Fitting tributes paid to Ima Kombi

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 2 : The 19th death anniversary of Meira Paibi leader Ima Kombi was observed at Lamphel Sana Keithel yesterday.
During the observance, people paid rich floral tributes at the memorial site of Ima Kombi at the venue.
Ima Kombi was the founding president of Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba, Manipur.
The Lup’s president Longjam Memchoubi recalled the movements the Meira Paibi Lup under Ima Kombi undertook against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and extrajudicial killings in Manipur.
Ima Kombi led many protests against AFSPA in the 1980s and gave birth to the Meira Paibi movement, Memchoubi said.
She continued that under Ima Kombi’s leadership, Nisha-Bandh was first launched in 1974 to face the menace of drug and alcohol abuse. Now, the Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba has a total of 24 branches across Manipur.
While the Armed Forces Special Powers Act  1958 has been withdrawn from some areas under Greater Imphal, the Act remains in other areas and this still poses a threat to the people of Manipur. The Lup and all its branches will continue to fight against AFSPA until it is fully withdrawn from the whole of Manipur, Memchoubi said.
Meira Paibi Welfare Association Kangleipak presi- dent R Rengshongak Koireng, AMUCO president Nando Luwang, representatives of several organisations and Meira Paibis attended the observance.