A fitting tribute to a brave martyr – Shaheed Manoranjan Singh

N Ranbir Singh *

8th Shaheed Manoranjan Mamorial Football Tournament at Khuman Lampak on 13 December 2017 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

8th Edition of Shaheed Manoranjan Singh Memorial CRPF State level Open Football Tournament has been underway since 11th December 2017 at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium and Astro Turf Ground. The knock out tourney is organized by the Group Centre, CRPF, Imphal, under the aegis of IGP M&N Sector, CRPF and All Manipur Football Association in which 16 top clubs of the state participated.

Manipur, though tiny in size and population, has been a bastion of Football with many football lovers. This fact was amply illustrated when seven Manipuri players represented in the 21 member Indian team in the recently concluded under 17 FIFA world cup held at various cities across the country.

Under these circumstances, there can be no befitting tribute to the brave son of the soil other than organizing a state level open football tournament in his memory.

The state of Manipur has produced many brave soldiers who fought valiantly and laid down their lives while defending their motherland. Born on 1st April 1979, Sh. Manoranjan Singh after his schooling in Imphal, graduated from DAV PG College, Dehradun in 2003.

He joined CRPF as an Assistant Commandant in the year 2007. Since the outset, he stood out for his honesty, hard work and love for adventure and sports. He was subsequently selected for the elite force, 201 Bn, CoBRA. On 16th September 2009, in an operation against the maoist, the troops of 201 CoBRA led by Shri Manoranjan Singh, Assistant Commandant raided a maoist camp and neutralized a weapon factory.

After dismantling the factory and training camp established along with the factory, while the troops were withdrawing, the Maoists, waiting in an ambush, opened indiscriminate fire on the troops and a fierce gun battle took place in the dense jungle which resulted in loss of lives on both sides.

The intense counter offensive and valour displayed by brave troopers forced the Maoists to flee. In the battle Shaheed Ng. Manoranjan Singh, Assistant Commandant made the supreme sacrifice fighting bravely for his mother land.

For his conspicuous bravery and courage of highest order, the officer was awarded with coveted Police Medal for Gallantry posthumously. The saga of bravery and courage of highest order displayed by this brave soldier from Manipur shall remain epitaphed in the golden history of the largest Para Military Force CRPF.

To commemorate his gallantry and to give a befitting tribute to this brave officer, the tournament is being organized annually for the last 8 years.

The final match of the tournament shall be played between DM RAO, Sekmai vs SSU, Singjamei at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium on 20th December 2017 from 1300 hrs onwards to be followed by closing ceremony.

Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur, Shri N. Biren Singh has kindly consented to be the Chief guest of the function. All sports lovers are cordially requested to come and join the grand finale of the tournament and function.