New Delhi, May 31: Petrol price was hiked by 75 paisa per litre and diesel by 50 paisa a litre on Friday as rupee hit 11-month low making oil imports costlier, the increase will be effective from midnight tonight.

Petrol price in Delhi was hiked by 90 paisa to Rs 63.99 a litre from Rs 63.09 currently, while diesel will cost Rs 50.25 per litre from Saturday as against Rs 49.69 currently.

Also, the oil companies cut price of cooking gas (LPG) that consumers have to buy beyond their quota of nine subsidised cylinders in a year, by Rs 45 per bottle.

Non-subsidised domestic LPG in Delhi will now cost Rs 802 per 14.2-kg cylinder as against Rs 847 currently.

The increase in petrol price is the first in three months, the last hike being on 1st March. Since then, petrol prices had been cut four times on falling global oil prices.

For diesel, this is the fifth increase in rates this year. State-owned oil firms had been in January authorised to raise diesel prices by up to 50 paisa per litre every month till entire losses on the fuel are wiped out.

Diesel price was last hiked by 90 paisa a litre on May 11 after the companies skipped raising rates in April to avoid troubles for the government during the Budget session of Parliament.

Petrol in Mumbai will cost Rs 70.68 a litre from tomorrow as against Rs 69.73 currently, while diesel prices was raised by 62 paisa to Rs 56.66.

"Prices of petrol were last revised downwards on May 1 by Rs 2.50 per litre (excluding state levies). The current increase is required mainly due to depreciation of rupee from Rs 54.26 to a US dollar to Rs 55.32 per USD," IOC said on Friday.

Despite the fifth increase in diesel rates, oil firms are losing Rs 4.87 per litre on the nation's most consumed fuel.

"In addition to diesel, oil marketing companies continue to suffer under-recovery (loss) on sale of kerosene of Rs 27.75 per litre and LPG of Rs 334.50 per cylinder," IOC said.

The price of non-subsidised cooking gas, which was cut by Rs 54 per cylinder from May 11, has further been reduced by Rs 45 per 14.2-kg bottle.

The price of a 14.2-kg LPG cylinder that consumers buy beyond their quota of 9 subsidised cylinders has been reduced to Rs 802 from Rs 847.

Rates will vary in different cities, depending upon local sales tax or VAT. This is the third time that the price of non-subsidised LPG cylinder have been slashed since April. Price was last cut by Rs 54 to Rs 901 on May 1 and by Rs 3 on April 1.

After accounting for local VAT, petrol prices was cut by Rs 3 per litre on May 1, Rs 1.20 on April 16, Re 1 on April 1 and Rs 2.40 on March 16.

The government had in January allowed oil firms to raise diesel prices in small dozes of 40-50 paisa per litre every month till such time that losses on fuel sales are wiped out.

Prior to today's increase, diesel price had been hiked four times, the last being on May 11 when it was raised by Rs 1.02 a litre. Before that diesel prices were hiked on March 23 by 45 paisa, excluding VAT.

Similar hikes had taken place in January and February, but prices were not changed in April when Parliament's Budget session was on.

So from May 11, oil firms effected hike for two months - April and May, totalling about a rupee.

"Further, in pursuant to Government of India order dated January 17, oil marketing companies have been authorised to increase the retail selling price of diesel within a small range every month until further orders. Accordingly, since then, retail diesel prices are being revised every month," IOC said.

IMPHAL, May 31: The 20th annual prize distribution function 2013 for the meritorious students in the Council of Higher Secondary Manipur examination 2013 was held today at Jawaharlal Nehru Dance Academy organized by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur.

The prize distribution function was attended by Education Minister M Okendro, Council of Higher Education Manipur Chairperson S Geeta, and Education (S) Director S Dilip as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Students who secured the highest marks in the three different streams Arts, Science and Commerce in the recently declared results of the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur conducted exams were awarded with a gold medal, cash award of Rs 5000 and a citation each.

The second position holders were awarded cash award of Rs 4000 rupees and a citation and the third position holders were awarded a cash award of Rs 3000 and a citation.

