Developments in Loitam Richard murder case :: Students hold protests in Delhi, Bangalore
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies
New Delhi, April 29 2012:
Nearly two weeks after he was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his hostel room in Bangalore, protests are being held in the city and in New Delhi to seek justice for Manipuri student Richard Loitam.
While the police claim that the 19-year-old's death on April 18 was a result of an accident two days ago, his friends and family are crying foul.
They allege that Richard was brutally assaulted by his seniors the night before he died.
He was a second-semester student of the Acharya NRV School of Architecture in Bangalore.
"They haven't taken any steps.
The Karnataka government remained silent.
I just want to appeal to everyone that we want justice.
Let's punish the culprits and let's arrest them," Alshi Sharma, Richard's cousin said.
She along with several of Richard's friends have gathered at the Jantar Mantar in the national capital for a silent protest against the inaction by concerned authorities.
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They will also hold a candlelight vigil at the India Gate at 6 pm.
Dozens of students are also holding similar protests at the Town Hall in Bangalore.
The protestors as well as Richard's family, which is based in Imphal, are primarily demanding for his death to be turned into a case of homicide.
Currently, the First Information Report (FIR) has been filed under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code which essentially means that Richard inflicted the injuries himself, something that his friends have objected to.
"We want to convert the case into a homicide one.
Case should be dealt with swiftly.
We should get justice," Dr Vidyabali Devi, Richard's mother said. They also want the accused to be arrested immediately.
Finally, they want the prime witnesses Richard's two roommates in this case to be brought back to the country.
The duo reportedly left for Bangkok on the night of their friend's death.
"The fact that the roommates, in the middle of their session, go for a holiday is bizarre...We want the culprits booked, to get the institution responsible and the case to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation," another protestor in Delhi said.
Meanwhile, a social media campaign seeking justice for Richard is fast building up.
His friends have setup a Facebook page which has already registered over one lakh members.