Two fake circulars announcing the date and time of the ICSE and ISC results and a fake link to a page with the name of the council on social media caused anxiety for thousands of students on Saturday.
ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) examinees kept calling their teachers and checking the website in anticipation of their results.
“The circulars were fake,” Sangeeta Bhatia, deputy secretary of Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), told The Telegraph from Delhi.
One of the circulars said the results would be published on May 4 at 1pm while the other one said they would be out on May 7 at 10am.
“The council will take up this matter with police and is waiting for advisers to say what to do,” said a council official in Delhi. Asked if the council would lodge any complaint, the official said: “Yes, we will be doing that.”
A senior officer of Kolkata Police’s detective department said they had not received any complaint till Saturday evening. “We have not received any complaint so far.”
The ICSE and ISC results are usually published by the middle of May and the council makes an announcement before publishing the results.
Last year, the results were published on May 14.
Some of the teachers issued their own clarification to anxious students.
“I sent out a message to parents and children saying that one should check the official website of the council and not believe in any other link,” said Souvic Jati, ICSE coordinator of The Heritage School.
The ICSE exam ended on March 28 and ISC on April 4.
“This is a serious harassment of students. Some will be appearing for the Neet (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) on Sunday and they are getting unnecessarily stressed. There should be action against those who are spreading such rumours,” said Rodney Borneo, principal, St Augustine’s Day School Shyamnagar.
What can a Calcutta-based NGO, a social worker from Manipur’s hills and some long-shut government primary schools have in common?
Knock, Knock: A primary school in Oklong Khunou village : Photo, courtesy Prasanta Roy
Sudipta Bhattacharjee, TT, 05.05.24 : From the air, Manipur looks like a bowl, a verdant valley girdled by green hills. There appears no hint of the unprecedented turbulence that has rocked this northeastern state over the past year.
But there is certainly a sense of eerie isolation and foreboding on the route from Imphal to the hill districts surrounding the valley. Leaving the Manipur capital behind, it takes three hours along National Highway 2 to reach Senapati town. Provisions are procured from here because the villages in the hills are scantily stocked.
While the majority Meiteis live in the valley, the Naga and Kuki-Zo communities inhabit the five hill districts of Senapati, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel and Ukhrul. From Senapati town, it takes over 90 minutes to reach the villages of Oklong and Oklong Khunou, comprising the Naga indigenous population, along roads in various states of disrepair, gradient and sudden turns.
In the village, one can find R.K. Paul Chawang, a native of Oklong Khunou. Paul is a social worker with a mission. His organisation, Amyaa, is striving to bring a semblance of progress to the otherwise stagnant villages in the vicinity that include Oklong, Oklong Maryram, Oklong Khunou, Makuilongdi and Maram Khunou. While working on a project in Arunachal Pradesh, he came across members of a Calcutta-based NGO, Prayasam, and urged them to come to trouble-torn Manipur and train the youth of Senapati hill district.
Recently, a group of Am-yaa members came to Calcutta to be trained at Prayasam’s Community Youth Hub. One of the members, Albert, who is also from Oklong Khunou village, found the skills training so helpful that, like Paul, he felt the youth back home would benefit greatly from this joint venture. Prayasam’s life-skills education module addresses vital parameters like self-knowledge, communication, relationship-building, decision-making, coping with emotions, living with disability and substance-use, among others.
In the hills of Senapati, Paul introduced the Prayasam team — founder Amlan Kusum Ganguly, Saptarshi Ray, Prasanta Roy and Manish Chowdhury — to several village elders, young adults, children and women to chalk out an action plan for the resurrection of defunct government primary schools that have no infrastructure or teachers.
According to 29-year-old Erangbe Hau, the school in-charge at Makuilongdi, “The government teachers never come to the schools, although they collect their salaries. We run the school as ‘proxy teachers’ at a salary of ₹6,000, arranged by the local church and village council.” Like him, 24-year-old Machunkam, a college student who lives in Oklong Khunou, says he and his friends are ready to spearhead the change.