Speaking at the function, Education Minister M Okendro said that the state education system will see improvement within a short period of time.

While informing that the Chief Minister has invited the students of the neighboring country Myanmar for study in the state during the state Ministerial visit to Myanmar, the Minister gave his assurance to upgrade and provide proper infrastructures to the schools at the border areas of the state.

He further said that the state education department do not have enough funds and appealed to all the MLAs of the state to spare some percentage of the money allocated to the local area development fund for the development of better infrastructure of schools in their respective constituencies.

The Minister also informed that there will be a transparent teacher’s policy under the national program to bring improvement in education policies in both valley and hills districts of the state and appealed to all to support state education department in their work for a better education system in the state.

IMPHAL, May 31: Following the arrest of one of the accused May 9 alleged kidnapping and murder of a tata truck driver coming from Dimapur towards Imphal from Sekmai and recovery of the truck, police have today recovered several items which were missing from the truck from the rented room of one of the accused in the case who is still absconding.

The items were recovered from a rented room at Hatta Golapati Tanky Makhong.

It may be mentioned that the driver was found dead on May 9 after he was allegedly kidnapped by unknown persons from a rice hotel at Sekmai along with his loaded Tata truck.

The truck was recovered two days ago but the goods were found missing, said the police source.

The missing goods was recovered only today at around 3:30 pm by a team of Sekmai police from a rented room belonging to Md Nazir, 40, son of (L) Abdul Hak of Hatta Golapati Tanky Makhong which he rented out to one of the accused indentified as Md Sanayai who is still absconding.

According to the police, after getting a tip-off, a team of combined police led by SDPO Lamphel Kashar, officer-in-charge of Sekmai police station Inspector Premjit and a team of Imphal West police commandos rushed to the area and raided the rented room of Md Sanayai and recovered the missing goods.

Police said that the missing goods were brought to that rented room on the intervening night of May 9 and 10 at around 2 am by accused Md Sanayai along with three others.

Md Sanayai had taken the room on rent from the owner Md Nazir some three four days back, police said.

It may be mentioned here that the hijacked Tata truck’s driver identified as Md Kumud Ali (22), son of Md Mojd Ali of Dikhujali village in Assam was kidnapped along with the goods laden truck from MM hotel at Sekmai Bazar while he was having lunch by unidentified person who came in a black colored car.

IMPHAL, May 31: UNM-IM United NGOs Mission-Manipur has said in a press release that Committee of United NGOs Mission Manipur (WC-UNMM) strongly condemned the killing of

Reingamphy Awungshi (21), from Chuithui in Ukhrul district in a very suspicious manner in her rented house at Chirag in the capital city Delhi (South Delhi) on  May 29, adding to its list of unwanted or rude behaviour especially towards the girls in particular from the north eastern region.

WC-UNMM urged the State Government as well as the Delhi Government and concerned departments of the largest democratic country of the World to take up a proper course of action and to book the accused /culprit(s) of such an heinous act towards the womenfolk at large as well as punish culprit(s) as per the law of the country, and to make the capital city of our nation a better and more safer for people from north east in general and for women-in particular.

The committee also appealed to all to adopt or follow certain norms as a safety mechanism on the part of the concerned parents or guardians in particular and the wards or the individuals who are going to stay in Delhi for any sort of purpose to have the proper knowledge and information about the place and landlords and any form of past history which can be of any suspicious nature and if possible to stay in group or rent the room in group to avoid any form of such an unwanted incidents as it is very much evident from various such incidents which took place at Delhi from last many years.

LAMKA, May 31: Parliamentary Secretary of Hort & CADA, Vungzagin Valtert inaugurated a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)/Agriculture Science Centre building today at Pearsonmun, Lamka.

The function was also attended by imminent scientist Dr JS Sharma Chairman of ICAR, and the current CEO of National Rain Fed Area Authority under the Planning Commission as guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, the senior scientist asked the district administration to take an organization like KVK on board in their decision making body which will give them advantage as the organization had no prior involvement so far in the area and would be unbiased (for which he also give example from his experience) and asked the KVK staff to do their best.

