Sense of outrage still visible : 11 years on, no lessons learnt
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: November 06, 2014 -

First Death Anniversary of Lungnila Elizabeth - 4 November 2004 :: Pix - David M Mayum

The sense of outrage and abhorrence was and is still visible. Little wonder then that Manipur continues to remember November 4 every year.

Happened 11 years back but has Manipur learnt any lesson ? Lungnila Elizabeth then a Class III student of Little Flower School was kidnapped from the gate of her school on November 4, 2003 and her lifeless body was found inside a gunny bag at Tera Sadokpam, some days later.

Not surprisingly the kidnapping and her subsequent death sent a shock wave across the State and people, cutting across community lines and other man made differences, came together as one to condemn the murder of the little girl as well as to demand justice.

The great chase of the suspect along the National Highway running between Imphal and Dimapur, the spontaneous response of the people as news of the death of the little child spread, the mammoth gathering at the funeral service of Lungnila Elizabeth demonstrated without an iota of doubt that the kidnapping and murder of the little girl stood condemned by all.

In as much as the people rose as one against the kidnapping and subsequent murder of the child, the Government of the day displayed its ineptness in dealing with the matter.

No doubt the Government did send out the signal that it was putting its best foot forward, but things could have been handled more efficiently.

If memory serves us right no hot lines were opened during the search for the missing girl and to be sure it did not come as much of a surprise when one of the accused was hauled up by the NSCN (IM) at Dimapur.

Things are still hazy and there is not even the slightest hint that the Government is anywhere near cracking the case.

A case of the Government utterly failing to ensure the protection and safety of a small child and this is what adds to the sense of outrage.

If the failure of the Government is writ large on the consciousness of the people, then is there anything to show that the people too have learned a lesson from an incident that took place 11 years back ?

Elizabeth is today no more, but there is not even the slightest sign that the people as a whole have learnt any lesson.

Young children continue to be at the receiving end of demented minds and criminals.

A few years after the death of Elizabeth, Manipur again came in for a shock when two children from Senapati, Hriini Hubert and Muheni Martin were found murdered after they had gone missing for some days.

Much like the case of Elizabeth there is nothing much to suggest that the case is anywhere near being cracked.

Not surprising then that there are numerous theories doing the round. Nothing to show that Manipur is today safe and secure for children and it is a shame that complementing an inefficient and lethargic Government is a people who have refused to take a leaf or two from an incident as unfortunate as the murder of Lungnila Elizabeth.