Paul explains the demographic negligence of the hill districts. “During the long tenure of Congress chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, the Nagas were at the receiving end and had to take recourse to a 100-day economic blockade. Under the present BJP dispensation with N. Biren Singh as chief minister, it is the Kukis who are being deprived. But despite his apparently kind visage towards us Nagas, there is no development. Whatever little funds trickle down, after greasing palms in between, are grossly insufficient for any welfare scheme,” he adds. Like in Bengal and many other states, there is a thriving job racket, including that for the posts of schoolteachers.
Paul is now looking to Prayasam to train the youth, hand-hold the trainees till they are able to sustain the impact on society and bring in a semblance of progress to keep the youth from migrating to the mainland, where most end up frustrated with their efforts to eke out a decent living. Ganguly says they will replicate their successful training module in Senapati very soon.
“Central to Prayasam’s approach is the focus on youth empowerment through Ontrack life skills lessons,” he explains. “Tailored specifically to the needs and aspirations of young people, these sessions equip them with essential skills such as problem-solving and leadership. Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, youth are empowered to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and resilience. Moreover, they are trained to be community ambassadors, tasked with spearheading grassroots initiatives and mobilising their peers towards collective action for positive change.”
Elaborating, he says: “At the heart of Prayasam’s intervention strategy lies the concept of Multiple Activity Centres (MACs), envisioned as vibrant hubs of community engagement and empowerment. These centres serve as catalysts for change, offering a wide array of programmes and activities designed to uplift and empower the entire community.” In the villages of Senapati, the schools will be used as MACs — for children’s classes, youth activity as well as adult education programmes.
The MACs also serve as platforms for economic empowerment, particularly for women. In Naga society, women are not at the forefront of decision-making. To hone their skills, Prayasam will include income-generating activities, providing them with opportunities to achieve financial independence. Ganguly, an Ashoka and Ford fellow, says: “They will be trained in the marketing of forest resources, including local produce like kiwi and large cardamom, empowering the women to leverage their natural surroundings sustainably and generate income for their families.”
The Nagas of Senapati comprise the Zemi, Rongmei and Liangmai communities. All of them stand united in the quest for development. One village elder lamented that they have not seen their children and grandchildren in decades. There is no school, no health centre. Who would want to remain there, he asked.
5 May 2024 : Indian Meteorological Department has forecast that heat wave conditions with reduced intensity are likely to continue in isolated pockets over East India till Sunday and some places over south Peninsular India till 6th May. Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema on Saturday and Sunday. Interior Karnataka will face heat wave conditions till the 7th of May whereas Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are likely to face heat wave till the 8th of May.
Yesterday, highest maximum temperature of 46.3 degree Celsius was reported at Nandyal in Rayalaseema. Heat wave conditions have been prevailing over Odisha since 15th April, Gangetic West Bengal since 17th April and Rayalaseema since 24th April. Rise in maximum temperatures by two to four degrees is very likely over many parts of Northwest India, except Uttar Pradesh, during next five days.
Meanwhile, Met department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds over Northeast India in the next two days. Wet spell accompanied with thunderstorms and gusty winds is very likely over East India during 5th to 9th of this month with maximum intensity on 6th and 7th May.
PTI, New Delhi, May 4, 2024 : The intensity of the heat wave prevailing in east and parts of southern peninsular India came down slightly on Saturday, with the weather office predicting relief from the scorching conditions in these regions after two days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions prevailed in parts of Gangetic West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana, with maximum temperatures settling 3-5 degrees Celsius above normal in these regions.
The mercury settled above 44 degrees Celsius in at least 10 places in these states.
According to IMD data, 13 places on Friday and 17 on Thursday recorded maximum temperatures above 44 degrees Celsius. Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh sizzled at 46 degrees Celsius and was the hottest place in the country for the third consecutive day on Saturday.
Maximum temperatures were recorded at 45.9 degrees Celsius in Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh), 45 degrees in Mahbubnagar (Telangana), 44 degrees in Odisha’s Boudh, 43.5 degrees in Karur Paramathi (Tamil Nadu), 44.6 degrees in Nizamabad (Telangana), 45.4 in Andhra Pradesh’s Cuddapah, and 43.5 degrees in West Bengal’s Kalaikunda.
The IMD said the ongoing heatwave spell in east and south peninsular India will continue until May 5-6 and abate thereafter.
Light to moderate rainfall and thunderstorms are predicted in Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand from May 5 to 9.
