The People’s Chronicle can be contacted at 9436020649 (News), 8118936893 (Gas – from Gas agencies only) and office at 0385 – 2459175/2446562

Congress leaders during the political conference on Sunday

A diesel tanker off-loaded from the C-17 aircraft at Tulihal airport

Young participants of the 1-km long painting competition

Women Kachai emon growers exhibit their produce during the annual festival

A sister publication of ‘ Poknapham’

WEATHER FORECASTWind

12 km/h

Gust

16 km/h

Rainfall

0 mm

Min

60C

Max

260C

Regd. No. MANENG/2012/45461 Volume V, Issue 131 Imphal | Monday, January 23, 2017 | 10 Pages | `4.50

ASHANGBI INDANE, SugnuB/upto 12-10-16; V/from 04-10-16STK : 306; Time: 9 am - 11.30 amKHORIPHABA GAS, NambolB/upto 20-09-16; V/from 19-09-16STK : 306 (DBTL); Time: 7 am - 9 amR&H GAS SERVICEB/upto 23-09-16; V/from 19-09-16STK : 522 (DBTL); Time: 8 am - 11 amMAHALAKSMI INDANEB/upto 28-09-16; V/from 08-09-16STK : 306 (DBTL); Time: 7.30 am - 10.30 am

Sl.No. 3140KHONGNANG GAS, BishnupurB/upto 20-07-16; V/from 18-07-16STK : 306; Time: 7 am - 10 amSAWOMBUNG INDANEB/upto 21-09-16; V/from 10-09-16STK : 306 (DBTL); Time: 7.30 am - 10.30 amK&K INDANE SERVICEB/upto 12-10-16; V/from 07-10-16STK : 612; Time: 7.30 am - 11 am

Give exact changeGBD INDANE SERVICE, LamlongB/upto 05-09-16; V/from 27-08-16STK : 612; Time: 7.30 am - 11 amMANIPUR GASB/upto 22-09-16; V/from 20-09-16STK : 306 (DBTL); Time: 7.30 am - 9.30 amMISAO GAS SERVICEB/upto 06-10-16; V/from 17-09-16STK : 612; Time: 7.30 am - 11 amATHOKPAM INDANE, Wangjing&KhongjomB/upto 24-09-16; V/from 14-09-16STK : 612 (CTC only); Time: 7.30 am - 10 am

Submit your Aadhaar card xerox copyJEMON GAS, SingjameiB/upto 05-09-16; V/from 30-08-16STK : 306 (CTC only); Time: 7 am - 10 am

Sl.No. 5280

Beautiful with plenty of sunshine

Saina Nehwal clinches Malaysia Masters title

P10

Five tonne Kachai lemon adorn annual festival 2017STAFF REPORTER

UKHRUL: Notwithstanding the diffi-culties faced by the farmers such as insufficient rainfall and infestation, etc., production of Kachai Lemon recorded over 5 tonnes this year.

The annual yield is calculated on the basis of display/sale of the cit-rus fruit during the Kachai Festival, which is held every year on January 20 at Kachai village in Ukhrul district. Over 250 lemon growers of Kachai participated in the event organised by Kachai Farming & Processing Co-operative Society and supported by Manipur Organic Mission Agen-cy (MOMA), Manipur Tourism and Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

Speaking to the media, chairman of the cooperative society Kensith Horam lamented that despite getting the prestigious GI tag, production of Kachai Lemon and its popularity could not be augmented as expected by the growers.

Alleging that the state government

is according importance and attention to Kachai Lemon growers, he also conveyed that the local farmers have decided to adopt organic farming with the assistance of MOMA, a unit of Department of Horticulture.

The Lemon Festival which featured a buyer-seller meet and an organic

workshop conducted by MOMA, was also marked by presentation of awards to lemon growers with scientists of ICAR as juries. The prize winners were decided after the jury members examined size, juice con-tent and ascorbic acid content of the citrus fruit.

V Ngamreila Sira bagged the top honour while K Rosy and Shoima Vashum respectively secured the second and third positions. The three best exhibitors’ awards went to Theimi Vashum, Ringmichon Vashum and RK Ningtharla.

Kachai lemon is among the top 10 horticultural products from North East India to have got the GI tag and it has the highest ascorbic acid among the citrus fruits. The lemon festival started in 2005 to encourage lemon growers and promote Kachai lemon itself.

