IMPHAL, July 12 : Thangjam Manorama Chanu, who was found murder and abandoned after alleged rape after being arrested by Assam Rifles six years ago was remembered today on her 6th death anniversary.
The observation was held today at Bhamon Kampu, the birth place of the deceased, organized by the Thangjam Manorama Memorial Charitable trust.
A large number of well wishers, friends and families paid floral tribute to the portrait of Thangjam Manorama, whose killing led to widespread protest across the state for months in demand for repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Delivering his key note address of today’s observation, K Mohendra, secretary of the Manorama memorial trust said today’s observation is a message to the government that Manipur people’s movement to repeal the draconian Act will continue even as the state failed to give attention.
Democracy has no meaning in Manipur he stated and maintained that rights granted to people under the Indian Constitution have been deprived in case of Manipur.
Mohendra also asked where have the report of C. Upendra Commission, which was constituted to enquire into the death of Manorama gone that have been reportedly submitted to both the central and state government. He also said that there is a need to work together to uproot the act to stop the extreme atrocities committed by security forces under the shadow of the draconian act.
Karam Sunil, co-ordinator of the Apunba Lup, who presided the occasion, said June and July month is known to the people of Manipur as trouble month. While stating that Manorama was a victim of AFPSA, Sunil revealed that Apunba Lup was formed to confront such atrocities and state terrorism.
The growth in number of widows due to senseless killings will some day dishearten the future generation and failure of the government to contain such state sponsored terrorism is a clear indication for its feelings towards the citizen. He also claimed that the gap as existed between the public and government is due to the weakness of the intelligence department.
Th Iboyaima, social worker, in his speech said that it is high time for the people to jointly fight for their “Right to Life”.
Phunindro Konsam, who also spoke during on occasion, stressed the need for protection of the Right to Life that has been deprived time to time and pointed out that scarcity of essential commodities is one good example how the people of the state has been suffering due to the deprivation.
While recalling various atrocious committed by security forces under the guise of the AFSPA, Phunindro said killing of Manorama was one of the painful and heinous crime ever and it was due to which the people was provoked form many organization to come out on the street to confront the government machineries.
The lifting of the AFSPA from seven assembly segments of Imphal Municipal area was the achievement of the confrontation of the people besides deceasing number of killings was also due to people’s confrontation after the July 23 incident, he said.
It may recalled that Thanjam Manorama daughter of (L) Thangjam Bihari of Bhamon Kanpu Mayai Liekai was brutally shot death after being allegedly raped and abandon at Ngariyan Chingjil by troops of 17 AR.
She was arrested from her residence in the wee hour of July 10 by the 17 AR troops.