Imphal, 16 July 2016 ( Evening News) : At least 4 school students have been injured in the protest against construction of an Power Station on Yairipok High School campus yesterday. Police arrested 3 members of the JAC in connection with the protest. Yesterday around 12 noon students of Yairipok High School launched protest against the installation of a Power Station on the School campus. They damaged the temporary shed used by the labourers. Personnel of Yairipok police station fired into the air to disperse the agitating   students injuring 2 of them. The protest became intensified after police arrested 3 members of the JAC formed against the installation of the power station on the school campus. Students stormed the Yairipok police station and shouted slogans demanding release of the arrested JAC members. Scuffles occurred between the protesting students and police personnel. Two girl students fainted in the scuffle and they were rushed to  Yairipok Primary health centre. The situation in and around the school has become tense after students opposed the construction of the power station on the High School campus. Police personnel are keeping a strict vigil to prevent untoward incidents in the area. Sources said the JAC members were not released till late last night .

Imphal, 16 July 2016 : Head of department of Education, Manipur University, Dr. Premlata Meisnam today remarked that recruitment of Primary, Upper Primary and Graduate Teachers under the SSA and RMSA based on mark basis does not meet the full criteria structure. She was participating in the one-day discussion on “Recruitment Process of Primary, Upper Primary and Graduate Teachers under SSA & RMSA”. The event was organised by Kangleipak Students Association, KSA at Manipur Dramatic Union auditorium. Dr. Premlata further said the primary level is the foundation stone and backbone of Education. She said marks do not confirm the aptitude and competence of a teacher. She said since 2011 teachers are recruited on basis of marks which she termed as ‘unfortunate’. One of the resource persons, Dr. S. Gunadhor, former Associate Professor of Imphal College said recruitments done on basis of marks is a wrong step. He said the marks of Class 10, 12 and graduation do not show how qualified a person is for teaching. Many teaching staff of colleges and Manipur University took part in the event as resource persons. Students from various colleges and Manipur university attended the discuusion. Professor N. Mohendro Singh, former Director of College Development Council, Manipur University chaired the discussion.

Imphal, 16 July 2016 : Commissioner of State Excise Department, Dr. Shailesh Kumar Chourasia today stated that there is no proposal of legalising country liquor produced in Andro, Sekmai and Phayeng. Speaking to media at the press conference  organised by DIPR at its complex to sensitise the works taken up various department of the govt, Dr Chourasia also said shortage of staff makes it impossible for the dept to effectively curb the menace of drugs and alcohol. He maintained that excise department is an ageing department, facing a slow death. There  are 704 sanctioned posts in Excise Department but there are only 409 post existing while 295 are lying vacant. He said every month 20 to 30 personnel retire from service and there has been no fresh recruitment. The department has 39 Excise Stations and doing its best to prevent smuggling of foreign liquor into the State and has collected Rs 10 crore as fines from illegal sale of liquor in 2015-16.  Dr Shailesh Kumar Chourasia added that collective effort of Home Department, Civil Society Organisations and Excise Department is needed for effectively implementation of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991.

Imphal, 16 July 2016 : Chief Electoral Officer, Oinam Nabakishore,  today stated that any Indian citizen can enjoy voting rights at the place where he or she has been living for 6 to 12 months. Participating in the press meet organised by DIPR, CEO Nabakishore said as per the People’s Representative Act, anyone who comes from outside of Manipur can vote in Manipur if he has been living in the state for more than 1 year and there is no term as Manipuri citizen but it is Indian Citizen. He also added that the term of current state govt ends on March 18 and Election Commission of India has already intimated to the state authority to hold the general election before March 18. Preparation of the free and fair conduct of the election has also begun and appealed to all to co-operate with the authority. He said the electoral roll revision has started and the draft electoral roll will be published in September, 2016. The checking of EVMs will begin from tomorrow. Joint Chief  Electoral Officer N. Praveen and Assistant Chief Electoral Officer N. Angang-jao also attended the press meet.

Imphal, 15 July 2016 ( Evening News) : Repair work of the suspension bridge on the Imphal river connecting Chirai village of Mayang Imphal and Irong village of Wabagai began today. The bridge had been lying unused for a long time and its bad condition had caused accidents which claimed lives of 4 / 5 persons. Pradhan of Irong Chesaba GP Md. Abdul Salam and member of BJP Manipur Pradesh, Kongkham Robindro with the help of people of both the villages repaired the bridge. Residents of Chirai village stated that they go to Irong for worship as they do not have a mosque in their village. But the bad condition of the bridge gave them a lot of hardship and expressed happiness at the initiative to repair the bridge. Robindro said the bridge is very old and appealed for construction of a new bridge.