On Mother’s Day, We Salute the Naked Protest of Manipur’s Mothers

We salute Manipur’s mothers who took on guns with their bare bodies and screamed “Indian Army, rape us!”

The protest by the Imas (mothers) of Manipur after Manorama’s death. (Photo Courtesy: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)

(Photo: The Quint)

(This story was first published on 7 May 2016 and has been reposted from The Quint's archives to celebrate Mother’s Day)

On 15 July 2004, an image from Manipur shocked the entire world. 12 middle aged mothers stood naked in front of the Kangla Fort in Imphal with a banner that read ‘Indian Army Rape Us’. The Assam Rifles was stationed at Kangla then.

The ‘naked protest’ was against the murder and alleged rape of Thangjam Manorama by the Assam Rifles. According to the security forces, Manorama was a militant of the banned People’s Liberation Army.

Manorama’s was allegedly killed in a fake encounter by the Indian Army, after raping her. (Photo: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum)(Photo: The Quint)

‘We are all Manorama’s mothers”, screamed the mothers as they took off their wraparounds and blouses . With their stark naked bodies they took on the guns of the security forces. After the protest, Assam Rifles vacated the Kangla fort and AFSPA was lifted from seven assembly areas of Imphal. But the alleged killers of Manorama are yet to be punished. The 12 mothers were Gyaneshwari, Taruni, Ramani, Jamini, Nganbi, Ibemhal, Momon, Ibetomi, Jibanmala, Tombi, Soro and Mema.

On this Mother’s Day, The Quint salutes the brave mothers of Manipur.

The mothers are still waiting for Manorama’s killers to be punished. (Photo: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum) (Photo: The Quint)

Video Input: Sunzu Bachaspatimayum
Editor: Nitin Sharma