Hunger Marchers' Day : Fitting tributes paid to martyrs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 27 2013: The 48th Hunger Marchers' Day was observed today at DM College multipurpose hall under the aegis of AMSU.

The main feature of the observation was offering of floral tributes to the photographs to Oinam Nabakumar, Laishram Chaobal, Nong-meikapam Pramodini and Waikhom Nilamani who were killed in police firing during a student stir against artificial famine on August 27, 1965 .

After offering floral tributes to the student leaders at Pishum Chingamacha, a large number of people including students took out a mass rally from Pishum to DM College campus where a public meeting was held.

Photographs of Nabakumar, Nilamani, Pramodini and Chaobal placed in well decorated palanquins were carried throughout the course of the mass rally.

People who took part in the mass rally chanted many slogans against AFSPA, Government's policy of keeping several hectares of paddy fields inundated, unrestrained influx of immigrants etc.

Speaking at the gathering, AMSU HRD secretary Manjit Sarangthem said that the artificial famine of 1965 was a clear case of violating right to life by denying right to food under alien rule.

The demand of the starving students and public for rice was responded with bullets and bayonets.

Three students and one driver of AIR were killed in the police action.

In spite of the people's movement against artificial food shortage, Manipur still reels under a situation of economic dependency.

Around 1947, when Manipur regained its independence from British rulers, a season's harvest of food grains was enough to meet people's requirement for two years, Manjit said.

Whereas paddy productivity has been severely slashed after several hectares of paddy fields have been inundated by the Loktak Hydro Electric Project, Armed Forces Special Powers Act have been instrumental in rampant human rights violation, he added.

The function was graced by former AMSU general secretary G Joykumar as chief guest and AMSU president Thiyam Naresh as functional president.

Former AMSU president RK Itocha, NESO secretary general Sinam Prakash, former AMSU general secretary Ng Debendra, MSF president Longjam Umakanta, KSA president Thangjam Premananda and DESAM president Wangmayum Islauddin were also present at the function as guests of honour.

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