Hundreds pay floral tribute to RPF and Manipur Martyrs

Imphal: As in previous years, hundreds of people from different ethnic communities across the state paid floral tributes at the memorial complex of martyrs of the banned Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the political wing of the proscribed People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at Cheiraoching, a hill lock, near the Manipur Legislative Assembly complex, Imphal on Saturday.

Attired in traditional Manipuri mourning dresses, the visitors also offered flowers at the memorial sites of Manipur Martyrs —Thangal General, Paona Brajabashi, Bir Tikendarjit, and Hijam Irabot located at the hillock.

The floral offers were allowed to be paid with an order from the Manipur High Court at the martyrs’ site from 6 am to 4 pm amidst tight security on this day.

The families of the victims observed the day in honour of the 16 PLA men who laid down their lives during the ongoing liberation movements at the villages of Tekcham on June 16, 1981, and Kadampokpi on April 13, 1982.

The RPF/PLA has been fighting for the restoration of Manipur’s lost sovereignty.

Manipur nation merged with the Indian Union in 1949 after getting independence from the British. Princely state Manipur was under British rule from 1891 to 1947.