Candle light vigil in Itanagar for Richard Loitam held on May 3 2012

Candle light vigil in Itanagar for Richard Loitam held on May 3 201 :: Pix - Kobyum Zirdo (JFRL)

From Arunachal Times

Large number of citizens from Capital Region, mostly youngsters today took out a candle light vigil in memory of Late Richard Loitam, who was brutally murdered in Bangalore. The march started from Indira Gandhi Park and culminated at Catholic Church Itanagar.

Students from various institutions of the state capital including North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), parents, well wishers joined the candle light vigil which was organized by the friends and former class mates from Assam Valley School, Tezpur.

Candle light vigil in Itanagar for Richard Loitam held on May 3 201 :: Pix - Kobyum Zirdo (JFRL)

The 19- year-old Richard from Manipur was a first-year student of Acharya NRV College of Architecture, Chikkabanavara. He was found dead in his hostel bed on April 17. Initially the police said that he died because of drug overdose. But a hasty retreat was made after medical reports said that there was no trace of drugs in Richard’s body. An embarrassed Bangalore Police has finally admitted that the student was murdered.

Many had moist eyes when Subu Onia, one of the organizers and friend of Richard spoke about him. He was a good human being, she said.

Candle light vigil in Itanagar for Richard Loitam held on May 3 201 :: Pix - Kobyum Zirdo (JFRL)

Dani Nagyang, a school junior of Richard touched a chord when she said that parents send their children outside the state hoping for a better future. Father Tom led the service today. He advised the conglomeration of students to maintain peace and harmony, adding that only love can bring peace in the world.

The event was organized by Nagyang, Onia and Zirngam Kadu. They thanked Don Bosco Youth Centre’s Father Cyriac for supporting the candle light vigil. We wish to spread the message of co-operation and oneness so that such tragic incident never repeats in the future, said the three youngsters. They set up a page on the social networking site Facebook to mobilize participations.

The gathering observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to Loitam and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul.