Imphal, August 16 (NNN): Pebam Chittaranjan Mangang who had committed self-immolation 12 years ago as a political protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) was remembered on his death anniversary today.
Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF) organized the 12th death anniversary of Chittaranjan to pay homage to him ‘for his supreme sacrifice for the cause of the people.’ He intentionally set himself on fire on August 15, 2004 at Bishnupur bazaar of Bishnupur district. He died the next day at a hospital.
To commemorate the day, the federation also organized a rally participated by over 3000 students from various schools in Imphal. They marched through the Imphal city carrying several placards. The rally was held under the banner, “To Excel Right to Life.” “We stand against AFSPA” and “Repeal AFSPA,” the placards read. The police took up tight security arrangement to thwart untoward incidents.
The function was held at Thau ground of Thangmeiband in Imphal West and also at Bishnupur bazaar. MSF president Takhellambam Nandababu said the Centre was “ignoring” the demand for removal of AFSPA for a long time and cited the crusade against the Act that had been launched by Irom Chanu Sharmila.
Sharmila, the marathon hunger striker, had ended her 16-year-old campaign against AFSPA on August 9 saying she would join electoral politics by changing her track. But she had promised to continue her struggle against the Act.
The MSF leader, Nandababu added, “Many have been killed under the Draconian Act. I urged upon the women of the state to unite and fight against this Act.”
It may be recalled here that on August 11, under the banner of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) over 4,000 people rallied against the AFSPA in four Naga dominated hill districts of Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong and Ukhrul.
A joint memorandum jointly signed by NSF, Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association, and Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) on behalf of the Naga community was submitted to the Prime Minister of India after the rally.
