Imphal, July 22: Family members of Manorama have today categorically stated that Manorama's body would be taken back and consigned to flames only after the Govt issues an order for complete removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the State.

Talking to a group of Ministers and MLAs who had come to persuade the victim's family members to take back the body, the beareaved family members urged the political leaders to revoke the draconian law immediately before others meet the same fate of Manorama and further urged the leaders not to waste time but look into the charges of other custodial deaths and army atrocities so that the guilty personnel may be punished according to the law of the land.

Even though Minister Allauddin and Ranjit who were part of the visiting team tried their best to persuade the family members to take back the body, the family members strongly opposed the idea and said that they would not yield an inch from their stance until the AFSPA is removed from the State.

They also accused Chief Minister O Ibobi of playing delaying tactics to control the people's movement and questioned why the CM was waiting for August 15 for taking a definite decision on the AFSPA issue when removal of the draconian law is within his hands.

Commenting on the CM's assurance of taking a definite decison on the AFSPA before August 15, Dolendro younger brother of Manorama who also interacted with the visiting team, stated that it was just another ploy of the Chief Minister to pacify the general public and should not be believed by the public.

Any attempt on the part of the Govt to dispose Manorama's body would be strongly objected by the people, said Dolendro adding that the last rites of Manorama would be performed only after the removal of AFSPA from the State.

Another brother of Manorama who also interacted with the visiting team said that they would deposit the victim's body at the gate of Chief Minister O Ibobi or local MLA Vivek Raj if the Govt forcibly tries to return Manorama's body to the family members.

Romita, the younger sister of Manorama while appealing to the State Govt to keep her sister's body at least till August 15 expressed her deep resentment against Union MoS Home Affairs Prakash Jaiswal who did not care to visit the aggrieved family members during his stay in Imphal.

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