Tributes paid to Saikul firing victim
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2009: Along with offering rich floral tributes, villagers and students of Saikul area today bid their final adieu today to Lalsanglen Hmangte of Thangkhanphai village who was killed in the firing incident at Saikul on the night of May 3 .

Wrapped around in Saipikhup ( a traditional cloth serving as shroud), body of Lalsanglen, a student of class XI at Model English Higher Secondary, Saikul was taken from RIMS's morgue to the ground of the school where the mourners paid their final homage and tribute to the departed soul.

School kids on a dharna demanding their right to life

Kuki Inpi Saikul president Paokam Kipgen, president of KSO Saikul Block Thongjalun Mate, president of KSO Sadar Hills Lamkholal Silthou, president of Women Union Saikul Mary Hmangte, elderly member of TBC Church Songlal Luphen and students and teachers of Model English Higher Secondary School were also present among others in offering floral tribute to Lalsanglen.

Though the police claim that Lalsanglen was killed in the firing incident with some armed persons that broke out at Thangkhanphai village, located just few meters away from Saikul Police Station at around 8.30 pm of May 3, the villagers have asserted that he had been arrested and shot dead by personnel of 4th IRB personnel attached to the local police station.

In protest against the killing, infuriated villagers had stormed the police station on the same night.

The body of Lalsanglen which had been lying at the mortuary of RIMS Hospital was also claimed only today following an agreement reached between the KSO Saikul and the State Government yesterday.

Talking to The Sangai Express, elder sister of Lalsanglen, Ningkhamtham Gracy Hmangte recalled that like every day her brother had gone out to have some fresh air after having his supper on that fateful night.

She cannot fathom how any one could killed her brother who was studious, respectful and loved by everyone in the village.

She also informed that their father passed away when they were still very young.

After passing away of the father, the mother also married another man leaving three siblings to the care of the maternal grandmother.

The last sibling, a boy had also been drown in 2002.So after Lalsanglen, who was everything to her, had been killed, Ningkhamtham is all alone today.

She has given her class XII exam from Model English Higher Secondary School and is awaiting for the declaration of the results.

According to Ningkhamtham, her brother was concerned about getting a job to supplement income of the family so that she could continue with her studies and was planning to go and take part in an Army recruitment rally scheduled to be held at Shillong tomorrow.

KSO Saikul president Thongjalun Mate categorically stated thatthe Govt should be held responsible for any future course of action to be taken up by the KSO and the people if it fails to implement the assurance of meeting the demands of providing an amount of Rs 10 lakhs as ex-gratia and a suitable job to his only surviving sister apart from pulling up the guilty 4th IRB personnel among others.

Participants of the condolence meeting were also seen holding placards with slogans like 'We condemn 4th IRB, killer of student', 'Make education free from tension', 'Government Awake ! Awake !', 'Protect student', 'Stop killing of innocent student', etc.