Panic buying Contd from page 1

IMPHAL
FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER 2014
Training programme starts
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 16: A three-day training programme on the topic,
‘Promoting dairy and entreneurship through managemental intervention’, organised by Manipur Milk Producers Co-operative
Union (MMPCU), has kick started at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Lamphelpat from today.
MMPCU Managing Director S Shantikumar, ICAR Joint
Director Dr N Prakash, MMPCU Senior Executive L
Saratchandra, ICAR Principal Scientist (Seed Technology) Dr
I Meghachandra and Organising Secretary Dr Rishikanta
graced the opening function as chief guest, president and
guests of honour respectively.
S Shantikumar while speaking at the function said that
MMPCU is making available pasteurised milk to the public
after collecting milk from cattle farmers.
He said that the main objective of the union is to assist the
cattle farmers of the State in enhancing milk production.
Shantikumar said that the union is planning to produce
cattle feed as well with technical support from ICAR although
there are some material constraints.
Saying that many State cattle farmers have received training
from AMUL in Gujarat, Shantikumar added that many other
training programmes are also in the offing.
In his speech, Dr N Prakash said that milk production in
all the North East States except Tripura is decreasing.
He said that ICAR scientists are always ready to share
technical know-how with farmers.
Apart from imparting training to cattle farmers by ICAR
scientists, bank officials will also speak during the three-day
training programme.
World Food Day observed
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 16: As in other parts of the globe, World Food
Day was observed under the theme, ‘Family farming: Feeding the
world, caring for the earth’, at the training hall of State Agriculture
Directorate today.
Agriculture Director S Gunija Devi, Joint Director Louis
Ngasainao and CADA Additional Chief Engineer K
Manoranjan graced the function as chief guest, president and
guest of honour respectively.
In her speech, S Gunija said that Food and Agricultural
Organisation, which is one of the important branches of UN,
was established on October 16, 1945.
To commemorate the day, World Food Day is observed
across the globe, she added.
Saying that the UN has declared 2014 as International Year
of Family Farming, Gunija said that family farming not only
brings socio-economic development but also ensures food
security.
The Director added that it is also eco-friendly.
All Manipur Progressive Farmers Association also observed the day at their Keishampat office with association
president Joy Nongmaithem gracing the function as functional
president.
Chaoba demands action
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 16: Strongly condemning the thrashing of engineering student T Michael Lamjathang by some local youth in
Bangalore, BJP Manipur Pradesh President Th Chaoba has demanded early arrest and exemplary punishment to the culprits.
Addressing a press conference held at their Nityaipat
Chuthek office, Th Chaoba expressed serious concern over
frequent harassments meted out to North East people in Delhi,
Bangalore and other Indian cities.
He said that officials and Government representatives from
UP, Bihar and Union Home Ministry visited the State and not
only took stock of the situation but also demanded action
against the culprits when an altercation broke out at the campus of NIT Manipur.
On the other hand, it is not known to the public whether
similar steps have been taken by the Government of Karnataka
regarding the brutal assault of T Michael Lamjathang Haokip
for not speaking Kannada in Bangalore on October 14 night.
However, BJP Manipur Pradesh would urge the Union
Home Minister and Karnataka Government to take action
against the culprits.
In the meantime, Th Chaoba also extended greetings to the
womenfolk of the State ahead of Ningol Chakkouba festival.
He wished that the festival brings change, peace and harmony in the State.
Students' Unions poll
IMPHAL, Oct 16: With the objective of ensuring smooth enforcement of students' union election code of conduct, a committee
known as Monitoring Cell of College & Hr Sec Students' Union
2014-15 has been formed.
The committee would ensure that the code of conduct is
strictly followed in the ensuing college/sec school election,
according to a statement issued by the convenor of Monitoring
Cell, Sukham Premjit.
The code of conduct, amongst others, restricts candidates
from organising feast, party, presenting gifts that could result
in division among the students as part of their campaign. It
also restrict use of intoxicants in campaigning, entry of others
(non-students of the college) for campaigning purpose.
The Cell would ensure that the code of conduct is strictly
enforced.
It appealed to all concerned to extend cooperation in order
to groom capable and dynamic student leaders.
