Family to perform last rites of Manorama after 4 years
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 10: After four years, the last rite of Thangjam Manorama Devi, who was found brutally murdered after being picked up by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles from her house on the night of July 10,2004, would be performed by her family members tomorrow.

Enraged over the brutal killing of a defenceless woman even after an arrest memo had been issued to the family members at the time of her arrest, the people of Manipur have been demanding punishment of the AR personnel involved in the killing and demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Unfortunately, till date, the High Court has not admitted the case related to Manorama's killing nor the police taken up any case.

A picture of Manorama where floral tributes have been paid

It is not that the demand of the people have been fulfilled that the last rite of Manorama is to be performed tomorrow but in consideration of the sentiment of her aged mother and other family members who have not been able to lead a normal life after the tragedy struck them.

The performance of Manorama's last rites would only be a symbolic cremation of her body made of Pangong and solemnisation of religious rituals due to a departed soul.

With tears swelling up her bleary eyes in remembering her daughter, 70-year old Khumanleima said ''Nungsibanida Ichado ! (She was such a darling child !) May be her last rite has not been performed that my child comes in my dreams very frequently saying, 'Ima, I am very tired' and sometime 'Ima, I am hungry'.

I want all these things to be over''.

All these years, the family members have been mourning the loss and abstaining from the daily ritual of burning incense stick and offering to god and participation in annual festivals like Ningol Chakkouba, Cheiraoba, etc.

They have also been abstaining from eating fish and Ngari.

Coming out from her reverie, Khumanleima went on to say that observing such austerities in the family has become a cause of greater sorrow reminding of an irreparable loss all the time.

In their modest size house constructed of wood, Khumanleima stays along with two bothers of Manorama, Thangjam Dolendro and Thangjam Basu.

Most of the time, the two brothers also remain away from the house in connection with their engagement as performers of Thang-Ta.

While Manorama was alive, she was the one who looked after the needs of the family.

Even for education of her brothers, she earned the money staying awake the night in weaving Muga cloths on the loom.

At the time of Manorama's death, her youngest brother Basu cleared his matric examination.

But as an impact of the tragedy and the mental trauma the family has gone through, he could not continue his study.

He said, ''After my sister was found brutally murdered, our family has not the same any more.

Thinking of all that have taken place, sometime I don't feel returning home or mixing around with friends.

When we have to go to some far off places from home, we dare not made offerings to god praying for safe journey and blessing''.

The inner most room of the house used to be the room of Manorama and it is being maintained just like what it would be like if Manorama were alive today with exemption to the photograph of her on the bed.

Recalling about the 'unforgettable night', Basu said 'When the 17 Assam Rifles personnel barged into the house, they dragged my sister out of her room pulling at her hair.

Before taking my sister along with them, they handed over an arrest memo stating that she was being arrested on suspicion.

But after she was killed, they charged her as a PLA cadre, a bomb expert.

This is ridiculous''.

He further disclosed that after the incident, some AR officials, in connection with the inquiry of the AR authorities, had come to their house asking whether any of the family members would be able to identify the AR personnel who came to arrest Manorama on that night.

The family members have told the officials that they would be able to do so.

But no one has come to their house since that day.

In connection with Manorama case, the Government of Manipur has instituted an inquiry commission headed by retired Justice C Upendra.

The inquiry report has already been submitted to the Government.

But the same has not been made known to the public till date.

Over the same case, two appeals from the side of the Assam Rifles and one from the side of Manipur Government have been filed in the Gauhati High Court.

Besides, along with the family members of Manorama, Human Rights Law Network had also filed two appeals.

Although the Court has granted rule nisi on the appeals of the Assam Rifles and the Government, the appeals of the Human Rights Law Network and the family members have not been.

The appeals have not been admitted nor any hearing conducted so far, according to advocate Paikhomba of Human Rights Law Network.

There has been no development of the Manorama's case in the High court at all, Paikhomba lamented.

Irilbung police had registered an FIR in connection with Manorama's case.

But no police inquiry had been ever conducted, family members of Manorama complained.