Additional director of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, government of Manipur AS Ningmi and district horticulture officer (Ukhrul) M Kiran were respectively chief guest and president of the inaugural function of the festival which was also attended by K Jogeshchandra Sharma, office-in-charge Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Ma-nipur and K Debadutta Sharma, CEO MOMA as guests of honour.

Unique painting competition attracts onlookers

STAFF REPORTER

IMPHAL: In a unique style of conducting painting com-petition and for the first time in the state, participants of a painting competition held under the theme of ‘Free, fair and peaceful election’ stretched on from the north-ern gate of Kangla Fort's pe-

riphery to the southern gate of the sacred site on Sunday.

The painting competition was jointly organised by Edi-tors’ Guild Manipur and Neo-gene Contemporary Arts of Manipur and was sponsored by office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur as part of its ongoing SVEEP campaign.

j Continue on page 8

STAFF REPORTER

IMPHAL: Even though the first list of candidates who are to contest the upcoming 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly on BJP ticket was pub-lished in some local dailies, official announcement of the list will be made in the coming few days.

In forming this, BJP Manipur Pradesh election management com-mittee convener Th Chaoba has dis-closed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state on January 29 to join party’s campaign for the upcoming assembly polls.

Amidst the growing misunder-standing/dissension within party workers on allotment of tickets, Th Chaoba told The People's Chronicle on Sunday that party’s parliamentary board meeting held on January 19 at New Delhi finalised the first list of party’s candidates but official an-nouncement of the same will be made only in the coming days.

The first list comprising 32 can-didates, who were nominated by party’s core committee after de-

tailed discussion, was tabled before the parliamentary board meeting chaired by national president Amit Shah. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home minister Rajnath Singh, cabinet ministers Shahnawaz Hussain, Ram Madhav, Ram Lal, Prakash Javadekar and Prahlad Singh Patel apart from other national leaders. The meeting which was also participated by BJP Manipur Pradesh president Bhabanan-da and legislature wing leader Biswajit approved the first list after detailed discussion and there will not be any change, Chaoba added categorically.

Regarding the second list, the state BJP leader told this staffer that party’s core committee meeting convened Saturday at Guwahati in Assam fi-nalised the names of candidates and

the list will be submitted to the par-liamentary board. Preparations are being made for announcing the second list officially by January 27 after get-ting approval from the parliamentary board, he added.

Stating that some people aspiring to contest election on the party’s ticket will leave when they do not get tickets, Chaoba said that this is normal practice for every political party during the time of election but the BJP has a long practice of assigning a right post to those who could not get party tickets.

He also informed this daily that state BJP unit approached the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take part in election campaign in the state at least twice.

Chaoba said the PM will visit the state on January 29 and join the cam-

paign in Imphal and Churachandpur. Several Union ministers will also visit the state to join party’s campaign from January 24 onwards, he said, adding that a tentative schedule for the visit of the Prime Minister and other Union ministers to the state has been submitted to the Election Commission of India.

Clarifying that there was no fa-vouritism and corruption in ticket allotment, the state BJP leader termed allegations levelled against the party as baseless and maintained that tickets were issued to the qualified persons.

When asked if the party will proj-ect the chief ministerial candidate, Chaoba said that no such decision has been made so far and the decision in this regard will be finalised by party’s central leaders.

Modi will campaign in state on Jan 29: ChaobaBJP Likely To

Announce Second List By January 27

BJP politics not suitable in state: SpeakerSTAFF REPORTER

IMPHAL: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which believes in sec-tarian politics will have no place in a state like Manipur where different communities live in peace and harmony, exclaimed Manipur Legis-lative Assembly Speaker Th Lokeshwar.

He was speaking as chief guest at the women political conference held at Laipham Khunou Meetong Lampak under the aegis of Heingang Block Mahila Congress Com-mittee, Sunday.

Pointing out that Manipur is a tiny state in the Indian union, Lokeshwar expressed disappointment over the si-lent attitude of the Union government ruled by BJP

when the people of Manipur are suffering. It is because of the indifferent attitude of the BJP that the people are facing serious problems and suffering for the last many months, he said.

While reminding the peo-ple that the infamous June

18 incident occurred in the state during the BJP rule at the centre, he said that the BJP which has a communal character will have no room in Manipur where people of different communities are living in peace and harmony.

j Continue on page 8

BJP office stormed, members mull resignationIMPHAL: Supporters of three BJP ticket aspirants stormed the BJP Manipur Pradesh office located at Nityaipat Chuthek here on Sunday.

