Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 21:
Condemnations over the extra-judicial killing of Thangjam Manorama Devi, demand for punitive action against the guilty 17 Assam Rifles personnel and lifting of disturbed area status from Manipur continues unabated from several student, women and voluntary organisations.
These bodies flaying the SPF Government for imposing curfew instead of prosecuting the guilty personnel also pledged to support any agitation till the guilty AR men are punished and Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 at the earliest.
Demands are also being made for immediate lifting of curfew to enable the people live under a normal condition.
The organisations are Young Development Association (Haobam Marak Chingtham Leikai), Nagaram Village Development Authority (Stadium Road), Social and Cultural Development Centre (Wangjing), Network for Social Upliftment (Wangkhem), Minuthong Hatta Social Welfare Union, Desam (Kongba branch), Lamlai Kendra Students� Union, Senapati District Meetei Social Development Committee (Motbung) and Young Women�s Voluntary Organisation (Mekola).
Decrying imposition of curfew and strongly condemning the brutal killing of Th Manorama Nongmaiching neighbouring Baptist Churches Fellowship expressed serious concern that including manorama four killing and dumping of dead bodies have occurred in and around the said village.
Appealing to all concern against such deplorable action the body said the tranquillity of the villagers have been greatly affected due to such killing and dumping of bodies.
Manipur Mahila Kalyan Samiti (Kabo Leikai) referring to the over three year hunger strike by Irom Chanu Sharmila demanding lifting of AFSPA from Manipur said delay in conceding to the people�s demand would only aggra- vate the situation as is evident from the killing of Manorama.
It also denounced use of force to disperse democratic protests by the state people against the inhuman attitude of AR men.
Taking serious note of the SPF Govt�s failure to provide security to the people and indirectly endorsing atrocities of security forces� atrocities Youth Voluntary Organisation (Thongju Pt II) demanded resignation of all the legislators of the ruling front on moral ground.
Expressing similar sentiment Poirei Athouba Naharol Apunba, Seijang also demanded all the Ministers and MLAs to resign from their respective posts.
Meanwhile, endorsing the democratic agitation launched to denounce the killing of Manorama and demand lifting of disturbed area tag Social Development Club, Samurou questioned why the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is still reluctant to repeal AFSPA even though non other than the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Prakash jaiswal had contended that the matter prerogative of the State Govt.The body also flayed the SPF Govt for requisitioning additional security force (RAF) to muffle public outcry who have had to tolerate several form of excesses at the hands of security.
United Committee Keishamthong, Kongba Youth Organisation, Nongpok Ingkhol Meitei Leikai Women�s Society, Women�s Development Organisation, Thiyam Konjin have also strongly condemned extra-judicial killing of Th Manorama by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles and imposition of curfew by the Government to suppress the movement of the people.
While condemning killing of Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel in their custody, Laipharok Women�s Development Society, Imphal East Keirao Kendra has also demanded lifting of curfew imposed in Greater Imphal area with a view to suppress the movement of the people.
United Club's Organisation Imphal while strongly condemning the killing of Manorama has termed the act as barbaric and inhuman which has no place in this civilised world.
Coming down heavily on the state Govt, UCO said that the rampant atrocities committed on the people by the army is the result of the Govt's indifferent attitude towards the army excesses.
It also charged the security forces of eliminating innocent civilians in fake encounters in the name of counter insurgency and added that Govt should step down if it cannot carry out its functions efficiently.
Panthoibi Film Industries has also condemned the inhuman killing in strongest terms.
Demanding for immediate revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State, PFI asserted that peace and tranquillity will only decend in the State when the all the draconian laws are lifted from the State.
While strongly condemning the brutal murder of Jamkholet Khongsai and Manorama by personnel of Assam Rifles, Nationalist Congress Party Manipur Pradesh as appealed to the authorities concerned to punish the guilty AR personnel immediately and also lift the Armed Forces Special Power Act from the State in the interest of the people of the State.
Stating that Central security forces are unleashing a reign of terror in the State by eliminating innocent civilians at their own will, NCP said that lifting of the draconian laws will enable the people to live peacefully without any fear.
Meanwhile, Wide Angle Keishampat, Imphal Municipal Council, Social Wel- fare Educational and Cultural Association thiyam Konjil, Ramji Youth's Club, Yengkhom Leirak Development Club Sagolband Yengkhom Leirak, Life Insurance Agents' Assn, Medical and Sales representatives' Assn of Manipur (MSRAM), Liwa Women Social Economic Industrial and Cultural Association Naorem Leikai, Volun- tary Development and Technical Centre (VDTC), Thangmeiband Namthanlong Youth's Club have also strongly condemned the custodial death of Thangjam Manorama.
NH 53 Kanglei Ching Tam Leimalup Kangleipak has strongly condemned the unruly behaviour of the State security personnel who used abusive languages while dispersing a group of women folks who gathered to staged a peaceful dharna at the Khamnam Keithel Tera today.
Eastern Youth Development Assn Top Khongnangkhong has also condemned the high handedness of the State security personnel while dispersing a protest rally at Top Khongnangkhong.
Taking note of the rampant destruction of public properties during protest rally, EYDA also appealed to all concerned to refrain from doing so.