Manipuri boy tops CBSE class XII exams

IMPHAL/GUWAHATI: A Manipuri boy Mohammad Ismat scored the highest mark in the All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination ( AISSCE) conducted by the CBSE, whose results were declared nationwide on Monday. Ishmat, a student of Imphal's Zenith Academy, scored 495 out of 500 marks.

Though there is no concept of toppers in the CBSE class XII examinations, KK Choudhury regional officer CBSE (northeast region) confirmed that this is the first time a student from the northeast has scored highest in all India level. "It is indeed great. We hope this is the beginning and we get more such brilliant students from the region every year," he said.

Ismat has got 100 marks each in mathematics, chemistry and fine arts while he scored 98 in English and 97 in physics. In his additional subject home sciences he scored 100 marks.

A student of Zenith Academy, Imphal, Ishmat has always been a brilliant student. As the news of Ishmat scoring the highest, the school went into a celebration mode. His success came despite academic calendar every year is disrupted due to bandhs and blockades.

Hailing from a poor Manipuri Muslim family in Lilong Haoreibi village in Manipur's Thoubal district, Ismat's father Md Bashirur Rahman, a government primary school teacher, had struggled to ensure Ismat a good education.

Ismat began his primary education at a local school in Lilong before switching over to Kendriya Vidyalaya, Imphal up to class VIII. He then joined Sainik School Imphal from where he scored 94.2 percent in class X CBSE examination. But, he could not continue in Sainik School as his parent could afford the fees.

"After passing class X with high marks I thought of studying in the best school in Imphal. But I could not due to the acute financial difficulties faced by my family. All is not lost when S M Singh, the management secretary of Zenith Academy accepted my request to study in the school without charging much fees. With his guidance, I have come out with flying colours," Ismat said.

"Impossible is not in my mind and I have the strong conviction that everything is possible when a man determined to do what mankind can do. And this is the only tool for me to top in this national level examination," a jubilant Ismat told TOI minutes after the results were declared. 
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Manipur to press Karnataka for CBI probe into Richard death

IMPHAL: Bowing to the popular demand for handing over Richard Loitam's murder case to the CBI, the Manipur government has resolved to take up the matter with its Karnataka counterpart formally and urge them to hand over the case to the CBI.

This came at a time when six powerful student bodies of the state, in pursuit of the same demand, have imposed a ban on import and sale of all products manufactured in Karnataka in the state.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh will write a letter to his Karnataka counterpart, Sadananda Gowda, on Monday to urge him to hand over the probe to the CBI, official sources said.

The Centre or the state (Manipur government) cannot authorize a CBI inquiry into the murder case without the consent of the Karnataka government, which is why Okram will write the official letter, the sources added.

Okram had earlier said that his government was pressing the Centre to institute a CBI probe into the matter to ascertain the veracity of the case with the due consent of the Karnataka government.

A resident of Uripok Yambem Leikai in the heart of Imphal, Richard was found dead on his hostel bed at Acharya NRV School of Architecture in Bangalore on April 18. Senior students of the college allegedly thrashed him badly inside the hostel complex the previous night.

Richard's parents, who are medical practitioners, said the student bodies as well as several opposition parties have rubbished the post mortem report, which said that Richard died of a heart attack.

The Manipur unit of BJP has already moved the Karnataka CM on the matter and Gowda has assured that a fresh post mortem examination into Richard's murder would be conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi for a second opinion. Gowda also assured to transfer the investigation to the 'Corps of Detective', Karnataka.

The agitating student bodies - All Manipur Students' Union (Amsu), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (Desam), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Swak and Suk - said the ban would be lifted only when Richard's murder case is handed over to the CBI.

They are also demanding justice for the alleged mysterious death of another Manipuri student, Okram Laaba, in Chennai last year.


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Film on Japanese Girl's Search for Uncle in Manipur

A Japanese girl's search in the remote villages of Manipur for her uncle, who was a soldier during World War II, and many more stories that unfold during her journey will be shot on big screen.

To be directed by Mohen Naorem, My Japanese Niece will see Japanese model Yu Asada essaying the role of the girl, also named Asada. It is based on the story of the Japanese soldier who was left behind in Manipur after the war and people still believe he exists.

The film will be in Manipuri with English subtitles and later dubbed in Japanese for a release in Japan. The entire shoot will be in Manipur.

Mohen says every year many Japanese come to pay homage to their lost forefathers in Manipur.