ASAA meeting on Oct 19
IMPHAL, Oct 16: Association for Supervision on Academic
Achievement (ASAA), Thoubal is set to take up different steps for
the smooth conduct of Class X and XII examinations.
In this regard, ASAA would organise a joint meeting of
Principals of colleges and Higher Secondary schools, managing committee representatives of private and Government high
schools at Waikhom Mani Girls’ College, Thoubal on October
19.
The meeting will also discuss the matter of awarding cash
prizes to meritorious students, who secure good marks in
Class X and XII examinations, said a press release.
Case admitted
By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 16 : The District Consumer Disputes Redressal
Forum has admitted a case against a doctor for arbitrarily sending
a patient for HIV testing on October 14 in contravention of the
guidelines laid down by the National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO). The complaint sought a fine of Rs 20 lakh from the doctor.
Harsh Vardhan wants ‘silent’ Diwali
NEW DELHI, Oct16
Union Health Minister Dr
Harsh Vardhan has urged Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor
Najeeb Jung to ensure that the
national capital celebrates a ‘silent’ Diwali this year.
Stating that noise-pollution
free Diwalis are fast becoming the norm in many parts of
the country, Harsh Vardhan
said, “A Supreme Court order of July 2005 had banned
the bursting of fire crackers
in residential areas.”
“The implementation of the
apex court’s order has been
practically absent in Delhi.
Some state governments have
been quite successful in ensuring quietness . I hope that
under your direction, Delhi
will turn a corner from this
Diwali onwards,” he added in
his letter to the Lieutenant
Governor of Delhi.
“Many excuses have been
offered by administrations of
the past for Delhi’s general
disregard (of the Supreme
Court’s order). The reasons
advanced vary from ‘cultural’
to ‘police insufficiency’.
These are all unacceptable,”
he said. The Health Minister,
who has already announced
that he is in the process of
constituting an expert group
to recommend nationwide
measures to prevent noise
pollution, recalled that progressive governments cannot
reconcile cultural sentiments
with the suffering of people,
especially children and old
people.
“Fire-crackers which sell
under a variety of names lead
to noise pollution which
causes many physical diseases for people of all age
groups. Small children and
senior children are traumatized the most during the
Diwali season because of the
tendency to burst loud crackers is most manifested during
the night. Many psychological disorders are also caused,”
he said.
Recalling his three decades
of experience as a practising
ENT surgeon in Delhi, he
said, “Many cases of traumatic perforation of the ear
drums tended to show a distinct increase in the aftermath
of Diwali. Apart from that
there are many burn cases and
eye injuries.”
“With only eight days left
for Diwali, the L-G should
not lose time in issuing strict
instructions to all police sta-
tions, resident welfare association and corporation
authorities to enforce the apex
Court’s order,” he added.
Simultaneously, the Lieutenant Governor was urged to
involve school and college
principals by asking them to
advise students on the ill-effects of noise pollution and
the responsibility of the new
generation in building up a
compassionate society.
The Health Minister also
suggested launching a campaign at the earliest so that
people do not invest their
money on crackers which
generate noise.
“It would serve no purpose having a campaign after
most people have bought
crackers as the tendency to
break the law would be quite
marked,” he said. —ANI
3D firecrackers draw
attention ahead of Diwali
Bizarre fossils identified as
distant cousins of humans
CHENNAI, Oct 16: The locals thronged markets in Chennai to
buy 3D firecrackers ahead of the Diwali festival.
A mass firecrackers sale has been organized in Chennai by
Tamil Nadu Traders Association. There are about 120 shops
selling variety of firecrackers.
Joint Secretary of Tamil Nadu Traders Association, Abdul
Rehman, said 3D firecrackers were new for children.
“This time, there are new varieties of firecrackers. For kids
in the age group of 3 to 10, 3D firecrackers have come. The
3D glasses will be similar to the ones that are worn while
watching a 3D movie. When kids will wear 3D glasses and
watch firecrackers burn, they will be able to see multi-colours,” he said.
Rehman further said the rates of firecrackers have increased
by seven to ten percent since last Diwali.
Meanwhile, the government banned Chinese firecrackers
and instructed traders not to sell them to help domestic industries during Diwali.