Large number of people who stormed the office shouted slogan that party’s ticket in respect of Thoubal, Wangkhem and Hiyanglam should be given respectively to Leishangthem Suresh, L Kadamjit and Dhanabir.

A team of Imphal West police rushed

to the office upon hearing the news and controlled the mob from entering the party office.

On the other-hand, barring its presi-dent, members of BJP Konthoujam Mandal threatened to resign from the party un-less the party’s central authority select a candidate for Konthoujam assembly con-stituency from among the five intending candidates recommended by the Mandal.

j Continue on page 8

Two AR men, two UGs killed in Assam ambush

AGENCIES

TINSUKIA: Two soldiers of the Assam Rifles were killed and two others injured on Sunday when militants ambushed a convoy near Jairampur on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border, police said.

The security forces, howev-er, launched a counter-insur-gency operation immediately in the area and killed two of the militants involved in the ambush.

The attack-ers belonged to the United L i b e r a t i o n Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW), a joint platform of most of the north-eastern militant outfits, including the anti-talk faction of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), National So-cialist Council of Nagaland led by Khaplang (NSCN-K) and Coordination Committee (CorCom) of Manipur.

Assam Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Sa-

hay said security forces had launched a counter-insur-gency operation against the militants.

"Two of the militants in-volved in the ambush were neutralised later. The forces also recovered two weapons from their possession," said the DGP.

Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Mugdhajyoti Mahanta

said 15 to 20 militants car-ried out the ambush.

Unofficial sources said the militants fled with some arms and am-

munition of the Assam Rifles personnel after the attack.

ULFA and NSCN-K had ambushed an army convoy in Tinsukia district in Novem-ber last year and killed three soldiers.

Following the incident, the security forces had restricted the movement of vehicles on Jagun-Jairampur Road and in-tensified mobile check-posts.

j Continue on page 8

Warplane ferries in diesel

STAFF REPORTER

IMPHAL: A day after the in-ter-ministerial meeting held at the national capital reviewed the supply of essential com-modities in economic blockade hit Manipur, Indian Air Force’s newly inducted transport air-

craft, C-17 Globemaster, car-ried out two sorties on Sunday to bring in transport fuel.

The massive air-craft, usu-ally used for military purpos-es or in emergency situation, made its maiden trip to Tulihal airport at around 5 pm.

j Continue on page 8

Ibobi incited blockade: UNCCHRONICLE BUREAU

IMPHAL: Reacting to reports about chief minister O Ibobi Singh commenting that there are neither Nagas in Ma-nipur nor do the land belong to any particular community, three former United Naga Council presidents con-tended that such irresponsible attitude and conduct of the CM is the root cause of the on-going economic blockade.

A joint statement issued by former council presidents namely KS Paul Leo, Samson Remei and L Adani high-lighted that UNC is the apex tribe-based civil society organisation of the Nagas in Manipur mandated to protect the land and rights of the Nagas in particular and the tribals in general.

The four memorandums of under-standing, which were signed between the Government of Manipur and Naga organisations, agreed that creation of new districts, if any, should not be

done without consulting the stake-holders, they said.

While pointing out that there is also an assurance from the Government of India, based on the declaration of chief minister Ibobi in the presence of the then Union home minister Chidambaram and UNC delegates that sentiment of the stakeholders would be respected, the statement explained that the stakeholders include those whose lives, land, livelihood, situ-ation and opportunities would be affected by any decision of the state government.

Position of the Nagas is democrat-ic, fair and constitutional, the joint statement said, while adding that the MOUs and assurance did not emerge from the magnanimity of the Govern-ment of Manipur but each of them were extracted with agitations and self-inflicted pains.

j Continue on page 8

BJP unable to announce candidates, Achouba threatens to quit Congress

STAFF REPORTER

IMPHAL: With 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly election just round the cor-ner, battle for getting tickets of BJP and Congress party is also gaining momentum.

BJP has been unable to announce names of already finalised candidates for the first phase due to huge pres-sures and flaks from several intending candidates, who do not feature in the list. On the other hand, Congress is also reportedly facing some tough situations with possibilities of some of its MLAs defecting from the party.

Amid such fluid political situation, former MPCC vice-president and KVIB vice-chairman Sagolsem Achouba of Wangoi assembly constituency has announced that he will resign from Congress and the post of vice-chair-

man of KVIB as well if he does not get the Congress ticket to contest in the election.

