Not all hopes lost for Bijoykumar's father
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 02 2015 : "I'm still hopeful that my son Bijoykumar is still alive and I can die at peace only after knowing the truth of my son", said Laishram Babuchand of Thangmeiband Hijam Leikai.

Talking with The Sangai Express, 89 year old Babuchand recalled that Bijoykumar was born on August 17, 1961 .

He was dragged away from his bed by 4/5 security personnel clad in civilian clothes in the intervening night of June 4 and 5, 1996 .

The house was surrounded on all sides by security personnel in military uniform and they did now allow any family member to come out of the house.

"Even as I pleaded repeatedly to leave behind Bijoykumar, all my pleadings went in vain", Babuchand recounted.

Earlier in the afternoon, security forces clad in civilian clothes came to the locality in a Gypsy and enquired about Bijoykumar's residence who ran a pony farm at Langol.

Bijoykumar's father

At around 11.30 pm of the same day, security forces searched for Bijoykumar at his Langol farm.

Next morning, local Meira Paibis went to the army camp located at Lamphel and enquired about Bijoykumar but the security forces maintained that they had no idea on the whereabouts of Bijoykumar.

Subsequently, a complaint was filed at Imphal West district police.

"We were awaiting hand over of Bijoykumar to police but he was never handed over to police", said the aged father.

Later, people launched different kinds of protest movements demanding disclosure of the whereabouts of Bijoykumar but to no avail till date.

Bijoykumar's mother Laishram (O) Yaima suffered from severe trauma after his son disappeared involuntarily.

She breathed her last in February 2010.Altogether eight siblings (four sons and four daughters) were born to Bijoykumar's parents but all the three brothers have died thereby giving a severe blow to all the hopes of the surviving father.

The news that many human skulls and skeletal remains have been discovered at the erstwhile Tombisana High School campus was quite disturbing.

The news has put all the family members in a state of anxiety and unrest.

"I would like to know whether any of the skulls or skeletal remains are those of my son.

The Government should identify the skulls and skeletal remains as fast as possible", said the worried father.

He also urged the Government to carry out a thorough investigation and punish all the security personnel instrumental in enacting all the cases of enforced disappearance.

Babuchand said that he and his family is still optimistic that the Government would deliver justice in all the cases of involuntary disappearance.

The aged father also urged the Government to prevent any more cases of enforced disappearance in future.

Laishram Bijoykumar was a Taekwondo player and he won gold medals in the National Taekwondo Championships held in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

At one point of time, he served as an advisor of AMSU.