Malom Massacre : Victim families yet to get justice
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 02 2014:
In remembrance of November 2, 2000 Malom incident in which 10 civilians were gunned down by a convoy of Assam Rifles while they were waiting for passenger bus at Malom Waiting Shed in Imphal West, people paid floral tributes at the memorial site of the deceased as a mark of respect to the departed souls at Malom today.
Even though today marked passing of 14 years of the incident, families of the victims are yet to get justice to the infamous incident.
A magisterial enquiry into the incident was constituted by the State Government but report of the enquiry is yet to be furnished publicly.
Moreover, the government has not initiated pre-emptive measures to ensure that families of the victims get justice.
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The 10 civilians who were killed in unprovoked firing by Assam Rifles are Leishangthem (o) Sana (60) of Kabowakching; Gurumayum Bapu Sharma (50) of Lairenjam; O Sanayaima (50) of Nambol Naorem; Kangjam Bijoy (35) of Leimapokpam; Amakcham Raghumani (34) of Nambol Naorem; Soibam Robinson (27) of Malom; Kshetrimayum Inaocha (23) of Malom; Tokpam Shantikumar (19) of Malom; Sinam Prakash (18) of Malom; and Sinam Chandramani (17) of Malom.
Notably, Sinam Chandramani was honored with National Child Bravery Award in the year 1988 .
As a follow up action following the bomb attack carried out by unidentified miscreants, AR troops conducted a massive combing operation in Malom area during which many people were tortured.
42 people including four women were admitted to hospitals for treatment due to injuries suffered from the brutal combing operation.
According to family members of the victims who were present at the remembrance function; people would continue to suffer atrocities from security personnel until and unless there is imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 in the State.
Security personnel have been committing atrocities and human rights violation in the name of counter insurgency under the shield of AFSPA.
Failure on part of the government to address grievances of the people for such a long time is questionable and condemnable, they lamented.
Speaking to newspersons, T Somorendro, convener of Ten Innocents Deceased Family Trust Committee alleged that the 10 civilians who were coming out to perform their normal duties were gunned down by troops of AR mercilessly and pointed out that appropriate action in accordance to law is yet to be taken up against the AR troops who were involved in the unprovoked firing which is unfortunate.
Reiterating that a writ petition was filed to High Court collectively by families of the 10 victims seeking justice to the incident, he expressed that victim families are still waiting justice of the case.
He demanded justice to be delivered and award punishment to those AR personnel involved in the firing incident so that such unfortunate incident does not take place in future.
It may be noted here that following the Malom firing incident, Irom Sharmila who was given the tiled 'Iron Lady' has been on a fast for the last 14 years demanding repeal of the draconian AFSPA from the State.