Organisers, music bands slapped with bans

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 16: All the organisers and music bands which transformed the solemn occasion of Patriots’ Day into an occasion of unrestrained revelry thereby insulting all the fallen heroes of Manipur have been banned by the Pambei-led UNLF.
All the people who took key roles in organising the awkward and detestable music concert at Khuman Lampak football (turf) ground were paraded before the media somewhere in Imphal West district today.
Parading the organisers, Pambei-led UNLF department of publicity staff officer L Keiphaba announced that AMFA officials who were directly involved in organising the rock concert should step down from their respective posts and new office bearers should be elected.
Mami TV which co-sponsored the music concert has been banned from telecasting all entertainment programmes except news programme for a period of six months, Keiphaba said.
He said that “Innocent Eyes Band” and “Leipung Band” which performed at the concert have been banned from public performances for six months.
Saying that “Pebet Band” and “God & Dog Band” are even more culpable, Keiphaba further announced that these two bands have also been banned from public performances for a period of one year.
If any of these bands and AMFA officials defy the ban, they would get stronger     punishment, he warned.
He said that August 13 is one of the most important and significant days in the history of Manipur.
It was on August 13, 1891 that Koireng Jubaraj alias Tikendrajit and Thangal General were hung to death in public at Pheidabung on the charge of waging war against the British empire. Pukhrambam Kajao, Chirai Thangal and Niranjan Subedar were also eliminated in the same year, Keiphaba said.
Since 1969, the outfit has been observing August 13 as the Patriots’ Day by paying deepest respect, obeisance and tributes to heroes of the land, he said.  
However, the music concert organised by AMFA at Khuman Lampak turf ground on August 13 this year was quite antithetical to the spirit of the Patriots’ Day. The concert deeply hurt the sentiment of the people for it defiled the deep sense of reverence associated with Patriots’ Day.
Keiphaba said that the Pambei-led UNLF took serious note of the morally offending concert, investigated the matter and decided to punish the culprits. He then appealed to all other groups not to pull up/punish the music bands and AMFA officials who have been already banned by the Pambei-led UNLF.