Imphal: Thangjam Manorama, who was brutally killed by the security forces on July 11, 2004, was on Monday remembered on her 18th death anniversary.
Manorama Memorial Charitable Trust, Bamon Kampu and the Working Committee on Apunba Lup jointly organized a function marking the anniversary at Bamon Kampu Community Hall where leaders of various civil society organizations took part.
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Eighteen years ago, in the early hours of July 11, 2004, the bullet riddled body of 32- year-old Thangjam Manorama Devi was found in Laipharok Maring of Imphal East district of Manipur. She was picked up by troopers of 17 Assam Rifles from her home in Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai and was killed. Investigations revealed she was raped before she was killed, according to reports.
Later that day her semi clad body was found in a nearby village. She had been fired with several bullets.
There were gunshot wounds in the genitals and semen on her skirt suggesting she was raped before being tortured and killed.
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Mass protests in Manipur broke out as people demanded an immediate investigation and prosecution of the guilty.
Leaders who addressed the function today reminded the hardships faced by the people of the state under the Armed Forces (Special) Power Act, 1958) and demanded lifting the draconian act from the whole of the state.
“Partial lifting of the Act is not the long lasting solution. Such an inhuman Act must go. It should be repealed from the whole of the state”, coordinator of the Working Committee on Apunba Lup, Phunindro Konsam said. He also said that under the Act, security forces had killed over 1500 innocent persons in fake encounters and several women had been raped and killed.
He further expressed his dissatisfaction while informing that no legal actions or punishments were awarded to those troopers of the 17 Assam Rifles involved in the brutal killing even after 18 years since the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, offering of floral tributes to the photograph of the Manorama Devi marked the anniversary observation function.
NNN
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