IMPHAL, July 17 ? Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has said action would be taken against the Assam Rifles personnel who had picked up 30-year-old Th Manorama Devi from her house in Baman Kampu area on July 10, reports PTI. The state government had asked the Assam Rifles authorities to hand over the three personnel who signed the memo served to the family of Th. Manorama Devi at the time of her arrest, he said in a statement here on Friday.
Appealing to the people to remain calm, Singh said MP from the state T. Meinya Singh had raised the issue in Parliament during Zero Hour, drawing the attention of the Centre. He said indefinite curfew in Imphal and Greater Imphal areas had been imposed to protect public property and lives. The Chief Minister said the government had also drawn the attention of the Centre ? in a letter to the Union Home Minister ? to the killing of Th. Manorama Devi and urged him to instruct paramilitary forces here not to repeat such incidents in the future.
Cable news banned: Meanwhile, the Manipur Government has banned local cable network news as it may lead to violence in the current situation arising out of the killing of Th. Manorama allegedly by 17th Assam Rifles personnel after arresting her on July 10, official sources said on Friday. The reports said the network showed naked women protesting the killing of Th. Manorama Devi in front of Assam Rifles range office here on Thursday.
The incident angered the people who turned their wrath against the government and security forces, sources said adding broadcast of local cable network news had been banned for some time. About 30 women of different major organisations had stripped and shouted slogans ?Rape us, kill us, take our flesh? in front of the Assam Rifles office on Thursday and alleged that Manorama Devi was killed after she was sexually assaulted.
Meanwhile, the All Manipur Working Journalists Union has appealed to all not to disrupt the broadcast of news or functioning of the press.