Finally Samballei Shekpil Okendro honoured, gets Rs 5 lakh from govt
CM assures of handing over Sanjit killing case to CBI
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 31, 2009: State Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi today announced that a Cabinet deccision will be taken soon to hand over the Sanjit killing case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) once the government gets the order copy of the Gauhati Hight Court.

The Chief Minister made this annoucement during a function held to felicitate keeper and owner of the world famous Samballei Shekpil, Moirangthem Okendro at the conference hall of the Chief Minister's secretariat here this evening.

The Chief Minister handed over a cheque of Rs 5,00,000 (five lakh) to M Okendro in honour of his tireless efforts for a long time to nurture the Samballei Shekpil plant, which has found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records some years ago.

Chief Minister Ibobi said, the government first ordered a magisterial inquiry to probe the July 23 incident of Khwairamband market.

But since the people and the Apunba Lup demanded judicial inquiry, the state government instituted a judicial inquiry, of which report should be submitted to the government within two months' time.

But now that mother of deceased Sanjit had filed a PIL with the Gauhati High Court which has ordered the case be handed over to the CBI, it will be handed over.

However, the government has not yet received the order copy of the High Court.

Once the government gets the copy, the state cabinet will hold a meeting and take a decision to do the needful, Chief Minister Ibobi said.

He further said that the government has conveyed its readiness to fulfill some of the demands made by the Apunba Lup.

As of now, there has been no talks between the government and the Apunba Lup.

The Chief Minister appealed to the three student bodies and Apunba Lup not to disturb education any more.

He said, most of the private schools were not resuming classes till today.

The government has had discussions with management committees of the private schools several times, and also informed them that the government would extend all possible help to protect their schools.

Chief Minister O Ibobi handing over a cheque of Rs 5 lakh to M Okendro of Samballei Shekpil fame

The management committees went away saying that they will discuss the the government's proposal, but have not returned since then, he said.

The Chief Minister further informed that all the NSA detainees had already been released.

Earlier during the felicitation function held at 3 pm, Chief Minister Ibobi handed over the Rs 5 lakh cheque to M Okendro in front of Tourism, IPR and PHE Minister TN Haokip, IFC and YAS Minister N Biren and PDA chairman and MLA of Sagolband A/C, Dr Kh Loken and media persons.

Praising the feat of Okendro, Chief Minister Ibobi said that the Samballei Shekpil raised by M Oken to take not only the name of Manipur but also India to the international level could have been seen by the people as a simple thing, but his perseverance and hard working are something not easily achievable.

Recognising his inimitable feat, the Government of Manipur decided to honour him.

This is not a price nor wage for his hard work, the Chief Minister said.

He further said that it will not be fair on part of the government not to express a few words of appreciation.

In future also M Okendro would perform a lot of useful service for the state and the nation, he said praising Okendro once again.

Tourism Minister, TN Haokip said, M Okendro is the first Manipuri who could get a Guinness World Record.

The Department of Tourism is taking steps to make the place at Tera Sayang Leirak where the Samballei Shekpil is growing a tourist spot.

Efforts are also being made to supply water there.

As a first step, the government decided to pay him Rs 5 lakh, Minister Haokip said.

PDA chairman Dr Kh Loken also expressed happiness over the recognition of Okendro's efforts by the government.

Okendro expressed heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Chief Minister for the honour conferred on him.

However, he expressed a little bit of unhappiness saying that recognition and honour came after ten years.

He informed that the Department of Post and Telegraph had said that a stamp with the picture of the Samballei Shekpil would be brought out, but has not kept its word so far.

It may be recalled here that Okendro planted the Samballei Shekpil in 1981 and reared it to grow 50 meter tall.

His feat was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999.