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Manipur : Protest movements against security forces

	July 19, 2004

Even as various insurgent groups and extremist elements in the north east often resort to acts of violence and terror to achieve their political ends, general public in the region, particularly women, have launched a movement to protest against what they called “high-handedness of security forces and draconian army laws” to curb insurgency.



Naked protest in Imphal : Chief Minister’s effigies burnt

During the week under review, security forces came under fire when about forty women came out in the streets in the capital city of Imphal on July 15 and stripped carrying placards saying “Come Indian Army Rape Us,” “Indian Army take our flesh...” The protest was against the alleged rape and encounter death of a young woman by security forces.

A dozen of them, most middle-aged and some older, shed their clothes and tore into the campus through the western gate. The sentries did not budge from where they stood, dumbstruck by the protest.

Earlier, the women converged at the main entrance to Kangla Fort, the Headquarters of the Assam Rifles, shouting slogans against excesses by security forces and demanded punishment of the personnel who allegedly tortured and killed the 32-year old Thangiam Manorama on July 10.

A team from the 17th battalion of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary, picked up Manorama from her house in the wee hours of Sunday. A havildar signed the arrest memo, which said she was being taken into custody on suspicion of having links with a militant group.

The Assam Rifles which is under the operational command of the Army, changed its version after Manorama was killed. It said she was a corporal of the militant People’s Liberation Army and that a wireless set, a grenade and some incriminating documents were seized from her. She was shot while trying to flee, it added.

Manorama’s family has yet to accept her body, which has been kept at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. Assam Rifles personnel allegedly sexually abused and tortured the woman before taking her away. The police recovered a bloodstained kitchen knife from her house the day after the incident.

Ramani Devi, who led the protesters said : “We decided to strip as our protest against extra-judicial killings and molestation of women in Manipur went unheeded. We are Manorama’s mothers. We do not believe in judicial probe. We demand public trial of the guilty.”

According to reports, some of the women fainted possibly overcome by emotions.

When senior police officers reached the spot, the protesters accused them of turning a blind eye to atrocities on women by the security forces. An Assam Rifles officer, his hands folded, walked up to the gate and pleaded with the women to put on their clothes. The group retreated after much cajoling.



Statewide bandh, protests : Indefinite curfew clamped

The news of naked demonstration by women in protest against the alleged rape and death of Manorama spread like a wild fire throughout the state and Manipur was in the grip of protest marches. Protesters burnt effigies of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh in at least two places. Schools, colleges and government offices also remained closed. Protesters held dharnas (sit-in demonstrations) at various places demanding resignation of the Chief Minister for his failure to restrain the armed forces from killing people at will.

Tension had been mounting since Manorama’s bullet-riddled body was found 4 km from her house at Bamon Kampu in Imphal East on Sunday morning.

Five government offices were set ablaze by agitators on July 17. Official sources in Imphal on Sunday (July 18) said that agitators set ablaze the offices of the Sub Deputy Collector and Municipal Corporation at Ningthoukhong, Sub Deputy Collector’s office at Moirang and Electricity and Fisheries offices at Kumbi in Bishenpur district late on Saturday night. Initial reports said that not much damage was done to the buildings although some government files were destroyed in the fire. Some nearby government quarters were damaged in the fire.

The indefinite curfew, which was relaxed for two hours till 11.30 am, continued to be in force for the fourth day on Sunday following reports that people were likely to take out processions in protest against the killing.

District authorities had imposed indefinite curfew in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas of Imphal East district, Imphal West district and parts of Thoubal and Bishenpur districts following widespread protests.

The Congress government of Chief Minister Ibobi Singh and Assam Rifles have instituted inquiries into the circumstances leading to Manorama’s death. Singh has sought affirmative action to prevent violation of human rights by the security forces.

The Chief Minister announced on Sunday that an all-party meeting would be held on Monday to review the laws which gave special powers to security forces to tackle insurgency in the state.