Manorama remembered on 20th anniversary
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2024: Thangjam Manorama was fondly remembered today on her 20th death anniversary with a call to award exemplary punishment to all those personnel of 17 Assam Rifles who were involved in the brutal murder.

The 20th death anniversary of Thangjam Manorama was observed today at Bamonkampu under the aegis of the Thangjam Manorama Memorial Charitable Trust, Bamonkampu and the Apunba Lup.

Speaking on the occasion, Working Committee of the Apunba Lup coordinator Phulindro Konsam said that the brutal rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama would remain a dark day in the history of Manipur.

The demands raised by the people of Manipur subsequent upon Manorama's murder still stand, he said.

Currently, the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) has been removed from areas covered by some police stations but it can be imposed any time.

As such, there is a need for all the people to fight for complete abolition of the draconian law so that the fate of Manorama does not befall upon any other person, Phulindro said.

He also condemned the statements made by certain political parties aimed at scoring political mileage by claiming that AFSPA was removed when they were in power.

Instead, the political parties must work on awarding exemplary punishment to all the 17 Assam Rifles personnel who were involved in the brutal murder of Thangjam Manorama and complete abolition of AFSPA.

Offering of floral tributes to Thangjam Manorama's photograph was the main feature of the death anniversary observation.

Notably, Thangjam Manorama was arrested from her Bamonkampu home by troops of 17 Assam Rifles, then stationed at Kangla in the wee hours of July 11, 2004 .

She was found raped and murdered in the same morning with multiple bullet wounds on her private part and thighs, not far away from her house.

The incident sparked outrage across the State giving rise to a strong and sustained mass movement for repeal of AFSPA and punishment of all the AR personnel involved in the brutal rape and murder.

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