Blood donation camp begins at JNIMS
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 17 2020: A week-long blood donation camp was opened today at JNIMS Blood Bank in commemoration of the 16th Student's Martyrdom Day.

The blood donation camp is being jointly organised by MSF and JNIMS Blood Bank.

Five volunteers of MSF including its vice-president Maibam Julesh donated blood today.

Speaking about the blood donation camp, Maibam Julesh said that August 16 is being observed as Student's Martyrdom Day every year since 2005 in memory of the supreme sacrifice made by Pebam Chittaranjan.

Even though blood donation camps were organised usually on August 16 on the theme 'blood donated to the masses' in conjunction with the death anniversary function of Pebam Chittaranjan, there was certain difficulty in organising the blood donation camp yesterday on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, Julesh said.

He pointed out that the Government of India has been imposing the draconian AFSPA 1958 in North East India including Manipur and Jammu & Kashmir since a long time back even though India claims to be the biggest democracy in the world.

There have been numerous cases of massacres, fake encounters, custodial torture, forced disappearances, rape and murder committed by Indian military forces under the impunity guaranteed by AFSPA, he said.

One such incident which shocked the whole State was the brutal rape and murder of Thangjam Manorama by troops of 17 Assam Rifles after she was picked up from her Bamon Kampu residence in 2004, he recalled.

Strongly condemning the brutal rape and murder and demanding abolition of AFSPA, Pebam Chittaranjan Mangang self-immolated at Bishnupur on August 15, 2004, the Independence Day of India.

He died the next day, Julesh said and added that the blood donation camp would continue for one week.

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