Loharijan arson case of 2008 : CM sleeps on his word
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 23 2012: Even though Chief Minister Okram Ibobi assured a suitable Government job to the widow of Robert who was killed when KLO/KLA torched a bus in Khatkhati area of Assam, the Government has done nothing to keep the Chief Minister's words.

As such, Robert's wife Gaiphunsinliu is struggling all alone without any help from any quarter to feed and educate her two small children.

Robert, a driver in a security force establishment and his mother-in-law were killed when a bus was torched by KLA/KLO cadres at Lahorijan in Khatkhati area of Assam on October 23, 2008 .

Though Robert and his mother-in-law were killed together, the Government did not provide any ex-gratia to the bereaved family nor any form of assistance.

Nevertheless, Chief Minister O Ibobi announced that a suitable job would be given to Robert's widow Gaiphunsinliu.

Acting on the Chief Minister's assurance, Gaiphunsinliu appeared in the DPC held in 2009 for appointment of Primary teachers under Autonomous District Councils.

Results of the DPC were announced on December 1, 2010 but Gaiphunsinliu was not among the list of selected candidates.

The widow left to fend for herself

After this, Gaiphunsinliu lodged a complaint to Tamenglong ADC CEO RK Ragaison.

Following the complaint, the widow was appointed as a substitute teacher in Sanglungpeng Primary School.

But Gaiphunsinliu was not given any salary.

After working for about two years without any payment, the CEO terminated her because her name was not in MGEL.

Speaking to media persons at Langol Tarung where she is staying in a rented house, Gaiphunsinliu decried the Government's failure to keep its own words.

Robert, a native of Sanglungpeng village under Tamenglong AC was killed when Gaiphunsinliu was expecting their youngest child in just 19 days time.

Robert was bringing Gaiphunsinliu's mother Ginthailiu from Manipur to Siliguri to look after her daughter during and after child delivery but both her mother and husband were killed on the way.

While working as a substitute teacher at her husband's village, but she could not survive as she was not given any emolument.

After the death of her husband, Gaiphunsinliu got certain amount from his money.

It was with this money she hired a rented house a Langol Tarung and opened a shop to earn her livelihood.

But whatever she earned from her little shop could not meet the family's expenses and she is compelled to fight against abject poverty all alone.

She also denounced the twin murder of her husband and mother as most barbaric.