EVEN after successfully downsizing his jumbo cabinet as per the constitutional requirement, problems are far from over for Manipur Chief Minister Ibobi Singh. The State is in the grip of massive unrest over the alleged rape and custodial killing of Manorama Devi.

A 24-year-old youth chopped off his finger in front of the Assam Rifles Range office at Kangla in protest over the death of Manorama Devi. Self immolation attempts, nude protests, were also part of the agitation. Indefinite curfew was imposed. Whole of Imphal area is now under prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC preventing gathering of five or more persons It all started when 32-year old woman Thangjam Manorama alias Henthoi d/o (late) Th Bihari was arrested from her house in Bamon Kampu Mayai Leikai locality by 17th Assam Rifles after issuing arrest memo to the family members. Later, her dead body was found abandon near Ngariyan Mapao Maring village allegedly with signs of torture. Family members of Manorama alleged that the Assam Rifles personnel came to the house at midnight and entered after breaking down the door. There were some Manipuri speaking persons among the security personnel. The security personnel asked for Manorama, and dragged her out from the bed and beat up the family members when they tried to intervene. The family members further alleged that after locking the door from outside with all the family members inside, the security personnel took Manorama at a corner of the veranda and thrashed her brutally for almost half an hour after blind folding and tying her hands and feet.

Before taking Manorama along with them, the security personnel gave an arrest memo to the family members and forced them to sign on some papers to claim that no other things have been taken away, said the family members. Havildar (General Duty) of the Assam Rifles Sureshkumar (Army number 123355) and Rifleman T Lotha (Army number 123916) also put their signature on the paper as authority and witness respectively. The security personnel reportedly told the family members not to be worried and Manorama would be handed over to the Irilbung police the next morning. However, on hearing the news of a body being lying at Keirao-Wangkhem Road near Ngariyan Mapao Maring Village, the family members went and found out that it was of Manorama. The body was found with no proper cloth. There were not only scratching marks of fingers all over the body, but also a deep gashing wound probably made by a knife on the right thigh, alleged the family members.

There were also at least seven fatal bullet wounds on her back. On the other hand, GoC-in-C, Eastern Command has claimed that Manorama Devi was a member of PLA. ‘’She was a confirmed member of the PLA and involved in a series of IED blasts resulting in the injury of many civilians and members of the security forces,’’ Goc-in-C, Eastern Command Lt Gen J. S. Varma claimed. Describing Manorama’s death as ‘unfortunate,’ Lt. Gen. Varma, however, said that there was no proof as yet that she had died as a result of torture. He assured that prompt action will be taken against anybody found guilty. Meanwhile, the post-portem report of Manorama Devi, has said that “there has not been any rape and molestation”, a Defence spokesman revealed.

Commenting on the incident Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that what had happened in Manipur should not have happened. The Prime Minister said that the State Government of Manipur was conducting an enquiry into the incident and the persons found guilty would be punished.

The North East Students’ Organisation (NERSO) in a memorandum to the Prime Minister demanded exemplary punishment to those found guilty in the custodial death of Monorama Devi.

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