and manipulation of the selection of the candidates.
IMPHAL: The All Manipur Students Union, the Manipuri Students Federation and the Kangleipak Students Association have issued a press release imposing a ban on 10 schools and coaching centres mostly located in Thoubal for an indefinite period ...
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Shillong, Oct. 6: The judicial inquiry commission, headed by Justice (retd) D. Biswas, examining May 31 Shillong jailbreak, has sought previous inquiry reports and additional documents from the Meghalaya government to proceed with the probe.
The first sitting of the inquiry commission was held today at the state secretariat.
The government on July 23 had notified the one-man judicial inquiry commission, led by Justice Biswas, to probe the jailbreak.
The five terms of reference of the inquiry include the reasons behind the jailbreak, circumstances which led to the death of gang leader Full Moon Dhar, circumstances leading to the arrest and subsequent release of Congress politician Thomas Nongdtu, an accused, the extent of politician-criminal nexus and other related matters.
Official sources said the inquiry commission today asked the government to provide all the relevant papers including newspaper clippings, besides the administrative inquiry report prepared by principal secretary, home, Barkose Warjri, for scrutiny.
Along with the administrative inquiry report, the government has to submit a separate note on the deposition of witnesses recorded by Warjri.
The judicial probe is the fourth one to be set up by the state government following the jailbreak on May 31. While the magisterial inquiry and the internal departmental probe found out the reasons behind the jailbreak, the third administrative inquiry examined why the Congress member of Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council, Nongtdu, who funded the jailbreak, was released.
It also pointed out the lapses on the part of the police chief Anil Pradhan for Nongtdu’s release.
Moreover, the administrative inquiry report had also blamed Pradhan for directing the subordinate police officials to drop all charges against Nongtdu.
Though the last date for filing of affidavits ended yesterday, the inquiry commission has extended the date till October 12 to allow more persons to submit their memoranda before the commission.
So far two affidavits have been submitted to the commission.
While an affidavit was filed by the Steering Committee Against Murder of Democracy (SCAMoD), which had demanded a judicial probe into the jailbreak, another one was filed by Supreme Court lawyer K.T.S. Tulsion on behalf of the government.
Shillong, Oct. 6: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) in a public rally held today asked the government not to go ahead with the proposed pre-development projects in the uranium mining sites even as it appealed to the people to be prepared for “any sort of agitation” in the coming days.
In a well-attended public meeting at Motphran here, the KSU leaders warned the government not to go ahead with the August 24 cabinet decision to allow the UCIL to carry out pre-development projects in the uranium mining sites.
The KSU also hinted that agitation programmes would be announced within a few days if the government still does not lend an ear to their demand. The KSU is likely to wait for the arrival of chief minister D.D. Lapang from Delhi to announce the agitation programmes.
Lapang left for Delhi today to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to apprise him about the cabinet decision to go ahead with the pre-development projects in the uranium mining sites.
Lapang is also expected to brief the Prime Minister about opposition to uranium mining from certain quarters.
At the meeting, KSU president Samuel Jyrwa criticised the government for giving a nod to the UCIL to carry out pre-development projects.
According to Jyrwa, the decision of the government is to finally allow the UCIL to carry out actual mining of uranium.
“The government has misled the people by saying that the implementation of the pre-development will bring development, but this will only serve the interest of the UCIL,” he said.
The KSU president also reminded the people that during the official public hearing on uranium mining held at Nongbah Jynrin, one of the uranium mining sites, in 2007, 75 per cent of the people gathered had opposed uranium mining.
“But UCIL and the Meghalaya Pollution Control Board have manipulated the report and misled the Union environment ministry by saying that 75 per cent had supported uranium mining,” Jyrwa said.
On the comments of the chief minister that the Centre may use force to mine uranium in Meghalaya, Jyrwa said this would be against democratic principles.
The Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), which is supporting the present Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance government, also took part in the KSU-sponsored rally.
HSPDP president H.S. Lyngdoh urged the people to care about the future of their children as uranium mining will bring about only misery.
An organisation from the uranium mining sites, the Langrin Youth Welfare Association, flayed urban affairs minister and former KSU president Paul Lyngdoh for changing his stand on uranium mining.
KSU general secretary Hamlet Dohling and the vice-chairman of state law commission, Fenela Lyngdoh Nonglait, among others also urged the people to oppose the stand of the government on the uranium mining issue.
Imphal, Oct 1 : Naga Students' Union, Chandel (NSUC) has strongly condemned the incident of bomb attack at the residence of CEO of Autonomous District Council, Chandel Wurngam at Lambung village in Chandel district last night.
In a statement, NSUC president TS Warshing categorically stated that the people of Chandel irrespective of caste and creed, while co-existing peacefully and trying hard to develop the land, will not allow anybody to disturb the peaceful atmosphere by using violent means.
The students body has also asked the perpetrator not to repeat the act in future.
In another statement, Chandel Autonomous District Council Teachers' Association has also strongly condemned the incident and appealed to all concerned to restrain from carrying out such attacks in future.
