IMPHAL, November 2: Even after 14 years, we continue to wait for justice, lamented a father of one of the 10 victims of the infamous Malom massacre today during a memorial service held to commemorate the day.
The 14th anniversary of the Malom Massacre of November 2, 2000 was held today at site of the incident at Malom Makha Leikai roadside.
Family members, friends and others offered floral tributes to a memorial stone erected near a bus stop at the site in memory of the victims who were waiting for a bus when they were gunned down by personnel of the 8th Assam Rifles in the aftermath of a bomb attack on their convoy.
The incident gave birth to Irom Chanu Sharmila’s indefinite fast demanding repeal of the dreaded Armed Forces (Special powers) Act, 1958 which has continued till today.
It may be remembered that the victims of the incident are Leisangbam ongbi Ibetombi, 62; Gurumayum Bapu Sharma, 57; Oinam Sanatomba Singh, 50; Kangjam Bijoy alias Naouba, 35; Amakcham Raghumani, 34; Soibam Prakash, 25; Kshetrimayum Inaocha, 20; Tokpam Shantikumar, 19; Sinam Robin, 28 and 18-year-old Sinam Chandramani who was a National Child Bravery Award winner in 1988.
Tokpam Somorendra Singh, father of victim Shantikumar said even though the State government has distributed ex-gratia acknowledging that they were innocent victims of the Armed Forces (Special powers) Act, 1958, the families are denied justice even 14 years after the massacre.
Ex-gratias are not meant for the guilty, he added.
Later in the evening at 5, candles were lit at the memorial site in remembrance of the victims.
Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/11/malom-incident-remembered-victims-families-await-justice/