Floral tributes paid to Sanjit, Rabina
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2009: One month after they were killed by police commandos at Khwairamband, people paid floral tributes to Rabina and Sanjit this morning amidst religious rituals.

Family members of Rabina and Sanjit, members of the respective JACs and activists of the Apunba Lup, offered floral tributes to the departed souls at the spots where they were shot dead on July 23 .

A large number of people paid floral tributes to the photographs of Sanjit and Rabina at the former's Khurai Sajor Leikai residence.

Later, a public meeting was held there.

Floral tributes being paid to Rabina and Sanjit

Khurai A/C MLA Ng Bijoy was among the people who paid their respect to the departed souls.

The scene presented a heart-rending sight with the atmosphere filled with cries of anguish against the twin killings.

In the evening, candle-light vigil was organised in Lamsang and surrounding areas in memory of Rabina and Sanjit.

The candle light vigil was jointly organised by Taothong Lamkhai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Lamdeng Khunou Apunba Meira Paibi Lup, Lamsang Thong Maning Meira Paibi Lup, All Manipur Youth Protection Committee and People Welfare Committee Thoubal.

Later, the public meeting resolved to press hard the demands for resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi on moral ground, termination of police commandos involved in the killing of Rabina and Sanjit, abolition of the practice of giving gallantry awards for killing innocent civilians and scrapping of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the soil of Manipur.

The meeting was attended by social worker Th Iboyaima, Apunba Lup members Memchoubi, Gyaneshwari and Leirik as presidium members.

Addressing the meeting, Leirangtombi asserted fake encounters witnessed in Manipur started from 1980 .

The whole population of Manipur have been reeling under such state excesses.

Although India is a democratic country, what is seen in Manipur is a military rule, she alleged.

She noted that it's time people stand united against state excesses.

Leirik questioned the deafening silence of Okram Landhoni, the lone lady MLA of Manipur, on the killing of a pregnant woman in the heart of Imphal town.

Alleging that police commandos have been unleashing a pogrom targeting the common people under instruction of Chief Minister O Ibobi, Memchoubi pondered over the future of the society where youths are being killed in a larger scale systematically.

Th Iboyaima asserted that the sixty MLAs should bear responsibility for the excesses perpetrated by the state.

If they were aware of their responsibilities, the MLAs would have been racing to resign first, he said.