Our Correspondent
Imphal | April 13
Floral tributes were paid to slain cadres of Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) and its armed wing People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on the occasion of ‘Athoubashingi Numit’ here today.
Thousands of people in mourning clothes, including family members and friends of those killed in encounters with security forces, paid floral tributes at the memorial site located at Cheiraoching on the outskirts of Imphal city.
The outfit observes April 13 as ‘Athoubashingi Numit’ (Martyrs’ Day) every year to pay homage to its slain cadres killed during encounters with security forces.
On this day in 1982, nine PLA cadres were killed by security forces during an encounter at Kodompokpi in Imphal West.
The Families Committee for Observation of 13th April organised the event after seeking permission from the authorities through a writ petition filed in the Manipur High Court to allow people to offer floral tributes to the PLA cadres at the memorial site at Cheiraoching, Chingmeirong.
This time, the authorities permitted the committee to perform the ceremony from 8 am till 4 pm.
Personnel of Manipur Police took up adequate security measures at Cheiraoching to prevent any untoward incident during the event. All visitors were frisked by the police and later allowed them to pay homage at the memorial complex.
The visitors also paid floral tributes to the statues of Manipuri heroes Bir Tikendrajit, Thangal general, Paona Brajabashi and revolutionary leader Hijam Irabot located inside the memorial complex.
Manipur celebrates Cheiraoba Festival
The Vaishnavite Meitei community in Manipur on Wednesday celebrated Cheiraoba festival (Charak Puja) which marks the beginning of a New Year.
The main highlights of the festival are offerings of food to the deity to seek blessings and making and eating a variety of dishes at every household on this day.
As part of the rituals, people climb the Cheiraoching at Chingmeirong and other nearest hill tops after the feasts. It is a belief of the Meiteis that their worldly life will be elevated to greater heights by climbing hills on this day.