Rehman said their association had decided to take action
against any shop that was selling Chinese firecrackers in
Chennai.
"The government has given instructions not to use Chinese
firecrackers. Our association has announced that if a shop in
Chennai sells Chinese firecrackers, action will be taken against
them,” he said. —ANI
WASHINGTON, Oct 16: Scientists have confirmed that some
peculiar ancient fossils are actually distant relatives of humans.
According to the University of Adelaide researchers, the
fossils belong to 500-million-year-old blind water creatures
which had alien-like in appearance, known to scientists as
“vetulicolians.” More than 100 years since they were first
discovered, these marine creatures were “filter-feeders” shaped
like a figure-of-8. Researchers at the University of Adelaide
and the South Australian Museum argued for a change in the
way these creatures are viewed, placing them with the same
group that includes vertebrate animals, such as humans.
Lead author, Dr Diego Garcia-Bellido said that that although they weren’t directly related to humans in the
evolutionary line, it can be confirmed that these ancient water
creatures were among humans’ distant cousins.
Although the first specimens were studied in 1911, it took
until 1997 for the fossils to be described as a group on their
own: the vetulicolians. These fossils have now been discovered in countries all across the globe, such as Canada,
Greenland, China and Australia.
The latest insights into vetulicolians have come from new
fossils discovered on Kangaroo Island off the coast of South
Australia, which the researchers named Nesonektris (Greek
for “Island Swimmer”). The findings are published in BMC
Evolutionary Biology. —ANI
Rahul visits Punjab Congress Shobha De, Sania Mirza participate
in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'
Bhavan to discuss strategies
CHANDIGARH, Oct 16: Congress Vice- President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday visited Punjab Congress Bhavan to discuss
strategies to revive the party.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
was also present in the meeting, where Rahul Gandhi called
for strengthening the party at the grass-roots level.
The Congress Vice-President will also be interacting for
various sections of the party to discuss strategies to revive the
Congress. —ANI
MUMBAI/HYDERABAD, Oct 16: Renowned author Shobha
De and ace tennis player Sania Mirza participated in the 'Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan' on Thursday.
“This is an important national movement and some of my
further nominations are Rajdeep Sardesai, Piyush Pandey and
Yash Birla,” De told the media in Mumbai.
“To keep this movement going, I would like to nominate
Shahrukh Khan, PV Sindhu, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhinav
Bindra and Sajid Khan,” she said. —ANI
New study to shed light on super-Earths
WASHINGTON, Oct 16
A new study has provided a
deeper insight into the longrunning hunt for super-Earths
orbiting into the space.
NASA’s Kepler spacecraft, which had launched on
a planet-hunting mission in
2009, searched one small
patch of the sky and identified more than 4,000
candidate exoplanets -- worlds
orbiting stars other than our
own Sun. It was the first
survey to provide a definitive
look at the relative frequency
of planets as a function of
size.
Kepler’s results suggest
that small planets are much
more common than big ones.
Interestingly, the most com-
mon planets are those that are
just a bit larger than Earth but
smaller than Neptune -- the
so-called super-Earths.
There are no examples of
super-Earths in our own solar
system, despite being common in our local corner of the
galaxy. Current observations
suggested something about the
sizes and orbits of the newly
discovered worlds, but there
is very little insight into their
compositions.
Heather Knutson, assistant
professor of planetary science
at Caltech said, that where
super-Earths appear to be the
most common kind of exoplanet but we don’t know
what they’re made of.
Knutson also articulated
that these planets could have
so many different compositions, and knowing their
composition will tell a lot
about how planets form, because planets in this size
range acquire most of their
mass by pulling in and incorporating solid material, water
worlds initially must have
formed far away from their
parent stars, where temperatures were cold enough for
water to freeze.
In addition to thinking
about exoplanets, Knutson
and her students use spacebased observatories like the
Hubble and Spitzer Space
Telescopes to learn more
about the distant worlds and
its atmosphere at a number of
different wavelengths, the researchers can determine which
chemical compounds are
present.
Till date, nearly two dozen
planets have been characterized with this technique.