"Asada too visited this time to pay homage to her uncle (her father's elder brother) who was a soldier during WWII. When she was in Manipur, she had a weird dream. Her uncle came in her dream and asked her to visit a village where he had kept some memories. She and her Manipuri guide then search for her uncle's secrets," the filmmaker told PTI.

"Down the memory lane, she heard about a Japanese old man who was living in that village for a long time. He died a few months ago. But Asada finds many secrets, memories and belongings of her uncle as well as documents, unposted letters, artifacts and dairies of soldiers who were lost."

Mohen says 23-year-old Asada from Osaka was excited when she first heard about the project.

"We plan to start the shoot in October-November once Asada completes her modelling assignments," he says, adding the shoot is expected to be completed in six months.

"The crew and other cast will be from Manipur. Besides, some supporting actors will also be from Japan. The expected budget is Rs 70-80 lakh. Special emphasis will be given to post production as we are required to recreate the Imphal during 1940's to recollect few scenes of Japanese soldiers in Manipur," the director says.

According to Mohen, "our forefathers and those who witnessed the Second World War will never forget the courage of Japanese soldiers. Our grandfathers called the War as Japan War, showing how popular" is Japan in this state.

"After the recent earthquake in Japan, people from Manipur voluntarily came out to donate and the sympathy was also pouring from every Manipuri living abroad. The Japanese government is also helping Manipur in many ways like offering hospitals and sericulture projects from time to time. It is time to show our love to them."

Mohen says Manipuri filmmakers have been talking with Japanese, Korean and Russian partners for a joint venture project of popularising regional talents and cinema.

"We realised the possibility of strengthening such bonding between Japanese and Manipuris through films and choose the subject of the My Japanese Niece hence," he says.
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Manipur students intensify stir

The students' bodies also asked counsellors of all Karnataka-based educational institutions' to leave Manipur within 24 hours counting from Thursday morning.

Imphal: Stepping up their agitation, six students bodies of Manipur have imposed a ban on goods produced in Karnataka in the northeastern Indian state.

The students' bodies also asked counsellors of all Karnataka-based educational institutions' to leave Manipur within 24 hours counting from Thursday morning.

The students are demanding CBI probes into the deaths of two Manipuri youths — Richard Loitam and Okram Laba — in suspicious circumstances in Karnataka.

Loitam, a resident of Uripok Yambem Leikai here, was found dead in his hostel at Acharya NRV School of Architecture in Bangalore on April 18 after senior students had allegedly thrashed him the previous night.

The student bodies have demanded that a ministerial team of Manipur be sent to Karnataka to pressurize the government there to ensure justice in the case.

The student leaders, belonging to All Manipur Students' Union (Amsu), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (Desam), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Swak and Suk, said the ban would be lifted only when the case is handed over to the CBI.

The agitating student bodies burnt effigies of chief ministers and home ministers of Karnataka and Manipur and picketed political party offices in Imphal in the past few days to register their protest.

Besides Richard, they are also demanding justice in the mysterious death case of another Manipur student, Okram Laaba, in Chennai last year.

A BCA student of Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Kelambakkam, Chennai, Laaba was found dead in his hostel room on June 23 last year.

Meanwhile, the regional Manipur People's Party Wednesday sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to institute a CBI probe into Richard's death "to avoid more trouble".
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Mixed response to Imphal bandh

IMPHAL: Life in Imphal was partially hit on Thursday owing to a 48-hour bandh called in protest against the government's failure to pay post-matric scholarship to Scheduled Caste (SC) students for 2010-2010, even as a series of strikes on other issues are also looming large.

Almost all major commercial establishments at Khwairamband market in the heart of Imphal were closed owing to the strike that came into force from Wednesday midnight. Besides, very few vehicles were seen on the roads. The bandh was, nevertheless, forceful in SC-dominated areas, including Kakching in Thoubal and Sekmai in Imphal West, with the agitators burning tyres and logs in the streets.

On May 14, the Post Matric Scholarship Affected Guardian Committee (PMSAGC) served an ultimatum pertaining to its demand to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh. The scholarship is sponsored by the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment and the same is given to SC students annually.

M Manglem, a key functionary of the committee and general secretary of Lois (SCs of Manipur), recalled that several memorandums had been submitted to the CM and other related departments but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM), too, alleged that the state authorities have turned a blind eye to the 2011-12 post matric scholarship for Scheduled Tribe students and listing of beneficiary list for rural shelter scheme.

