Call to remove AR raised on Manorama anniv

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 11: The 19th death anniversary of Thangjam Manorama who was raped and killed in the most brutal manner after she was picked up by Assam Rifles troops from her Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai residence in the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2004 was observed today.
People offered floral tributes to the photograph of Thangjam Manorama during the death anniversary function held at Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai under the aegis of the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, Thangjam Manorama Memorial Trust and Manorama’s family.  
Speaking at the gathering, Working Committee of the Apunba Lup coordinator Phulindro Konsam said that July 11 would remain   a dark day in the history of Manipur.
He recalled that troops of Assam Rifles, then operating under the immunity provided by the infamous Armed Forces Special Forces Act (AFSPA), killed Thangjam Manorama in the most brutal manner after subjecting her to inhuman torture on July 11, 2004.
Taking advantage of the immunity provided by the draconian AFSPA, security forces had killed more than 10,000 people, Phulindro said.
In the wake of the merciless killing of Thangjam Manorama, people of Manipur launched a strong and sustained mass movement against AFSPA.
As a result of the sustained people’s movement, AFSPA was withdrawn from seven Assembly segments covered by Imphal Municipal Council, he recounted.
People have been observing the death anniversary of Manorama every year with a call to withdraw AFSPA from all over Manipur, Phulindro said.
Even though this year’s death anniversary of Manorama is observed in low-key, all the people  need to work collectively and see that AFSPA is  removed from all over Manipur.        
Thangjam Manorama was killed after she was raped by troops of 17 Assam Rifles.  To destroy evidence of rape, they even shot multiple bullets at her private part, he recalled.
Now Kuki militants, acting in collusion with Assam Rifles, have been unleashing acts of terrorism upon Meitei people.
Kukis who came to Manipur after 1951 and those who intruded into the State recently in the wake of military coup in neighbouring Myanmar have been undertaking a massive offensive to annihilate the whole Meitei population, and they (Kukis) are being supported by Assam Rifles, he alleged.
Kuki militants have been attacking Meitei villages in peripheral areas with either          direct or indirect support from Assam Rifles, he said.
Phulindro further alleged that many Assam Rifles personnel are involved in the drug business of Kukis.
He then called upon all the people to launch a concerted and sustained struggle to see that all Assam Rifles troops are withdrawn from the soil of Manipur.
Joy Chingakham, another coordinator of the Working Committee of Apunba Lup, Thangjam Manorama Chanu Memorial Trust president Thiyam Nilbir and PYC president Thokchom Somananda were also present at the gathering.