Meanwhile, BJP on Sunday an-nounced names of 155 candidates of Uttar Pradesh for the second phase while keeping the names of finalised candidates for Manipur unannounced even though first phase candidates for both the poll-bound states were finalised on the same day.

Sources said that the saffron party is delaying the official announcement of its candidates for Manipur due to possible readjustment in the finalised list with the party reportedly trying to rope in some Congress MLAs. In addition, there is huge pressure from intending candidates, who are not in the list of candidates published in the state dailies.

j Continue on page 8

Gunmen slay farm worker, general strike called

KANGPOKPI: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a pillion rider along National Highway-2 near N Songlung village under Gamnom-Sapor-meina police station at around 8 pm Sat-urday.

Later, police identified the victim as one Kamjang Haokip (47) son of late Nohsei Haokip of Gamnom Sapormeina. The police retrieved the body and deposited it at RIMS morgue for postmortem.

Meanwhile, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi district and various CSOs based in the district have strongly condemned the killing and stated that law and order deteriorated in Kangpokpi district without any hope for improvement.

Taking strong exception to prevalence of wanton killings by anti-social elements, Kuki Inpi Kangpokpi district including Kuki Students’ Organisation Kangpokpi District and Kuki Women Union Kangpokpi District decried the killing and termed it as a threat to public safety.

j Continue on page 8

NSCN-IM cadre arrestedIMPHAL: Imphal West police commandos re-portedly arrested a cadre of NSCN-IM on Sunday from Keithelmanbi area, who was involved in the recent attack on security forces on NH 37. The arrested IM cadre has been identified as Sangthounang Panmei (30) son of Mihemang Panmei of Namkaolong village in Tamenglong district but staying at Tamenglong model village ward no 3.

Police source said the commando team conducted search operation following input of presence of some IM cadres in Keithelmanbi area. The CDOs arrested Panmei from a junc-tion leading to Namching village.

During interrogation, Sangthounang re-vealed that he works under one Hanreishim of NSCN-IM. He gathers information on movement of security forces on NH-37 and reports to Hanreishim. He also revealed about providing information on movement of se-curity forces prior to the recent armed attack on security forces. The CDO team seized one Samsung mobile handset and two SIM cards from his possession.

Search Ops continue, arms seized

IMPHAL: Ahead of the Republic Day celebration, cordon and search operation was conduct-ed Sunday at Oinam Leikai under Singjamei police station.

The search operation con-ducted from 5.20am was su-pervised by additional SP (Ops) Dr S Ibomcha and led jointly by SDPO Singjamei Debanand, SDPO (CDO) Rojit, commando OC Thangampao and Singjamei OC inspector Ingocha.

Five persons who did not possess identification doc-uments were detained and handed over to Singjamei police for further verification.

Three licensed double bar-rel guns and two small arms were also recovered during the search operation, a police source said.

A patient being examined during the free eye camp organised at National Children’s School, Khongman on Sunday

Nupi Samaj secretary Thokchom Ramani (C) giving away prize of the state level painting competition organised by AMSU at DM college campus on Sunday

Sunday SpoilerThursday TheatricsSunday SpoilerMotley Monday

JACAATB holds meet with tribe leaders

CCPUR: Joint Action Committee Against Anti-Tribal Bills (JACAATB) Sunday convened a joint meeting with repre-sentatives of various apex tribal bod-ies, tribe-based philanthropic youth organisations and student bodies which have persistently extended their support to the tribal movement spearheaded by JACAATB. The joint meeting attended by leaders from the tribe/community based organisations of Mizo, Paite, Simte, Tedim Chin and Zou tribes/communities deliberated on the way forward for the JACAATB and resolved to participate in the up-coming tribute program for nine tribal martyrs being planned by Young Paite Association on January 26 at Salpha Pumbuk, Hiangtam Lamka.

No cracks in state BJP, claims MLA Biswajit IMPHAL: Refuting media reports that state BJP unit has developed cracks over ticket allotment, party’s lone MLA Th Biswajit termed the reports published in some state dailies as baseless and false. P3

Control price, fare hike: AMSU tells govtIMPHAL: Concerned over hike in prices of essential com-modities as well as passenger fare, All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) has urged the state government to control the rising price triggered by the economic blockade imposed by United Naga Council (UNC) on the national highways. P3

Course on thyroid disorder management beginsIMPHAL: In a first of its kind in the state, a 4-month certificate course on thyroid disorder man-agement commenced at IMA hall, Lamphelpat under the aegis of Public Health Foundation of India, Gurgaon, Sunday. P3