Grandma, granddaughter wait for justice
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Nomita Khongbantabam

Imphal, June 03 2012: It's not a tragic story of a film but real tragic of life where a 60 years old lady and her 15 years old granddaughter are waiting for justice over the killing of a man, who was the son to the old lady and father to the teenage girl, in front of their own eyes by Manipur Police Commandos four years back.

The entire incident comes alive just like a flashback, when I saw the 15 years old girl came running calling "mother! mother!" to the old lady shopkeeper, Longjam Meena of Keishamthong Longjam Leirak.

The girl was none other than Longjam Bidyarani, who lost her mother, Longjam Ongbi Subhasini, before she could even taste her mother's milk.

The girl is now studying in class IX.

In the absence of her mother, her grandmother (Meena) has been taking up the responsibility of raising Bidyarani and so the girl considers.

her grandmother as her mother.

Longjam Bidyarani (middle) and her grandmom (right)

Bidyarani's father Uttam was computer supplier to various government and non-governmental offices to make a living.

But in the evening of March 29, 2008, Uttam was just returning from Manipur University, when some Police Commandos in civil dresses, who followed him, shot him death right in front of his mother, daughter and other family members.

Lying in a pool of blood in the courtyard, Uttam struggled for some seconds before closing his eyes slowly while looking up towards his daughter.

"Soon after his death, the Commandos placed a pistol on his hand and claimed that he was a UG cadre killed in encounter", Meena said, adding that she can still remember the Commando personnel who killed his son and placed the gun.

"Now the case is pending in Gauhati High Court.

A Senior SP is heading a Departmental Enquiry under pressure of National Human Rights Commission.

One day, the culprit who killed my son will be surely got his due punishment" Meena expressed optimism.

Bidyarani has been offering prayers on her mother's photo everyday ever since she knew that her mother had expired.

On the other hand, Meena is running a small shop in her locality to raise Bidyarani with her husband Santi, who was once a Pung Yeiba artiste.

Their second son has joined the Central Force and is married now.