Northeast Platform

IMPHAL, Aug 2: Womenfolk and students have still not overcome the shock of child abductions in the state even after the proscribed PREPAK outfit clarified that they would stop recruitment of children as child soldiers and the Manipur government stepped up security measures to check kidnapping of children. "We want to know who are the real culprits in the current trend of kidnapping attempts that are being reported every day," said a woman participating in a sit-in protest staged at Khurai Lamlong bazar in Imphal east today. "We have been kept in a confusing situation and fear still exists in our minds as the reports of attempts to kidnap and escape of children from abductors are still coming frequently," she said. The woman while recounting the incident of July 31 in which two boys from a school at Khurai Heikrumakhong were reportedly taken away by some miscreants before being released later after police and locals conducted a massive manhunt for them in Heingang hi...

IMPHAL, Aug 1: Police today said that it has rescued a driver of a truck kidnapped by KRA(U) with the nabbing of three of its cadres including its self styled finance secretary and a woman cadre.On the other hand, two cadres of different militant outfits were detained under the Naitonal Security Act, NSA by an order of the state home department, an official source said Friday.SP, Thoubal police in a statement today said that a team of police commandos rescued a non-local driver hailing from Kohima, Nagaland who was kidnapped by KRA(U) cadres from Kakching in Thoubal district. The driver named Manoj Suraj, son of Man Bahadur hailing from Kohima was kidnapped from Kangpokpi by the cadres of the outfit and was rescued in a follow up action of the commando team who nabbed the cadres of the outfit yesterday from Namdulong, Stadium road, Imphal.Two cadres of KRA(U) including a woman were nabbed by a team of Thoubal district police commandos during a frisking and checking operation from Namdu...

IMPHAL, Jul 31: An international seminar-cum-workshop on the "Spiritual and physical dimension of Manipur martial arts" is to be held at the Manipur University campus in Imphal from August 9 to 12.The four-day event is an attempt to put together at one place the overwhelming complexity of the entire martial arts tradition of the ethnic communities of Manipur and the venture has never been attempted before, according to the organisers.The necessity to bring the various hills and plains traditions of martial arts together at one go is compelled by the need to draw the attention of the academics, the university intellectuals and the general public about the ascent of the cultural practice of Manipur martial arts in the international arena, the organisers said adding that it was the desire of the students from the international community to learn and practice this art.The organisers further mentioned that though attracting unprecedented attention the exhibitory character of its p...

IMPHAL, Jul 31: In yet another episode of child kidnapping a major operation was launched after a complaint was made by school authorities over the disappearance of two students this afternoon to the Imphal east police. The operation was conducted in Heingangching area by the Imphal east police.The matter came to light following complaints from the authorities of Jatra English School Khurai Heikrumakhong under Porompat police station in Imphal east district. The school authorities said they found two students identified as Leimaram Rudrajit Singh, 13, son of L Birbabu Singh of Khurai Heikrumakhong and Akash Sai, 13, son of the school chowkidar identified as Johny Sai, residing at the school campus, missing from the school during school hours this afternoon around 2.30 pm after both went out through the half broken wall of the school and accompanied some unidentified persons who came in a Maruti van.In the meantime, the school authorities on being suspicious over the disappearance of bo...

IMPHAL, Jul 30: At least two suspected PREPAK(VC) cadres who were allegedly behind the recruitment of children into the outfit were killed in follow up action after a child kidnapper was apprehended from Langthabal Kunja today in a operation conducted by the Imphal west police commandos jointly with the troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry, police said.Two suspected PREPAK cadres were killed today in a shootout with a combined force of Imphal west police commandos and troops of 12 Maratha Light Infantry at Laphupat Tera part-II this afternoon at 12.45 pm.The two were killed during a follow up action of the combined force following arrest of a 19-year old person named Akham Bobby Singh, son of Noren of Mayang Imphal Thana Wangkhei Leikai, a "child recruiter-cum-abductor" of PREPAK(VC) from Langthabal Kunja area, Imphal west SP Kailun said in a statement today.Bobby was arrested today at around 9.30 am by personnel of the Imphal west police commandos after receiving specific in...

Imphal, Aug 1: Protest rally against the ongoing rampant kidnappings of children in Manipur has spread to the hill districts of Manipur today. A rally against the kidnapping of children was held for the `first time` in the hills by the students, staff and parents of Peace Academy , Chadong village in Ukhrul district on Friday. This was followed by a meeting at the newly built village community hall of Chadong. The gathering carried placards such as "Stop child kidnapping", "We want peace", "We want free movement and education", "Make education free zone" etc, and shouted the same. `Peace Academy`, a private Co-Educational Institution jointly promoted by Jesus Gospel Ministry (NE India) and High Hills Development Cooperation for the poorest of the poor and the orphanage, was established in January, 2007. Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Ashang Kasar, Executive Administrator and Chairman of Peace Academy revealed that this rally was the `first time` i...

For the 11th Manipur Integrity Day arrange-ments have been made to observe it at 18 different places across the State on August 4 under the aegis of the All Manipur United Clubs’ Organisation (AMUCO). A press release issued by AMUCO informed that the Integrity Day will be observed at THAU ground Imphal, Sawom-bung (Imphal East), Langdum (Imphal East), Sagolmang (Imphal East), Lamsang (Imphal West), Leisangkhong (Imphal West), Nambol (Bishnupur district), Bishenpur, Moirang, Kakching Khunou, Langmeidong, Khong-jom, Yairipok Singa, Yairipok Top Chingtha, Moreh, Churachandpur, Jiribam and Mayophung (Ukhrul district). It appealed to the people and all organisations to participate in the observations arranged at these places and also not to call bandh or general strike on this day. A second souvenir dedicated to the 23 martyrs who laid down their lives for the territorial integrity and unity of Manipur will be released on the 11th Integrity Day. In the people’s movement that erupted on Aug...