Imphal, July 14: Cutting across political and community lines, various social and political organizations continue to come out strongly against killing of Thangjam Manorama in the custody of Assam Rifles even as protest demonstrations were held at many places today.

Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP) described the killing Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel as a crime against universal womanhood that shall invite highest degree of global condemnation apart from lowering the image of India and its manner of governance.

In a statement, party spokesman Kh Devabrata Singh said that the personnel who committed the crime are a threat to society and the people of Manipur should rise against such atrocities.

Reacting to the claim that Manorama was killed while trying to escape, Devabrata asked whether the security forces have the moral right to kill a fleeing prisoner.

Quoting Geneva Convention, he asserted that Manorama was a prisoner of war and has every right to attempt to escape from his/her captors and it is the duty of the captors to prevent such escape.

But the said Convention never said that the captors have the right to kill the escaping prisoner, he added.

MSCP also demanded that the guilty security personnel should be punished and imposition of Armed Forces Special Power Acts, 1958 in Manipur should be reviewed.

Expressing solidarity with the public outcry against the killing of the woman, All Club, Organization, Association, Meira Paibi Lup (ACOAM-Lup); All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers' and Pullers Welfare Association; Social Union Nascent Club; Mongshangei; Human Development Organization, Changangei and Youth Social Club cum Information Centre, Ayangpalli have also demanded punishment of the guilty personnel.

Women's bodies like, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba, Manipur; All Manipur Awang Nongpok Nupi Lamjing Lup; Langjing Achouba Meira Paibi Women's Welfare Association; Lamjing Meira Paibi Lup, Langthabal Lep Thong Ahanbi; Naoriya Kendra Women's Welfare Association and Langthabal Lep Mayai Leikai Women's Welfare Association (Meira Paibi) while strongly condemning the brutal killing of Manorama demanded that Assam Rifles should be removed from Manipur.

Joining in the public outcry against the excesses being committed by security personnel, All Manipur (Plain and Hill) Development Organization (AMDO); Minority Youth's Development Organization (MYDO); United Meetei Mayek Organization (AMDO); Minority Youth's Development Organization (MYDO); United Meetei Mayek Academy (UMMA), Imphal; Tharigmeiband Youth Centre; United Ching-Tam Clubs' Association; Chingtam Naharol Lamyam Club, Uchekon; People Welfare Forum, Thoubal and Takhok Mapal Women's Association, Uchekon resolutely stated that Government should not remain quiet and take up appropriate measures to book the killer jawans.

MPP Nambol Kendra Committee; Eramdam Kanba Apunba Ema Lup, Bishnupur; Wangkhem Nongmaileima Women's Development cum Nidhad Thingba Association, Wangkhem Ngarian Chingkhong; Sun Lingth Library Club, Kongba Uchekon Mathak; Women's Development Association, Singjamei Wangma Bheigyabati Leikai and Dharma Rakshak Samiti, Manipur have also condemned the killing.

Moreh town based bodies like, Kha Nongpok Apunba Nupi Lup and Meetei Council also joined in the condemnation chorus and demanded prosecution of the killer AR personnel and removal of Armed Forced Special Power Act from Manipur.

Meanwhile, despite the general strike being called, many womenfolk today come out to the street and staged sit-in-protest demonstration denouncing the excesses being carried out by security personnel in the name of counter-insurgency operation.

Women vendors of Khwairamband Bazar today staged a dharna against killing of Thangjam Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel after having arrested her from her Bamon Kampu residence on the night of July 11.The protest demonstration was jointly organised by Eema Leipak Thougal Lup and Khwai Singjubung Women's Welfare Association.

The dharna was held from 9 am to 4 pm.

Meira Paibis of Singjamei, Keishampat and Khoyathong areas also sat on a dharna today.

Comment