Scattered light to moderate rainfall is expected in east Uttar Pradesh, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha and Chhattisgarh during this period.
Scattered light to moderate rainfall is also very likely in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala and Karnataka from May 6 to May 9.
The Met office on Wednesday said above-normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of the country in May and a significantly high number of heatwave days expected over the northern plains, central region and adjoining areas of peninsular India.
April witnessed record-smashing maximum temperatures in east, northeast and south peninsular India, prompting health warnings from government agencies and some states to suspend in-person classes in schools.
A number of stations also recorded their highest-ever April day temperatures. Five active western disturbances led to rainfall, thunderstorms and hail storms over north and central India at regular intervals in April, preventing heat waves.
The IMD data shows that heat waves this April were far worse than in 2023, the warmest year on record so far.
This trend is likely to continue in May, with around eight to 11 heatwave days predicted over the south Rajasthan, west Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Marathwada and the Gujarat regions.
The remaining parts of Rajasthan, east Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and some parts of Chhattisgarh, interior Odisha, Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, north interior Karnataka and Telangana may record five to seven heatwave days during the month.
Normally, the northern plains, central India and adjoin
PTI, Imphal, May 2, 2024 : A bank was robbed in Manipur’s Churachandpur district on Thursday, officials said.
The incident happened at SBI’s Salbung branch in the Tuibong area around 2 pm, they said.
Preliminary information suggests that around Rs 20 lakh in cash was robbed by four armed men, who are yet to be identified, they added.
An investigation was underway, officials said.
Following the robbery, the armed men who were wearing masks and helmets fled towards Kangvai, eyewitnesses told the police.
A search was underway to arrest the perpetrators, officials said.
Another bank looted in CCpur
Chronicle News Service, CCpur, May 02 2024: The State Bank of India (SBI) branch located in K Salbung, Churachandpur district, became the latest target in a string of bank robberies plaguing the hill areas of the state since the onset of the crisis on May 3 last year.
According to reports, a group of 4 or 5 armed individuals with faces concealed with masks and helmets, stormed into the SBI K Sal-bung branch on Thursday around 1.30 pm.
Brandishing small firearms, the assailants held both bank officials and customers at gunpoint as they ransacked the branch.
The intruders also fired shots both inside and outside the bank, before seizing approximately Rs 15 lakh in cash from the cash counter no 2 of the bank as well as the customers, who were inside the bank at the time of the heist.
The branch manager has lodged a complaint at Churachandpur police station, detailing the events.
Witnesses recounted the chaos and fear that ensued as the armed robbers made their way through the bank, rifling through drawers and demanding cash from both staff and customers.
In a show of violence, shots were fired towards the branch manager’s cabin, heightening tensions and leaving the customers in fear.
The robbers also proceeded to threaten employees at gunpoint, vandalising strategically placed CCTV cameras and damaging certain machines within the premises.
Eyewitnesses and law enforcement sources confirmed that the perpetrators swiftly fled the scene, escaping towards Kangvai road in Churachandpur district.
In response, a rapid and extensive manhunt was launched by police and central forces to apprehend the culprits and recover the stolen funds.
In the aftermath of the robbery, authorities discovered a live round left on the desk of cash counter no 3, which was promptly handed over to the police for further investigation.
This latest incident adds to a grim tally of bank robberies that have plagued the hill areas of the state since the crisis erupted last year.
On May 16 last year, armed miscreants looted Rs 11.7 lakh from the Manipur State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) branch in Churachandpur.
On July 10 last year, gunmen robbed Rs 3 crore from the Axis Bank branch in Churachandpur.
Just four days later, on July 14, armed assailants targeted the MSCB branch in Kangpokpi, looting cash and equipment worth nearly Rs 1 crore.
November 23 last year, witnessed a brazen heist at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Ukhrul, where gunmen decamped with nearly Rs 19 crore.
Mention may be made that all the Meetei residents of Churachandpur district have fled the district after armed Kuki mob targeted their properties and lives on May 3 last year.
In the aftermath, almost all of the standing properties in the Meetei localities have been flattened to the ground using bulldozers.
Even a Kuki youth was killed while trying to demolish a multi-storeyed building owned by a Meetei resident of Churachandpur.
