IMPHAL, NOVEMBER -12 -2003 at about 12:45 AM, The decomposed body of 8 Year Old Lungnila Elizabeth (A Class III Student of Little Flower School, Imphal) was discovered at Sadokpam. The news of the discovery spreads like wild fire, sending shock waves across the State, and chilling shivers down the spines. For a moment life in Manipur came virtually to a standstill, many hearts skipped a beat, many women wailed, while many others wept inconsolably when they learnt of the Cold blooded-murder of Lungnila Elizabeth., who had been in the custody of her Kidnappers for more than a week.

The 'Unthinkable' had happened and the Reality had us reeling in shock and horror, and in utter disbelief. All our words evaporate and one could feel the lump in our throats growing bigger as we try and come to terms with the 'gruesome murder' of a little girl who had done no wrong. One question comes up to mind 'How really safe are we in this State??

All the words in all the Languages known and spoken in the World would not be enough to condemn and decry this despicable, deplorable and inhuman act. This Barbaric and Heinous crime had no Precedence in the State of Manipur. And it had broken all the rules and norms of Civilization and Humanity. It is indeed a black and an indelible spot in the History of Manipur, and one, which has no doubt put the whole State of Manipur in 'A very Bad Light' before the Nation and the World as a whole.

Little Lungnila Elizabeth as we all know was abducted by 'unidentified Persons' from near the premises of her School on the 4th of November 2003. The Incident shocked the whole of Manipur, since it was the first of its kind - 'Unprecedented'. The Abduction - brought State wide condemnation, and people cutting across communal lines, sects, caste, and religion screamed out in unison against the Kidnapping of an innocent girl, and appealed for the safety release of the 'Girl-Child'

Right from day one of the abduction of the Little Girl, the whole of Manipur came up in arms against the kidnapping, and showed solidarity with the distraught Family (Francis Ngajokpa and His Family). Numerous Organizations all over the State protested vehemently and condemned the cowardly act of kidnapping a Girl Child and holding her for Ransom. The Unfolding of the more than week -Drama in Real Life, had the whole state of Manipur in rapt attention. No wonder as the hostage held this time was just a little girl who would not even hurt a fly

The Sweet Innocent and beautiful Face of Little Elizabeth Lungnila, was flashed time and time again in the Daily Newspapers. Just looking at the picture of Little Elizabeth, makes one wonder how cruel Humans can get, to kidnapped and terrorized a Child who is not even 10 years old, and who has not even crossed the age of innocence to be of 'A Harm' to anybody.

Fervent appeals and condemnations from the Family and from like minded numerous organizations fell on deaf ear and were of no avail. Yet! The People of Manipur went on hoping against hope and praying for the safe release of Lungila Elizabeth. Condemnations poured in more strongly, unabated with each passing day. And the anger of the people of Manipur against the Kidnapping of an Innocent Girl for reasons whatever was apparent in the large scale processions and dharnas that were taken out by Students,

Local Bodies, Social Organizations, and the Meira Paibis in the different districts of Manipur. The people of Manipur were needless to say angered by 'the Response' they received from the Kidanappers 'The Murdered and Lifeless Body of Lungnila Elizabeth'

The Death of Little Elizabeth brought into open the wide scale lawlessness in the state of Manipur and the vicious cycle of violence and greed ably abetted by the Gun-Culture which has our State firmly in its grip. Kidnapping seems to be at the moment, the 'most happening, the most thriving and lucrative business' in the State of Manipur. And the Government is least bothered about it except condemning it in print and in paper.

The Manipur SPF Government has been brought down to its knees and made to eat the humble pie by A Gang of Blood Thirsty Miscreants. The Ibobi led Government has lost the very right to govern when it has failed to protect the life of 'An innocent little girl'. A Government that cannot guarantee the safety of its citizens is not fit to be called a Government in any sense of the term.

Imphal is not such a big city like New York or New Delhi. Yet! The Failure of the State Government and the Security Forces to nab the Kidnappers in a couple of days tends one to speculate the involvement of 'An Insider' in the whole affairs. Or is there some 'Conspiracy Theory', which the public is not aware of. One also did expect 'the Parallel Governments or the Second Governments' operating in Manipur to come to the rescue of Little Elizabeth. But none of the Parallel Governments in Manipur could rise to the occasion and rescue Little Elizabeth from the clutch of her Kidnappers.

So, we need to accept the hard reality that 'A Band of Hoodlums and Miscreants' had outdone, humiliated, and rendered both the SPF Government and the 'Parallel Governments' operating in Manipur useless and redundant. The Efficiency and the effectiveness of the Governments will now remain in question in the public eyes. The Present Coalition Government Calls itself 'Secular Progressive Front'. But the way it dealt with the Kidnapping case of Little Elizabeth Lungnila is far from 'being Progressive'.

