Rich tributes paid on RPF's Martyrs' Day
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 13 2011:
Thousands of people paid homage to the martyrs of the underground outfit RPF/PLA on the occasion of the group's Athouba Singgi Numit (Martyrs' Day) today, amidst heavy presence of security forces at Cheiraoching at Chingmeirong and Kodompokpi.
At Cheiraoching, the police at first allowed only family members and relatives of the eight PLA cadres slain in the Kodompokpi gunbattle of April 1982.Police conducted strict checks on people turning up to reach the memorial site at the top of Cheiraoching.
Later, police allowed all people to pay homage following an order of the Gauhati High Court which permitted paying of tributes by family members, relatives and well-wishers of the eight cadres.
Police noted down the names and particulars of the mourners.
They eased up allowing entering mourners to pay homage at the memorial site till 4 pm.
Police prohibited carrying of photographs, festoons etc as well as paying of tributes by meira paibis, or other organisations.
Media persons were also at first prevented from taking photos and taking video clippings but it was later relaxed after communication with the higher authority of the police.
At the memorial sites at Kodompokpi and Kameng, mourners and well-wishers were largely unimpeded in paying their homage.
Meanwhile, in the evening, candles were lit at many homes in memory of the departed members of the RPF/PLA.
It may be mentioned, nine cadres of the group were killed in an encounter with Army troops at Kodompokpi on April 13, 1982.They are Thoudam Kunjabihari, of Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai, Thoudam Loken alias Amujao of Kakwa Nameirakpam Leikai, Paka of Heirok, Pakhanglakpa alias Puki of Keisampat, rk Khoiromba alias Gyane of Moreh, Sorokhaibam Kameshwor alias Kanta of Heibongpokpi, Khundrakpam Chaobhan of Kwakeithel Moirangpurel, Naorem Rajen of Kakwa Naorem Leikai and Moirangthem Premkumar of Tera Sapam Leikai.
The day has since been observed as 'Martyrs' Day by the RPF/PLA.