IT News
Imphal, Nov 3:
6 emas who participated in the naked protest on 15th July 2004 in front of Kangla, which happens to be the HQ of the Assam Rifles, appealed an organization by the name of the Federation of Civil Society(FOCS) to publicly apologize for their remark on pension. The said organization announced publicly on October 26 that a monthly pension of Rs. 2000 from January 2023 will be distributed to the brave emas who participated in the protest against the killing of Manorama Thangjam, who was allegedly raped.
In a press conference held at the Manipur Press Club today, the emas said, “The protest that we have done is to protest against Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958(AFSPA), against the crime meted out to womenfolk of the state and to save Manipur but not for any personal or monetary gains. It is very unfortunate that a civil society organization called FOCS had taken such a step of announcing pension and should apologize to the public for announcing such thing.”
It may be mentioned that On 15 July 2004, 12 emas had disrobed in front of the historic Kangla Fort — then the headquarters of the Assam Rifles — carrying banners with messages painted in red. “Indian Army Rape Us”, read one. “Indian Army Take Our Flesh”, said another.
The women were protesting against the brutal killing of Manorama Thangjam, a 32-year-old woman who had been picked up by Assam Rifles personnel in suspicious circumstances four days prior.