The federation even cautioned that they would launch a stir in a democratic manner if the state continues to turn a deaf ear to the issue.

On the other hand, a student body has also threatened to impose a 48-hour bandh in the hills if the authorities fail to cancel the scheduled interview for recruitment to various teaching and non-teaching posts in the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus, Manipur (IGNTU-RCM).


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Manipur speaker promises support to HIV/AIDS patients

IMPHAL: Chairman of Manipur legislative forum on AIDS Th Lokeshwar Singh has assured that the forum will do whatever it can to fulfill the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA).

Lokeshwar, who's also the speaker of Manipur legislative assembly, said the forum will support the battle against stigma and discrimination and ensure that the marginal communities are brought to the mainstream.

Speaking as chief guest on the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observation here on Sunday, he lauded the role played by HIV positive people and drug users in leading the struggle for protection of rights and decreasing the spread of the HIV epidemic.

Manipur is one of the six states in the country with widespread prevalence of HIV/AIDS. According to the Manipur Aids Control Society (MACS), the state has 38,573 HIV positive people and 698 have died of the disease till March 2011. Till May 2001, 19,455 people have registered for Anti Retroviral Therapy.

Drawing the attention of the MACS project director to the unfinished task of revising the state AIDS policy, legislator I Ibohanbi Singh said policies are a must for tackling issues like HIV and AIDS.

"The draft state AIDS policy needs to be tabled at the earliest and discussed threadbare so that our response to the epidemic is in tune with the needs of the community. We need commitment and the gap between NGOs implementing HIV-related programmes and MACS has to be bridged so that the need of vulnerable communities are addressed," he said.

MACS project director Sailesh Kumar Chourasia said the event, based on the theme 'Promoting Health and Dignity Together', gave the people an opportunity to look at what they have achieved so far and, more importantly, chart out a future course of action to sustain the effort.

Different departments need to come together if we want to respond to the epidemic in a holistic manner, he said.

Sixteen civil society organizations, human rights groups, lawyers, drug users, nupi manbi (transgenders) and positive networks and NGOs in the state joined the observation.

The memorial function kicked off on Saturday with a painting competition for children affected by HIV and AIDS. It will continue as a year-long state-level campaign for solidarity in fighting the epidemic.


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Nepalis protest in Manipur

Community demands justice for murdered 16-year-old girl

Imphal, May 22 : The Nepali community in Manipur is not going to rest till justice is done to the alleged murder of a 16-year-old girl belonging to the community by her alleged lover some days back.

A joint action committee formed by the community today organised a peaceful student protest march from Kanglatongbi to Motbung in Sadar Hills of Senapati district with the warning that they might turn violent if justice was not done in the girl’s case.

Police recovered the body of Pushpa Basnet of Kanglatongbi Tispari on the night of May 17 from a foothill at Awang Leikinthabi under Sekmai police station of Imphal West. She had left home in the morning the same day saying she was going to Presidency College to collect the form for admission into Class XII. The post-mortem report said the girl had died of poisoning.

The police also recovered a car from the spot and the suspected killer, Khumanthem Ingo, 26, from Maharabi in Imphal West was arrested and is being questioned.

Ingo has claimed that he had a relationship with Pushpa and the two had decided to commit suicide by consuming poison but the community has refused to accept the story and charged Ingo with murdering Pushpa.

The Nepali population in Manipur is about 50,000, with about 15,000 concentrated in the Kanglatongbi and Motbung neighbourhoods.

The community is outraged by repeated attacks on the community’s young girls by culprits belonging to other communities.

Kharga Tamang, secretary of the joint action committee, said four girls, including Pushpa, were attacked and sexually assaulted in the past few years.

While three of them were murdered after being allegedly raped, another girl lost an eye permanently after she was attacked for resisting rape.

Tamang said barring the Pushpa case, no one had been arrested in the earlier three cases.

Pushpa’s death was the last straw for the residents of Kanglatongbi, who suspect that two other accomplices of Ingo were also involved in the crime.

After blocking the Imphal-Dimapur highway at Kanglatongbi and Motbung areas for two days on March 18 and 19, students today marched from Kanglatongbi to Presidency College at Motbung, about 2km from Kanglatongbi, braving the scorching heat.

While the students were marching shouting slogans, a group of women belonging to all communities staged a sit-in at Kanglatongbi bazar, demanding speedy justice.

