The Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF) on Tuesday observed the 18th Students’ Martyrdom Day 2022 in Imphal and Bishnupur, commemorating the supreme sacrifice made by Athouba Pebam Chittaranjan during the movement against AFSPA.
The 28-year-old student leader Chittaranjan immolated himself on the 58th Independence Day (August 15, 2004) at Bishnupur district while protesting against AFSPA. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital at Imphal the following day.
Playing of Yakairol at the MSF head office in Imphal West; paying of floral tributes to late Chittaranjan at TYC Ground, Takhellambam in Imphal West and at the Students’ Martyrdom Complex in Bishnupur marked the opening ceremony of the observance.
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Later, hundreds of students from various schools and colleges took out silent marches from the TYC Ground to THAU Ground in Imphal West where a public convention was held along with a blood donation camp.
In the night, candle light tributes being offered to late Chittaranjan at gates of most houses were witnessed in the valley areas of Manipur.
MSF president Khangembam Bidyasagar reaffirmed while speaking to the media that MSF with public support will continue to fight against the draconian law (AFSPA) until it is completely repealed from the entire state of Manipur.
“Lifting of AFSPA from 15 police station areas in six districts of Manipur is not enough. We want complete lifting of the dark law from the whole state of Manipur,” he said.
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Chittaranjan’s sacrifices will be fruitful only when AFSPA is completely lifted from the whole state, he said, while praising the courage of the late soul who made a supreme sacrifice for the rights of the people of Manipur.
The president also expressed his gratitude to the people of Manipur for their support in making the observance a grand success.
The public convention was also attended by chairperson of MHRC Khaidem Mani; president of Porei Leimarol Meirapaibi Apunba Manipur Longjam Memchoubi; and chairman of Committee on Human Rights Phulindro Konsam as presidium members.
