Imphal, Jul 12 : Sixty three-year-old Khumanlei unloaded a “burden” off her back today.
Four years after her young daughter Thangjam Manorama’s lifeless body was found in a wooded area — allegedly killed after being raped by Assam Rifles personnel — her mother today finally performed the “last rites” and hoped that her daughter’s soul would rest in peace.Till now, the family members of Manorama had refused to perform the last rites saying they would wait till the security personnel responsible for Manorama’s death were punished and the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was repealed.
The symbolic funeral pyre was lit by Manorama’s elder brother Th. Modon. A twig of the pangong tree represented Manorama’s body.
“We wanted to perform the last rites after the black law was repealed. But I cannot live with this burden any more. I feel relieved now,” the frail mother said as she sat in front of her daughter’s photograph.
Troops of the Assam Rifles picked up Manorama on the midnight of July 10, 2004. The bullet-riddled body was recovered not very far from her house in Imphal East the next morning.
The death triggered a violent campaign against the army act, forcing the Manmohan Singh government to constitute the Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy Commission, which recommended repeal of the act as did the Administrative Reforms Commission. But the government is yet to act on them.
Members of the People’s Action Committee formed by residents of Bamon Kampu locality after Manorama’s death and the Apunba Lup, spearheading the campaign against the army act, observed the fourth death anniversary by paying tribute to Manorama while the family members, neighbours and relatives performed the last rites near a riverbank close to their house.
The Okram Ibobi Singh government had cremated the body of Manorama as the family had refused to accept it.
Khumanlei said she might not live too long and could not “die without shouldering the responsibilities of a mother”.
“I often dream of Manorama and she tells me that she is very tired. I thought it is because we had not performed the last rites. Though my daughter will never be at peace until the culprits are punished and the act repealed, I feel that she will find a place in heaven now,” Khumanlei said.
Another reason for performing the last rites was to allow close relatives to get on with other religious activities and weddings. According to Meitei tradition, until the last rites and shradh of a dead person is performed, the family cannot hold either religious or auspicious functions.
The local action committee and Apunba Lup did not object to the family’s wishes, but did not take part in the rituals. “We will continue to struggle until the act is repealed,” K. Muhindro, a spokesman for the action committee, said.
A meeting addressed by leaders of Apunba Lup reaffirmed the demand for repeal of the act. “Guns cannot solve the problem. The solution should be political,” said Karam Sunil, a coordinator of Apunba Lup.
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