Imphal, September 01: A delegation of CPI (M) MPs who are presently on a visit to have a first had account of the ongoing public agitation against the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur today visited the bereaved family members of Thangjam Manorama whose death in the custody of the 17 Assam Rifles had sparked off the current agitation.

The delegation comprising of Lok Sabha MP Mithil Anand and Rajya Sabha MP Chandrakala Pandey also demanded an all political party meeting to discuss and look into the demand for withdrawal of the Act so that normalcy can be restored in the State.

Soon after their arrival at the Tulihal Airport here, the two CPI (M) leaders headed directly for the Bamon Kampu residence of Manorama and held talks with the bereaved family members.

Thangjam Basu, younger brother of Manorama, recounted the gory detail of the brutality and atrocities committed by the Assam Rifles personnel who came to arrest his sister on the intervening night of July 10 and 11.Basu expressed gratitude to the CPI (M) delegates for visiting and consoling them and said that even the Chief Minister of the State O Ibobi Singh had not visited to console them.

Other family members also prevailed upon the visiting delegates to exert pressure on the Centre and State Government to revoke the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and to give fitting punishment to the AR personnel involved in the custodial killing of Manorama.

Talking to The Sangai Express, MP Mithil Anand said his party would insist on an all political party meeting to diffuse the present crisis and restore peace and normalcy in the State.

He said his party fully endorses the demands of the people to remove a draconian Act like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur, evacuation of Assam Rifles from the historic Kangla Fort and punishment of guilty Assam Rifles personnel.

MP Chandrakala Pandey said that the act of arresting Manorama by a team of all male security personnel and that too late at night was illegal and the guilty personnel should be given fitting punishment.

After coming out from the house of Manorama, the two visiting MPs met protestors who are staging sit-in-protest in front of the gate of the house demanding removal of black laws from Manipur.

The two MPs informed the protestors that they have come for a spot survey of the whole matter and a report would be submitted to the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil before the latter proposed visit to Imphal.

They also assured the people of Manipur for doing everything within their means for fulfilment of their demands and exert pressures on the Chief Minister and the Governor in this connection.

Later in the afternoon, the two CPI (M) delegation called on Chief Minister and Governor and held discussion on the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur and made it clear that efforts should be taken up with right earnest for resolving the issue at the earliest possible.

The delegation would be leaving Imphal for New Delhi tomorrow.

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