If a mother gets to see her children maybe once a month, there is a father who hasn’t seen his daughter since she was born
Kuki woman meets her children once a month in Mizoram as Meiti husband lives with children in Imphal: PTI
PTI, Imphal, Churachandpur, 02.05.24 : Monthly dates in Mizoram or maybe Assam if at all, single parenting and the constant fear of abandonment. For Manipur’s Meitei-Kuki couples forced to live apart in ‘community’ enclaves, this is how life has been since ethnic clashes broke out in the state last May.
As crisis continues in the polarised state, where the Meitis are concentrated in Imphal Valley and the Kukis have moved to the hills around, inter-tribe couples are facing the cruel brunt of a conflict that has claimed more than 200 lives and displaced many thousands since May 3, 2023.
If a mother gets to see her children maybe once a month, there is a father who hasn’t seen his daughter since she was born. And then there is the constant fear of family bonds being strained perhaps to breaking point with a wife wondering if her husband will abandon her and a couple contemplating what lies ahead for them as a unit. The future stretches uncertain.
Irene Haokip, for instance, is a Kuki who moved to Imphal after she got married. One year on, the 42-year-old has moved to Churachandpur, a Kuki dominated area, to be with her family while her husband and their children, a five-year-old son and a three-year-old daughter, stay on in Imphal.
“My husband used to work as a construction contractor. I met him when a neighbour’s house in Bishnupur was getting constructed. We fell in love and he would come to the area to meet me often. We got married in 2018 and have two children,” Haokip told PTI.
Bishnupur is between Meitei dominated Imphal and Kuki dominated Churachandpur. It earlier housed people from both communities and is now considered a buffer zone.
“My husband sent me to my parents’ home last year fearing for my safety in the valley when clashes broke out. There has been no going back since. The children are with him because we fear that they might not be safe in Churachandpur since they are Meitei children,” Haokip added.
She meets her family once a month in neighbouring Mizoram, travelling 15 hours each way.
“He brings the children there too. Many other couples also do that. We meet once a month and come back to our respective houses. My children miss me but it feels like a choice between being alive and mothers’ love.” As Manipuris count their losses, many say that this was not always so. Meitei-Kuki marriages were not uncommon and never a source of societal trouble with the two communities mingling easily. It changed on May 3 when trouble broke out after after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
A month later, Laishram Singh, a Kuki, became a father.
He wanted to be the best father when he got to know about his wife’s pregnancy in 2022. They were expecting their first child in June and were shopping for clothes and toys.
But destiny had other plans.
Singh moved to the hills where Kukis live and his wife Achanba, a Meitei, stayed back. She had lost her parents five years ago and had to move to a relief camp in Imphal Valley in May last year where she gave birth to a girl in June.
Eleven months later, Singh hasn’t yet met his daughter.
Achanba worries the distance might just end her marriage.
“I have a husband but I am still forced to live life as a single mother… he calls me sometimes and I send him pictures but the communication is gradually dropping. I fear that if this goes on for long, his family might pressure him into marrying a Kuki girl and he will abandon me. This also causes us to fight.” “I am not a widow, I am not a divorcee…I don’t know what kind of separation is this,” Achanba added helplessly.
Nirmala, a Kuki, who ran a shop in all women market Ima Keithel till last year, now lives in the hills and has no stable means of livelihood. She also fears being abandoned.
Her husband, a Meitei, who lives with their son and his parents in Sugnu area in Meitei dominated Imphal, initially used to send her money but has stopped.
“We have been married for 15 years. My shop was a good contributor to our household income that has stopped now. Here I live with my brother and sister-in-law and take up odd jobs but there is no stable income. I feel like I am a burden on them..if this continues I will have to move to a relief camp,” 45-year-old Nirmala told PTI.
Others such as Pema Dimpu and her Kuki husband say they are constantly discussing whether they should move to another state. Dimpu, a Meitei, stays in Imphal Valley while her husband has gone to the hills.
“That seems to be the only way out now that we move somewhere else and start a new life. It has been a year and there is no peace in sight… no idea when we can coexist like before without the threat of life constantly looming over us,” Dimpu said.
The hill state has witnessed sporadic, sometime intense, ethnic clashes since May 3 last year between the majority Meitei community and the Kukis.
