PREPAK appeals on "martyrs' day"
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 11 2011: Informing that it would be observing "martyrs' day" in all its departments and across Kangleipak on November 12, the proscribed PREPAK has appealed to the people to offer lights to the martyrs simultaneously at 7 pm of the same day.

A press release issued by the outfit's publicity and propaganda assistant secretary Leibakngakpa Luwang also appealed to all the people not to organise any entertainment programmes like music concerts, movie shows or Leelas tomorrow.

Elaborating on the legacy of November 12, the outfit recalled that it was on November 12, 1978 when a combined team of Manipur Police led by SI Sunil Sharma and ASI Naorem Shyamjai Singh and CRPF led by Commandant Narendrapal attacked a transit camp of PREPAK at Leimarok, Kameng.

A fierce gun battle ensued between the combined team and cadres occupying the camp.

Two PREPAK cadres namely; Ayekpam Dhiren alias Angam of Sagolband Tera Loukrakpam Leikai and Phurailatpam Kabikanta alias Leimu alias Leingam Sharma of Sagolband Meino Leirak and PLA's Pukhrambam Gambhir Singh of Singjamei Makha Naorem Leikai who were staying in the transit camp were killed in the gun-battle.

In memory of the three martyrs', PREPAK has been observing November 12 as "martyrs' day" every year since 1979 .

Again on the same date in 1985, PREPAK cadres led by their leader RK Tulachandra overpowered MR personnel guarding Kabowakching Sugar Mill and were snatching their weapons.

But one MR personnel on sentry duty excited by the situation fired a bullet and it hit Tulachandra on the head and he died on the spot.

As the Kameng incident and Kabowakching incident coincided on the same day albeit different years, PREPAK and its armed wing Red Army have been observing November 12 as "martyrs' day" in memory of all the martyrs who have laid down their lives in the course of the revolutionary movement, Leibakngakpa said.

On the occasion of the "martyrs' day", the outfit appealed to all the people to offer lights and fitting tributes to all the martyrs who have paid with their lives for the cause of national freedom.

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