He further continued that he had proposed during the 12th Five Year Plan that the Planning Commission should make an assessment of the provision of energy and water extensively in north east by the Center.

Vungzagin Valte speaking at the occasion said that there are 99 ICAR center and 53 Agriculture Universities in India and KVKs are present in every district.

It was through this that the Green Revolution was ushered in which , starting 1950-1951, resulted in a four -fold increase in agriculture production, six-fold increase in horticulture products and even 19 to 20 fold increase in production of other crops ,he say.

"The present trend is "Survival of the fittest, and if the fittest survive they should utilize that survival to help others who are unfit to survive", the chief guest said.

He acknowledged that the centre is in its infancy and there is a lot to be improved particularly the scientific equipment.

He thanked the Scientist for coming and said that he and the special guest Dr JS Samra will next go to Singat, and his constituency of Thanlon to assess the condition for agriculture related improvement.

The director of ICAR, Barapani Meghalaya who was also present said that, "Food security is national security and we must be aware of this national security as an Indian which is the primary aim of KVK.

Meanwhile seeds of soyabean, black gram etc were also distributed to the farmers gathered at the function. Other officials of the state and district also attended the function.

IMPHAL, May 31: The Manipur High Court has today passed orders restraining the State government from doing any kind of activities upon Kabo Leikai area from where the residents were evicted some days back, according to the JAC formed against the eviction.

A contempt of Court proceedings being case (Civil) No. 68 of2013 has also been proceeded against S Sunderlal, Commissioner/Secretary (Revenue), Govt. of Manipur and RK Dinesh, the DC Collector, Land Acquisition Imphal East for the eviction of residents of the Kabo leikai during the existence of a status-quo order of the Manipur High Court which was to be taken up after two weeks, said a press statement of the JAC formed against the eviction of the kabo leikai residents.

It said, “The land eviction notification dated December 17, 2010 issued under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition of 1894 and subsequent notification for construction of Five Star hotel was challenged before the Manipur High Court being WP (C) No 105 of 2013 and after hearing both the parties on February 19, 2013 the Court was pleased to pass an order so as to maintain status-quo on the land in question.

“However on May 20, 2013 the Manipur State Government willfully disobeyed the court order and dismantled all the buildings of the villagers and committed mischief upon their belongings without giving the opportunity of being heard”, it said.

The statement continued that as aggrieved by the action and inaction of the State Government the petitioners approached before the Manipur High Court and filed a misc. application being case no MC (WP(C)) No 117 of 2013 with a prayer inter-alia-to restrain the respondents from doing any kinds of activities/ excavation/ construction work in the land/premises of the applicants.

The case was put up  today and after hearing both the parties, the Court was pleased to pass the orders thereby restraining the State respondent from doing any kind of activities upon the land in question.

The case was conducted by PB Sahu Advocate on behalf of the petitioners whereas the Advocate General appeared on behalf of the State Government, it said.

IMPHAL, May 31: The 11th anniversary of Manipuri Sahitya Parishad, Thoubal District Branch was celebrated at the Auditorium of the Royal Academy, Khangabok.

During the anniversary function, four State awardees in different fields were also honoured.

The awardees were Kshetri Bir Singh, Kakching who bagged Sahitya Akademy Award – 2012 & State Literary Award – 2012; Moirangthem Rajen Singh, Tentha who bagged the Kavya Bhushan – 2013; Konthoujam Ranjita Devi, Yairipok who bagged the Yuba Puruskar Sanman Patra – 2012 and Mathurabasimayum Nandakishwor Sharma, Yairipok who bagged the Sahitya Ratna Sanman – 2009.

In his speech as chief guest, Dr Th Khomdon Singh, Chief Librarian of Manipur University expressed that literature has given a certain amount of relief in the tension ridden Manipuri society and added that literature has no geographical boundaries.

He further said that the awards won by the individuals of Thoubal District are clear examples in this regard and continued that stress must be given to the quality of one’s literary work. The function was presided over by the branch president Kartik Maiba.

Later on, a poetry meet was also arranged participated by 20 poets and presided over by M Nandakishwor Sharma.