The joint action committee is demanding a copy of the post-mortem report and arrest of all those involved in the case.

“We will continue our agitation. Today’s protest was peaceful. We may turn violent and block the highway again,” the president of the joint action committee said.
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Lapses in probe: Loitam’s uncle

The family of the 19-year-old Manipuri student Richard Loitam who is awaiting the final post-mortem report of his death, believe the police investigation is not as thorough as it should be. Richard’s uncle, Manbindu Singh, an SP in Manipur, said, “It’s surprising the police are depending on forensic science laboratory reports to come to a conclusion. Being a police officer, I know that there are other legal ways to solve the case. They have filed a report against two accused. The cops can arrest them and interrogate them. Delay is only leading to suspicion. If the police cannot solve the case, we request the government to hand it over to the CBI.”

The Bengaluru Rural police said they must get the FSL report before they can take any action. “Our investigating officer is at the hospital to collect the reports, but we have not received them,” Bengaluru Rural SP Prakash said. On reports that Loitam’s body has completely decomposed, he said that immediately after the case was registered on April 18 at the Madanayakanahalli police station, the body was shifted to Victoria Hospital for preservation.
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“His parents arrived in the city on April 19 evening and the post-mortem was conducted the next day. There was no negligence on the part of the police. By the time the autopsy was conducted, the body could have been partly decayed, but not completely,” he said. The forensic medical department too denies there was any delay or that the body had decayed. “We started the procedure on April 20 and there was no delay on our part,” Dr Dileep of the department said.

But Manipuri Meitei Association is not convinced. It is still concerned about the inordinate delay in fixing responsibility for the death of the young student. The president of the association, Mr Om Prakash, told “If the actual cause of death is not known by today evening, by tomorrow the association will decide and take a severe step. We have been waiting since long and don’t understand why there is a delay in the case. We do not want any innocent person to be punished but at the same time, if the cause of death is due to assault, the accused should be taken to task.”
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Through the third eye: How a 92-year-old veteran, Rishang Keishing became a Congressman

Congress leader from Manipur, Rishang Keishing, is the only sitting MP who was also a member of the first Lok Sabha. But this 92-year-old veteran entered the first and third Lok Sabha as a Socialist Party MP, and has an interesting tale on how he became a Congressman.

In 1964, the Socialist Party leader in Parliament, Raj Narain, asked party MPs to disrupt President S Radhakrishnan's address to the joint Parliament sitting for not speaking in Hindi. While the rest of the MPs agreed, Keishing dissented saying Hindi should not be forced on anyone.

Keishing's unhappiness with the Socialists also coincided with the Chinese aggression which made, according to him, a large section in his border state feel their safety would be better protected by a national party.

So, Keishing met PM Nehru at his Parliament office and expressed his desire to join the Congress. Nehru called in his parliamentary affairs minister and enrolled Keishing as Congress associate member on the spot. Keishing went on to become a four-time Congress CM.


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Man in uniform whom Manipur loves

Tamenglong, May 15 : Manipur’s relentless struggle against the controversial the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has not been able to shake a bond of 18 years between an army officer and the locals of Longdipabram, a remote hamlet some 175 km away from Imphal.

Though human rights activist Irom Sharmila and Lt Colonel DPK Pillay represent opposite ends of the spectrum, both have carved out a special place in the hearts of Manipuris.

Pillay returned to Longdipabram after 18 years. It was here he took militants’ bullets in his chest, legs and arms as a 27-year-old captain on January 25, 1994, and was later decorated with Shaurya Chakra. Athanbou Pamei, the 52-year-old village chief, recalled, “A girl and a boy — Masebiliu and Adingmang — were wounded in the crossfire. Captain sa’ab was bleeding profusely, it seemed he wouldn’t live. Still, when a helicopter came to rescue him, he refused to go and insisted that the girls be evacuated.”

Recognising the army officer’s extraordinary relationship with the village, minister of state for defence Pallam Raju flew Pillay — currently posted in Delhi — to Imphal in a special aircraft on Saturday for a foundation-stone laying ceremony of a road from Tamenglong to Longdipab-ram.

Young girls posed for pictures and old women with crumpled skin touched his face. “We owe him a debt of gratitude. He is one of us,” said Pamei.

At a time when the country is debating a sense of alienation among people from the northeast, Pallam said the relationship between Pillay and the village was a shining example of how all chasms could be bridged if the hearts met.

He said, “Any Indian Army soldier would sacrifice his life for children.”
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