Linthoingambi's parents continue wait for remains
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 24 2024: The last rites of Linthoingambi Hijam, the 17-year-old missing student, will not be held until her remains are traced, said her father Hijam Kulajit today.

"I will follow people's wishes and continue to seek justice.

We will not hold the last rites until her remains are found and returned to us," Kulajit said, speaking to reporters at his house at Sagolband Tera Tongbram Leikai.

The father's statement came when the last rites of Phijam Hemanjit, who went missing with Linthoingambi, was held today.

Suspected to have been killed in captivity by armed Kuki militants, Linthoingambi and Hemanjit, 20, went missing on July 6, 2023 when violence was at its peak in Manipur.

Nearly three months after they went missing, two photographs of the teens surfaced on social media on September 25, 2023 .

While one of the two photographs showed the two students alive in captivity of some armed men, the other showed them lying, suspectedly dead, on the ground.

This sparked public outrage and students erupted in massive protests in Imphal that were cracked down brutally by security forces.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation detained and arrested several persons relating to the case and a chargesheet was filed on December 31, 2023, the students have not been traced till today, said Kulajit, the girl's father.

The Government, the police and all the agencies have so far have failed to trace them.

Even a piece of clothes has not been found.

The Prime Minister's "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao" campaign holds no meaning when the Government is unable to find even a single clue and trace them.

The last rites will not be held until her remains are found, Kulajit said.

He urged the elected legislators to discuss the case of the missing students in the Parliament and in the State Assembly and bring about justice and a closure of the case.

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