Super-Eaths like GJ 1214b
and HD 97658b appeared to
be surrounded by thick gases
or clouds that continue to
pose a real challenge in studies of super-Earths and these
are also too small for Hubble
and Spitzer to study.
With NASA’s James
Webb Space Telescope,
which is scheduled for launch
in 2018, will provide the first
opportunity to study more
Earth-like worlds.
The findings were published in the Astrophysical
Journal.
—ANI
Afghan professionals train under NIESBUD
Neelapu Shanti
NEW DELHI, Oct 16: Afghan professionals are getting
trained in development of entrepreneurship
and
entrepreneurial skills through
ITEC fellowship programme in
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Development (NIESBUD),
sponsored by the Ministry of
External Affairs.
The programme undertakes
and enhances management
skills in project development,
gender development and planning.
The gender development
planning will help in improving economic, social and
physiological status of Afghan women.
At present, there are five
Afghan professionals undergoing training at NEISBUD.
The training module helps the
Afghans in planning and
evaluating different projects.
Mohammed Fahim, who
works in the Ministry of Finance in Afghanistan, said
such training will help them
in rebuilding their war-torn
country.
“The country is devastated
in the last three decades and
for the reconstruction of the
country we need skills for the
management of the projects.
Ultimately this type of programme helps us in enhancing
our capacities, abilities to
manage the projects efficiently and effectively and
that’s why I am here,” said
Mohammed Fahim Nazihi,
General Project Management,
Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan.
Muhammad Tahir Toofan,
who works in the Ministry of
Education, says human resource
development
is
significant for his country.
“We learn so many techniques
especially
in
conducting training in succession planning and how to
build the capacities of the
employees and how to use
human resource effectively in
daily business season. In my
country more focus in the
human resources is in the
institutional areas and people
are not considering a lot in
the
businesses
in
entrepreneurships”,
said
Muhammad Tahir Toofan,
General directorate, Human
Resource specialists, Ministry of Education, Afghanistan.
NEISBUD is run by the
Government of India and has
students from some 36 countries. “The role of Indian
government in reconstruction
of Afghanistan has been focused on training also
because they believe that human resource development
can do much better things in
any country for developing
their economy etc. and they
are also giving concession for
Afghan people under ITEC
and SCAAP programme,”
said Dr. R. R. Singh, Director for Training and Training
officer, NEISBUD.
Skill development and
training for professionals
from Afghanistan will help
them to deal with various issues in the country.
A proposal was agreed
upon to send four-five trainers to Afghanistan to train
thousands of people and develop a master trainer and the
master trainer can help in
imparting further training.
—ANI
Panic buying
Contd from page 1
On the otherhand, some petrol pumps remained shut.
It may be mentioned that ATSUM had announced that it
likely to launch an indefinite NH blockade from October 21.
Meanwhile, the NH blockade, clamped by the people of
Khuzuma in Nagaland after two persons were allegedly mowed
down to death by a truck carrying FCI rice on October 10,
has been lifted following an understanding.
In the meantime, IOC has asked the trucks carrying FCI
goods not to come along with the oil tankers escorted by
CRPF on NH-2.
The corporation also urged the State Government to take
up necessary steps in this regard.
Animals rescued
Contd from page 1
impossible due to some physical weakness, the AR informed PFA
about the bird and sent it to Imphal in a small cage, according to a
PFA release.
The bird was found friendly to humans indicating prolonged captivation. It is now at PFA shelter for rehabilitation.
The same would be relocated as soon as it resumes its wild
instinct, it said.
13 AR handed over an injured monitored lizard and a Loris
years ago.
In an unrelated incident the same day, a little girl namely
Yengkhom Rajkumari Chanu of Thangmeiband Lourung Purel
Leikai handed over one Malayan Box turtle which was found
near a drain of her house.
A Checkered Keelback (snake) was rescued from Thoudam
Maning Leikai of Thoubal. One Thoudam Manglemba Meitei,
ward member Leisangthem GP CD block Thoubal rescued the
snake from a fishing net set in a paddy field. He handed over
the snake to PFA which is undergoing treatment at PFA
shelter.
In another incident, one fruit bat was rescued from Yairipok
Poireikhongjin. Minaranjan Aranbam, publicity secretary of
AMSU Thoubal District, handed over the bat to PFA. He
saved the bat from some poachers. The bat was severely
injured on its head and it succumbed to its injury yesterday,
it said.
