Rich tributes paid to 'Lamjing Meira' Robinhood
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 08 2025:
Rich floral tributes were paid to 'Lamjing Meira' Sapam Robinhood on his 10th death anniversary on Tuesday as large number of people gathered at his memorial site known as Yelhou-meeshinggi Ningshing Khubam at Awa Ching in Imphal East district.
The solemn remembrance ceremony organised by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) was attended by leaders of civil society organisations, student bodies and clubs apart from people coming from different parts of the state.
Sapam Robinhood was a class XI student of Ananda Singh higher secondary school when he lost his life on July 8, 2015 in police crackdown on protestors demanding implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state.
Addressing the gathering, JCILPS co-convener Md Kheirud-din Shah Moijingmayum said it is a good step for the Centre to update Aadhaar but the people of Manipur and JCILPS will not condone political leaders if they are found enrolling outsiders/foreigners in electoral rolls for vote bank.
He said that outsiders must procure ILP pass while entering the state even if one possesses voter ID .
According to Kheiruddin, Sapam Robinhood laid down his life for the future and protection of the indigenous people of Manipur and his death became a defining movement in the people's movement for implementation of ILPS in the state.
Due to the supreme sacrifice made by Robinhood and prolonged movement of the people in 2015 with many suffering injuries, the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act was extended to Manipur from 2019.However, this legislation alone is incomplete for protection of the indigenous people of the state, he cautioned and stressed the need for constitution of population commission.
In his address, JCILPS co-convener Luwangcha Chingkhei likened the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act implemented in Manipur to a blunt sword.
JCILPS demanded 1951 as base year for identification of outsiders but government sticks to the 1961 cut-off year, which is not acceptable at all, Chingkhei insisted.
Pointing out that challenges posed by outsiders/ foreigners is not limited to the Meetei community alone but all the indigenous communities of Manipur, he stressed the need for the indigenes to fight collectively against the bigger issue, illegal immigrants.
Inner Manipur MP Dr Angomcha Bimol Akoijam also joined people in paying floral tributes and honour to Sapam Robinhood at Awa Ching.
The MP told media persons on the sidelines of the event that Manipur is currently facing a huge challenge to its demography and it would be unwise for parties to politicise the issue.
For the sake of the indigenous communities, political parties must work with sincerity on the issue, he said adding that no work should be done merely for drawing political mileage.