During her days in captivity, Little Elizabeth became the most popular and the most talked about Girl-Child in the whole of Manipur. Every heart cried out for her, and every lips whispered prayers to their God above for the safety of the Little Girl. Because Childhood has no creed, caste, or community, which is evident from the fact that Children are more or less the same in every society. The Sweet Beautiful and Innocent Face of Little Elizabeth Lungnila, that kept appearing every now and then in the daily newspapers tore apart many a mother's heart. And Mothers across the State of Manipur irrespective of communities, caste and religion, identified themselves with Eastland - the Mother of Elizabeth Lungnila, as She goes through the nightmarish experience and the emotional trauma of a Mother whose lovely daughter had been kidnapped.

But Alas! The Unthinkable and the Unforgettable had happened. We have lost a Bright Little Girl in the hands of a few cold-blooded Savages due to our inefficiency and ineffectiveness. I don't think 'A Crime' can get any worse than this. And whom do we have to blame??? Is one of the many questions that Begs an Answer. The Cold Blooded and Heartless Murder of Elizabeth is an evidence enough of the degrading and deteriorating human Values in our State and our Society. The Cold Blooded Murder of Elizabeth was a Murder, which has no precedence or parallel in the history of the State. The Murder of A Helpless Little Girl is a Crime not only against the People of the State of Manipur, but also against the whole of Humanity.

The Kidnapping and the Brutal and senseless killing of Little Elizabeth, is enough to soften even the hardest of Hearts, and it did opened our eyes that had long been blinded by communalism and narrow domestic walls. For once communalism took a back seat. And the people of Manipur both in the Hills and the Valleys, irrespective of Caste, Creed, or Religious affiliations came out in open against the murder of Little Elizabeth. The Brutal Murder of Elizabeth broke all barriers geographical or emotional that divide the people of Manipur. And brought out into the open our common vulnerability and indivisibility as Human Beings here in the State of Manipur - which has almost become a synonym for lawlessness, corruption, deceit, murder, and all things bad and evil.

The Widening Gulf between the people of the Hills and the Valleys in Manipur was 'bridged' in every sense of the term by the murder of Elizabeth Lungnila. Condolence meetings and memorial services were held all over the State. The State of Manipur had never before witnessed such display of Unity, Solidarity and Common Brotherhood, as it did in the Kidnapping and Gruesome Murder of Elizabeth Lungnila.

Lungnila Elizabeth the Sweet Face of Innocence & Childhood had failed to evoke even the slightest sympathy from her captors, who eventually squeezed the life out of her, even after they (the Kidnappers) were paid a Sum of Rs 5 Lakhs. This sickening truth would no doubt make many parents ponder above the safety of their child in the State of Chaos and Anarchy - Manipur where 'Crime is King and Monarch of all it surveys'.

Little Lungnila Elizabeth, herself is just like the very name of the School where she studied in - A Little Flower. She was a Little Flower yet to blossom fully, yet to give out its sweet fragrance, but nipped in the bud too soon by a callous act and the sinister design of fate. I have likened Little Lungnila Elizabeth to a Candle burning brightly spreading joy, sunshine and laughter all around. But snuffed out too soon by the torrent winds of life's destiny, A little Red-Riding Hood devoured by the Big Bad Wolf of Greed, Envy and Jealously.

As the unfortunate Kidnapping Drama unfolds, Little Elizabeth who was held captive by a Gang of blood thirsty Miscreants, became the Image of 'A Little Sister' and 'A Little Daughter' for all the people of Manipur. How diabolic and cruel these Murderers are, who mercilessly killed a helpless little girl who could not fight back or offer resistance. They are worse than Animals, Savages who did not have even an ounce of respect for the basic values of society and Human Life, they deserved to be thrown to the dungeons, and hanged in the Gallows, and whose Heads should be guillotined as a future and grim reminder that 'such cold blooded murder of An Innocent Girl' will never be tolerated.

I am sure all the able bodied men of Manipur irrespective of caste and community would love to tear apart the perpetrators of this 'Grave Crime against Humanity', and make a nice mince meat of the Murderers, if they ever were given a chance and an opportunity to do so. It won't be out of place to say that the untimely death of Little Elizabeth Lungnila in the hands of the Cold Blooded Murderers is a personal loss for all the people of Manipur because Little Lungnila Elizabeth represented all the Girl-Child Living in the State of Manipur.

Lilttle Lungnila in her kidnapping and in her untimely and tragic death has achieved something, which all the preceding Governments and even the present SPF Government had failed to achieve. Little Elizabeth is truly without any shadow of doubt 'Manipur Golden Child'. And no one, no one, not even one can take that away from her. In her kidnapping and tragic murder and death, she has broken down all the natural and emotional barriers, and narrow domestic walls. And for once, all the Communities of Manipur were united and screamed in unison against the kidnapping, and mourned the death of Little Elizabeth as if she was their own daughter and little sister, when she was eventually murdered. Such an overwhelming show of unity was never before witnessed in Communalized State like Manipur.