Remand for rape accused
Contd from page 1
Imphal East committed the case to JMIC Imphal East on October
14 after the former recorded the statement of the alleged victim
under 164 CrPC.
A large number of people from the alleged victim’s locality
and family members gathered at Lamphelpat Court complex
before Dwijamani was produced before the Court.
He was later taken inside the courtroom under heavy security.
During Dwijamani’s appearance, police pleaded the Court
for judicial remand for further investigation of the rape case.
As the accused failed to produced his defence counsel, the
Court remanded him to judicial custody till October 30.
It may be mentioned that the alleged rape case came to light
six days after the incident on October 3.
Dwijamani Sharma s/o (L) Thambou Sharma of Khongman
Zone I, who is also a relative (uncle) of the 20-year-old
mentally challenged girl, allegedly abducted the girl from near
the gate of her house when she returned home after watching
a musical programme held in her locality.
Dwijamani allegedly took the girl in a Maruti van and left
her at Meitram Makha Leikai after raping her.
The incident hit the daily newspapers after a combined team
of Imphal East Women Police Station and Irilbung Police
Station arrested Dwijamani from his residence on October 8.
Fate of 5 candidates to be
sealed today
Contd from page 1
located within 38-Hiyanglam AC would remain closed on Oct 17
in order to enable the employees to exercise their right in the byelection to the constituency.
The order also ordered the closure of banks/financial institutions located within the Assembly segment on the day.
It further ordered that employees who are voters of
Hiyanglam AC but working elsewhere be allowed to avail
special casual leave on Oct 17.
Missing woman's body found
Contd from page 1
on their loss as well as on locating their missing mother. The victim’s eldest son Khamsonthang nevertheless said they would give
a thought about it.
As the police had not been formally informed about it at
the time of filing this report and with the body already in the
custody of the family there are tall chances that it will be
buried tomorrow without conducting any autopsy.
Rajnath calls up Karnataka CM
Contd from page 1
received injuries on his forehead and hands, said that the attack
took place at an eatery where he had gone with two others. The trio
were at a table, discussing an event they were planning to hold
when three locals came up to them. "They said you are eating
Karnataka food. You are living in Karnataka. You have to speak in
Kannada. Why don't you speak in Kannada. Or else, get lost from
this State. They later attacked and I had to defend and thus I received injuries," he said. The three accused have already been
arrested. —PTI
TSA Imphal condemns
Contd from page 1
some local youth, according to a statement issued by TSA Imphal.
Such an act of barbarism and discrimination should not be
taken lightly by the Government of Karnataka and the culprits
should be dealt with severely and punished according to the
crime committed, the statement said.
The State Government must also take up necessary measures so that students studying outside the State are provided
enough care and protection, added the press release.
At the same time the statement also warned that if the State
Government fails to bring a solution regarding this unwanted
life threatening case, TSA would not remain a mere spectator.
ACP assaulted by mob in Delhi
NEW DELHI, Oct 16: An Assistant Commissioner of Police
posted in the national capital was assaulted on Thursday in a case
which prima facie seems to be a case of road rage.
The officer in question, Amit Kumar, reportedly suffered
head wounds and was rushed to the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS). He is now said to be out of
danger. “It is a case of road rage. Amit Kumar is under
observation at AIIMS, but the doctors have said that he is out
of danger,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell)
Rajiv Ranjan told the media. “Kumar was travelling in an
unmarked car when a bike touched the car. A mob swiftly
gathered and tried to beat up his driver. When Kumar tried to
resolve the issue, the mob attacked him and he sustained head
injury. All the accused have been detained,” Ranjan added.
This attack comes close on the heels of Monday’s incident,
when a police constable was killed and another seriously
injured after they were shot at by three unidentified people in
the city. —ANI
Corrigendum
This refers to the photo caption on the front strip (extreme
right) in October 16 edition of this paper, the caption should
be read as Best Singer of AMMIK 2014 M Kabita being
felicitated by AMMIK Thoubal Branch and not as carried.
The inadvertent error is regretted.
— Editor