Student bodies demand official statements on Richard Loitam, Laaba's deaths
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 08 2012: Six student organisations have served an ultimatum to the Government of Manipur to give an official statement on the controversial deaths of Loitam Richard and Okram Laaba at the earliest failing which intense agitation that might cripple the academic atmosphere would be launched.

speaking to newspersons today, representatives of DESAM, AMSU, MSF, KSA, SWAK and SUK said a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has been submitted today afternoon through the State's Home Minister Gaikhangam as the former is out of station.

Contending that various incidents of attacks, misbehaviour and discrimination against students from the North East had been taking place with alarming frequency in India's major cities, particularly in metros, the memorandum expressed that racial profiling of NE students seems to be going on in many parts of India.

It has been evidently shown that both the institutions and police were trying to cover up the cases, maintained the memorandum apparently referring to the deaths of Manipuri students Richard and Laaba, the latter who was found dead last year in Chennai.

Rally staged at Cochin to demand justice for Loitam Richard

Inspite of nearly a month of Richard's death, there has been no official statement from the Government of Manipur, deplored the student bodies, which also questioned what notable action has been initiated by the State Government in connection with the case.

Demanding that the Government issue an official statement on the outcome of the reported conversation between Chief Minister O ibobi Singh and his Karnataka counter-part Sadananda Gowda, the student bodies further insisted that investigation report by a senior SP of State police deputed to Bangalore should be made public.

Construing that silence of the State Government on the issue is akin to inviting the people launch intense agitation against the Government's failure to take suitable action, they alleged that inefficiency of the Government of Manipur is the main cause for denial of justice to Laaba's family.

Lack of positive action by the Government reflects failure to provide protection to Manipuri students studying outside, they maintained while expressing that without a secured environment it would be impossible for the students to pursue higher studies in Indian cities.

with regard to non declaration of the forensic science report in Richard's death and lack of details on the detention of two suspects, they stated that such an abeyance clearly tantamount to the Karnataka Government unwilling to act according to law.

The student organisations also lamented that opposition political parties in Manipur had been indifferent on the issue of Richard's death.