Imphal, june 18: Thousands of people today paid their tribute to the 18 martyrs, who laid down their lives for the cause of safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur, on the occasion of the 12th Great June Uprising and Unity Day 2013 observed under the aegis of United Committee Manipur (UCM) and All Manipur United clubs organisation (AMUCO) at Kekrupat Memorial complex here.
The extension of the ceasefire ‘without territorial limit’ signed between the NSCN (IM) and Government of India in 2001, provoked the people of Manipur and thousands of people came out on the streets to openly revolt against it.
A number of Government buildings including the State Assembly, official residences of the Ministers and MLAs, political party offices were burnt down during the agitation. In all 18 people lost their lives in the revolt while many others sustained injuries in police action. The bodies of the 18 people who lost their lives during the revolt were cremated at Kekrupat.
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Photo Credit: Manipurtimes
Since then, UCM has been observing June 18 every year as the Great June Uprising Day while AMUCO as Unity day separately. However, starting right from this year, both the organisations have agreed to jointly organise the commemorative event as the great June uprising, unity day because of public pressure.
KT Rahaman, president, AMUCO, Y. Nabachandra, President UCM, many Eminent personalities and community leaders graced today’s event held at kekrupat as the presidium members.
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Photo Credit: Siddharth Haobijam
