Imphal, 18 October 2016 ( Evening News ) : Former human rights activist turned politician Irom Chanu Sharmila today floated her political party called People's Resurgent and Justice Alliance, PRJA at the Manipur press club. Team Sharmila for change, a platform for people Manipur seeking a new beginning in the socio political landscape of North east organised the event. Irendro Leichongbam is the Convenor of the party while Irom Sharmila, Phundreimayum Najima and James Mayengbam are ad-hoc conveners. Sharmila will contest in Khurai and Thoubal Constituency, Phundreoimayum Najima in Wabagai and Convenor Irendro Leichongbam in Thangmeinband. The Party will decide its symbol by November 12 and register with the Election Commission of India. The party will field its candidates in at least  20 Assembly constituencies and is hopeful of their success. Ahead of the announcement of floating her  regional political party, Irom Chanu Sharmila today visited Johnstone Higher Secondary School early this morning. Irom Sharmila entered the school campus around 8.30 am and sat there for sometime. After that Irom Sharmila prayed at the hall where the first assembly session of Manipur was held on Oct 19, 1948. She said it is the place form where Manipur became a democratic state and she wanted to begin her new phase of life from the historic place.

Imphal, 17 October 2016 ( Evening News ) : Irom Chanu Sharmila is going to announce her new regional political party along with names of 3 candidates including herself. Irom Sharmila spoke to Impact News new discussion show Aspiring Candidates which started airing from today. Irom Chanu Sharmila said she will contest the 2017 general assembly election from Khurai A/C and Thoubal A/C which is the home turf of the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Sharmila said her party has around 20 candidates who will fight the upcoming election.

Imphal, 15 October 2016 ( Evening News ) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to former President APJ Abdul Kalam on his 85th birth anniversary today. Modi wrote in a tweet "Tributes to our former President, the person who captured the imagination of every Indian, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary," .  Kalam, India's 11th President, was born in 1931 into a Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. A team of DRDO officials led by P K Singh visited the memorial site at Peikarumbu, where Kalam was laid to rest after his death in July in 2015.  They held discussions with local officials regarding various aspects of the memorial. Officials said a total of Rs 50 crore had been allocated for the memorial and a knowledge centre. In the first phase, Rs 15 crore will be spent for the construction of the memorial on a 27,000 sq ft area. It would cover the burial site and a statue of Kalam.

Imphal, 15 October 2016 ( Evening News ) : Nurses working at RIMS will cease work from October 18 protesting the deputation of a nursing counsellor to Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Members of RIMS Nurses Association Lamphelpat today held at sit-in at RIMS OPD gate protesting deputation of L. Kullabati Devi to the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation as Nursing Counsellor. The nurses threatened to intensify their protest if the  deputation order of L. Kullabati Devi is not cancelled by the 18th of this month. They began their protest at 10am demanding cancellation of the order and clarification from the RIMS  authority on the absence of qualified candidates in RIMS. It may be recalled that L. Kullabati who is working as Deputy Nursing Superintendant at Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital New Delhi has been appointed as RIMS Nursing Counsellor of Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation on the 13th of this month.

Imphal, 15 October 2016 ( Evening News ) : The 18 hour black day general strike called by Co-ordination Committee CorCOM has hit life in various parts of the state today. Most roads including national highways wore deserted look in Greater Imphal as commercial vehicles including passenger services remained off the roads. All markets, shops and business establishments downed the shutter during the general strike. Shops in Paona Bazar, Thangal Bazar, Moreh International Market and Khwairamband Keithel remained closed. Both govt and private educational institutes, Cinema Halls, Banks and private companies also remained closed. It may be mentioned that CorCOM has been observing October 15 as Black Day to protest the Merger Agreement signed between  Maharaja Bodhachandra and India Government in Shillong on October 15, 1945. The general strike has been called from midnight last night till 6pm this evening.