Thousands offer tributes
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 13 2009: In memory of the departed souls of the cadres of Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) and its army wing People's Liberation Army (PLA), the party observed Martyrs' Day today.

Hordes of people took part in offering floral tributes at the martyrs' memorial located at the flat site on the Cheirao Ching here.

The Martyrs' Day has been observed by the RPF/PLA annually for the past so many years after nine hardcore cadres including a leader of PLA were killed in a historic gun battle with the security forces at Kodompokpi village, about 12 kms south of here on April 13 of 1982 .

The main observance was held at the memorial site located at a flat piece of land atop Cheirao Ching in the Chingmeirong hill range in Imphal West district bordering Senapati district.

Two lady cops try to lift an old mother of one of the slain cadres of RPF/PLA who broke down at the site

The observance of April 13 also reminds of another incident in which seven other cadres of PLA were killed in a gun battle with security forces at Tekcham village in Thoubal district on July 6 of 1981 .

As police restricted entry to the memorial site till 8 in the morning,the participation of the public was thin early in the morning.

However many people across the state particularly the womenfolks in their mourning attire thronged Thangmeiband area,the foothill of Chingmeirong range to pay floral tribute to the departed souls.The foothill of the Chingmeirong range in and around Thangmeiband area was jammed packed with buses,mini buses and other light vehicles for dropping and lifting the mourners round the clock till dusk.

Armed with basketful of different colours of flowers and leaves,the family members,near and dear ones of the departed souls were also seen taking part in the occasion after members of the Families' Committee For Observation led a large number of people in paying floral tributes to the memory of the deceased.

Braving the scorching seasonal heat,people of all ages both young and old including school children in their different uniforms climbed up atop the Chingmeirong range to show respect and sympathy to the departed souls.

Earlier State authority tries to restrict participation of general public in the floral tribute ceremony.

Even Deputy Secretary (Home) Th Amalkumar Singh in an official order permitted only 112 people to pay homage to the departed souls.

However a single Bench of Gauhati High gave a ruling allowing all interested persons to participate in the ceremony following a petition by one Kh Rebita and others seeking permission for all intending to pay the tribute.

According to AK Ibotombi, Chairman of the April 13 Observation Committee, people have been paying tributes to the 'martyrs'.