MSF gears up to pay homage to Human Torch
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2025: The Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF) has announced that it will observe the 21 st Students' Martyrdom Day on August 16 to commemorate Pebam Chittaranjan, who sacrificed his life through self-immolation in protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) .

MSF, in a statement issued by its president Hijam Roshan, said that the event will begin with an invocation at its office at Kwakeithel Thounaojam Leikai.

The event will continue with floral tributes at the martyr's self-immolation site at Bishnupur Market, the Martyr Pebam Chittaranjan Memorial Complex at Thanilkhun near CI College, Bishnupur, and his birthplace at Kwakeithel Takhellambam Leikai, said the Federation.

MSF added that a mass silent rally will also be organized as part of the death anniversary, starting from TYC Club at Takhellambam Leikai, proceeding to Keishampat Traffic Island, taking a U-turn, and culminating at Imphal College, with a demand to remove AFSPA from entire Manipur.

A public meeting will be held at the Jubilee Hall of Imphal College, where a collective resolve will be made to repeal the black laws enforced in North East India, particularly the AFSPA, MSF said and appealed to the people to extend their support in cash, kind, or other items to facilitate the successful holding of the event.

Claiming that AFSPA, imposed in Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern States, violates the right to life by granting sweeping powers to security forces, it alleged that 1,528 innocent people were killed by security forces in Manipur from 1979 to 2012.The Federation further charged that AFSPA is more draconian than even the Emergency provisions.

Stating that Pebam Chittaranjan self-immolated on August 15, 2004 in protest against AFSPA, thereby becoming a human torch, MSF added that the martyr was conferred the title of "Athouba" by the Maharaj on August 21, 2004 .

It appealed to the people to light candles on their gates on the evening of August 16 as a tribute to the "Athouba" .

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