Last rites of slain student performed at Motbung
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, April 03 2023:
Following the State Government's decision to hand over the murder case of Gideon Seigunlal Misao to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the JAC claimed the body of Seigunlal Misao, which had been lying unclaimed for 9 days since March 25 evening.
In a heart rending scene, family members, friends, relatives, and the members of JAC claimed the body of the slain juvenile who was shot dead on March 25 evening at Motbung Model village.
Seigunlal Misao was a Class XII student of Damdei Christian College who had just finished appearing in the Higher Secondary Examination conducted by the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur and the only child of Lenkhothang Misao and Lhingkhochong Misao of Motbung's Sharon Veng in Kangpokpi district.
Following the Manipur Government's decision to hand over the case to the National Investigation Agency, the JAC had decided to claim the body, which had been lying unclaimed for 9 days after his killing on March 25 evening.
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The lifeless body of Gideon Seigunlal Misao arrived at his Motbung residence at 1 pm today and he was put to rest at Motbung Model Village cemetery as per the Christian funeral tradition.
A mourning ceremony was held at the residence of the deceased at Sharon Veng in Motbung Model Village by thousands of mourners from across Kangpokpi district before the funeral event at the village cemetery.
The JAC Convenor, Paominlal Lhouvum said "as we are convinced that handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency the Government is serious and hence we finally decided to claim the body of Seigunlal Misao to put him to rest today" .
He also maintained that handing the case to the NIA demonstrates the commitment and seriousness of the State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister N Biren Singh in bringing justice.
We are very grateful and satisfied with the Government's decision, he added.
He also said "we have faith in the NIA and we hope it will definitely bring justice.
"We hope that the ex-gratia and compassionate appointment will be delivered soon by the Government as agreed," he added.
The Joint Action Committee was formed on March 26 and the next day, it met Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
An official understanding to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh and compassionate appointment of eligible next of kin of the deceased to a suitable post under the Government with the JAC agreeing not to resort to agitation and to claim the body was inked.
A few hours later after the signing of the official understanding, the National Revolutionary Front Manipur claimed responsibility for the murder of Seigunlal Misao accusing him to be a drug peddler.
Late in the evening of the same day, the NRFM allegation infuriated not only the student community of Kangpokpi district but also compelled the JAC to take a U-turn and took a firm decision not to claim the body.
Then, from March 31 the student community in Kangpokpi district resorted to a peaceful democratic sit-in-protests under the aegis of the JAC.
In a big development over the case, the state Government on April 2 afternoon handed over the case to the National Investigation Agency following which the JAC decided to claim the body and put him to rest amidst thousands of mourners.