Brutal murder of Hijam Linthoingambai, Phijam Hemanjit :: Retrieve bodies by Nov 9 : MHRC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 03 2023: The Manipur Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has directed the Security Advisor to the Government and the DGP to submit the status report of the enquiry being held on the alleged use of excessive force by security personnel in controlling student protesters on September 26 and 27 and the measure taken up to retrieve the bodies of two Meetei students purportedly murdered by Kuki militants on or before November 9, 2023 .

Two cases were filed by Ningthoujam Jit Singh, of Singjamei Okram Leikai and Mukul Phukon of Assam, Shivsagar relating to the alleged assault on student protesters by security forces and to recover the mortal remains of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi with Security Advisor to the Government and the State of Manipur through Commissioner (Home) as respondents.

Brutal murder of Hijam Linthoingambai, Phijam Hemanjit

Ningthoujam Jit Singh, in his complaint, said that peaceful rallies were organised by students on September 26 and 27 against the kidnapping and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi.

Claiming that the Central and State security forces, unfortunately, employed excessive forces against the student protesters without giving any warning, the complainant said that about 18 sustained injuries in the excesses of security forces.

Another complainant Mukul Phukon stated that there were widespread protests by students after the photos of Hemanjit and Linthoingambi purportedly taken during captivity and after murdering them went viral on social media.

He claimed that photos of Jat Regiment personnel assaulting a student by forcing him to lie flat along Moirangkhom road have gone viral on social media.

The complainant prayed to the Commission to direct the Security Advisor and DGP, Manipur to recover the dead bodies of the two students and hand them over to their respective families.

After considering the point highlighted by the two complainants, the MHRC asked the respondents to submit the status report on the enquiry being done on the alleged use of excessive force by security personnel in controlling student protesters on September 26 and 27 and to retrieve the bodies of two Meetei students on or before November 9, 2023.The Imphal West SP has also been directed to inform the Commission about the use of excessive force against the students by security personnel.

As an interim measure, the MHRC directed the Commissioner (Home) to inform how much compensation can be provided to the injured students as interim compensation.