Unforgettable day, the 23rd July, 2009
- A tribute -

Kambam Ibohal Singh *

To commemorate the day every one of us is aware of the incident that took place on the ill-fated day. The indiscriminate firing in the crowded Khwairamband Bazar by CDOs killed one young pregnant woman who came with her two and half years old son and injured five others.

Everybody could just imagine the worry of the helpless boy when his mother fell on the ground unconscious. No human heart could bear the burden of the killing. To cover up the illegal and unjustified killing another crime was also committed in the name of encounter, killing one youth, Ch Sanjit ruthlessly. It was unforgettable scenarios of the day.

The Tehelka photo expose can clearly be seen in which reluctant Sanjit was forcibly taken inside the pharmacy just like an animal dragging for sacrifice (Tehelka photo Sl. No 7). The dead bodies of Rabina and Sanjit were not treated as human being but were thrown in the police truck just like carcass (vide video clipping of CNN).

These are events still lingering in the mind’s eyes of the people of Manipur who are agitating for justice denied so far. The demand for resignation of Chief Minister and DGP has become a great challenge for the agitators to achieve their desired goal. At this juncture a sudden and surprise ‘U’ turn has been taken by the three students’ Organisations joining the agitation with powerful and effective activities to boycott classes by students’ community in all Schools, Colleges and University to the so much worries of their parents.

The worries of the parents and other civil organisations including tribal students’ bodies have been on the increase for their kids/children are eager to resume classes on their own decision. Ironically, the guardians think of their own children’s loss of studies but not a single word of sympathy was heard about the motherless kid of Rabina during the meeting to take a decision to resume classes of their children. What a partial and selfish mindset on the part of the guardians who show the love of their kids/children?

In their meeting for an alternative means, no mention was made of the loss of life of Ch Sanjit in fake encounter which is the source of burning uncontrollable fire. This is really unfortunate and one sided view of the present society. This is indirectly supporting the wrong deeds and injustice done. This would not be the proper way to get justice from the perpetrators.

Where are those who promised to the people to give justice, corrupt-free and peaceful society with axes in their hand under the Saheed Minar? And also where are those elite and moneyed gentlemen who decided to construct NH-53 on their own cost while there was 52 days Economic Blockade on NH-39 stating unhappiness and shame to pass through the courtyard of the neighbour State of Nagaland?

Now, are they collaborating with those who are in power for their vested interest just cheating and befooling the common, innocent and under privileged people? These wicked and dishonest brazen faced destructive virus of the society are sharing the hundreds of thousand of rupees from the alleged enemy, the Govt of India every year.

Do those insolents deserved the faith of the people? Once a British Writer strongly criticised Newspaper and Education which are not in the right direction to give correct information and meaningful education to the people. His idea was that we can carry on our life without such information and education which deny the purpose of those ideals (aims) and people were living in the past for long time without Newspaper and Education.

Now what kind of education people may expect in the context of this situation to inculcate in the students’ mind as the wrong things, injustice, corruption, exploitation and gun culture are galore in the atmospheres of this land? Should the students be imparted the lesson of stir, strike bandh, dharna, blockade, fake encounter curfew etc which are well acquainted to them since inception of their school life.

Such education would degrade the standard of coming generation. It would be very much better to avoid anxious of such education which does not worth the name for the past quite long time and still to continue amid disturbances.

The plight of private school teachers is deplorable due to class boycott. The State Govt is responsible for the economic starvation of these hapless teachers. To support the class boycott or not teachers may take up tuition of their students at home to improve their position financially as well as capability of the students.

Now the conflict situation is snowballing with the opening of some schools/colleges under strict vigilance of security forces. The Apunba Lup and the three student’s organisations are mute and minutely studying the developing activities of the State Govt contrary to their demands in connection with the 23rd July, 2009 BT Road incidents.

The parents, guardians and senior citizens are taking arch of the SPF Govt to resume classes for their kids/children defying the emotion of the people without empathy.

Another question arises as to how far the parents, guardians and senior citizens would be taking the risk to guarantee/ensure that the July 23rd July, 2009 incident would not recur in future. It is totally ridiculous to note the statement of the spokesperson of the group that the 23rd July, 2009 incident cannot be taken as a special case since such incidents took place many times in the past and it would take place in the future too.

What a senseless statement ever made by a senior citizen! The agitation for the last three months is to show inabilities to bear the burden of the repeated incidents of killing of innocent persons. If anything happens between the security forces and rivals in school/college campus/premises the guardians’ parents and supporters may suffer rather untoward loss of lovely valuables than studies. It may be treated as a precaution against dangerous problems.

The honourable Chief Minister Shri O Ibobi Singh may exploit the golden chance given to him by the people of Manipur by resigning from the post of Chief Ministership. He would be the first and last man so far in the history of Manipur who can sacrifice everything for the people.

The CM has done many remarkable works for the people. His resignation would be hundred times better than those works done till date and his life history would find a place in books as the most generous CM to be taught to the next generation to come. There are two options left for the CM to choose viz benevolence or tyrant.