Little Lungnila Elizabeth by her innocence and tragic death has removed the scales of communalism from our eyes. And have shown to us, and unified us all in her tragic death, in a way that no one other could. She has shown to us all that the Greatest Community is Humanity. Like mentioned earlier she became the symbol of unity and represented every Girl Child Living in Manipur irrespective of race, sex, creed, colour, religion and faith. Innocence has been murdered, wrapped up in a Gunny bag and dumped in a swamp. There can be no greater crime against Humanity, and no murder can be more Vile than the senseless killing of an innocent Girl Child.

We the people of Manipur, the Government and the Security Forces and all the Authorities concernced have failed Little Elizabeth Completely. For We - have not been able to trace and rescue Little Elizabeth from her Captors. Maybe the gods in Heavens above closed their eyes for a moment, and the world got so mean, that such a gruesome. cruel and heartless murder took place. Little Elizabeth became the symbol of freedom, who have been murdered right under our nose, and we remain nothing but silent spectators to a spotless Lamb being slaughtered. Shame on the present Government and Administration; Shame on us all!!

Uncertainty and Insecurity seems to be tightening its vice like grip all over the state of Manipur. Fears now Lurks around in every nook and corners of the State. Body bags and folded shawls has long been the order of the day. Manipur is a State Green with Hills red with Blood and alive with Hope. The only solace for the people of the strife torn and lawless Manipur in these Hard and desperate times is the 'Hope for a better tomorrow'. But with the cold-blooded murder of little Elizabeth, even that 'only Hope' seems to be fading away - Slowly but surely.

Little Elizabeth Manipur's own Golden Child has offered her life as ' A Sacrifice' for peace, and has made us all realize the follies and the vanities of communal and inter fratricidal killings, and chronic communalism that have permeated all the levels of the Society of Manipur.

Little Elizabeth has taught us all the Communities living in Manipur that the greatest Community is Humanity. And for this we are truly indebted to Little Elizabeth our Manipur's own Golden Child. It will be the solemn duty for all the people of Manipur to carry forth ahead this 'Unity' even in testing times. And nothing will be a more fitting tribute than to keep 'the Fire of Unity' which was bequeathed to us by our Golden Child - Little Lungnila Elizabeth, burning at all times. And if we are able to do that and be united always and not divided as we have always been on communal and sectarian lines, then Little Elizabeth death would not be in vain. Little Elizabeth achieved what no one else have. She unified all the communities in Manipur in her untimely and tragic death. And that 'Unity' is Elizabeth's Greatest Gift to the People of Manipur, and there can be for sure No Greater Gift, for little Elizabeth brought it with her own blood.

So for Little Elizabeth sake we must take the road that leads to complementarily and not competition, harmony and not discord, holism not hedonism. And in the final analysis, it is our 'Faith' in each other alone that can bring this about.

We have failed to do justice to Little Elizabeth while she was still alive. And now it should be our foremost duty to ensure that Justice is done to Little Elizabeth and the legacy that she left behind 'The Spirit of Unity and brotherhood'.

The Government and the Authorities should leave no stone unturned, and if needed they should move the heavens and the earth, but the Culprits should not go unpunish for this grave crime they have committed. As written in the Bible 'They shall reap what they sow'. The Authorities concerned should be give a punishment befitting the 'great sin' they have committed without any fear or favor. I hope we will not let fail Little Elizabeth again this time. The Sooner the Better, because as we all know Justice Delayed is Justice denied.

No words would be enough to console the bereaved and grieving family as they come to terms with the hard reality that little Elizabeth is no more. The tragic demise of little Elizabeth would no doubt leave a void in the life of the Ngajokpas, which no one can fill, save little Elizabeth herself. And when the Storms subsides and Life goes back to normal, Francis Ngajokpa and his family will only be missing her more and more. The only mortal remains that the Family have, now of little Elizabeth are memories etched in the minds.

The bereaved Father Mr. Francis Ngajokpa, being a true and a devout Christian released a statement stating that he had forgiven the murderers of his daughters. This is truly admirable for we know that it will not be easy to forgive the killers of your own daughter. But by the power of Grace, and the Holy Spirit, Francis Ngajokpa has been able to forgive the cold blooded murderers. The Father of Elizabeth, Francis had of late along with his family have gone through much tragedy and nightmares. To hear him (Francis) speaking of love and conquering hate is evidence that they have found a secret that many seek but rarely find - the power of forgiveness. They will not forget, but they forgive.

May the Lord God Almighty's constant guidance, peace, and consolation be with the bereaved family, as they learn to come to terms with life after the death of Little Lungnila Elizabeth. Let us pray that the Lord will bless and give Francis and his family strength in these hard and desperate times.

As the storms subsides, and the days go by and other pressing problems crops up, the Authorities should not rest until justice is done to Little Elizabeth. We have failed her once, let us not fail her -Lungnila Elizabeth our Golden Child again. Let us all give Little Elizabeth a cause to smile down on us from her immortal home above.

In the end, I would just like to say 'Oh Elizabeth, Manipur's Golden Child!. Had I only known you, I could have told you right from the start that this Cruel and Venal World was never meant for One as beautiful as You!'

Rest in Eternal Peace Lungnila Elizabeth - Manipur's Golden Child.