Skeletal remains of Senapati kids found
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 27: After 104 days of remaining traceless despite intense search and a huge public outcry, the skeletal remains and the dresses worn by the two kidnapped students of Don Bosco School, Senapati were recovered from a gorge near Viewland Colony in Senapati district today.

Breaking the news to The Sangai Express, Solomon Vino, chairman of the Core Committee set up to exert pressure for the safe release of the two kidnapped children, informed that the remains of Hriini Hubert and Mohini Martin and their dresses were recovered at around 5 pm today.

Hriini Hubert and Mohini Martin (Right) during happier days

Some children who had gone to the gorge located above the Viewland Colony hunting for birds came across the skeletal remains and the dresses and the family members have confirmed that the dress were those worn by them when they went missing, Solomon said.

Hriini Hubert and Mohini Martin, both studying in class III and about 10 years old, were kidnapped by unidentified persons for ransom from Senapati on December 14 last year.

Since then their whereabouts have not been known despite intense search being launched at various suspected places and wide spread protest demonstration demanding their safe release.

Solomon further informed that police have also gone to the spot along with doctors and volunteers of the Core Committee and are keeping vigil at the area.

The police team was led by the SDPO and OC of Senapati police.

The Deputy Commissioner of Senapati is presently out of station and the remains will be retrieved only in the presence of a Magistrate along with a team of forensic experts, said Solomon.

Though the bodies have decomposed to a large extent, some flesh and hair can still be found attached to the bones.

Tension is running high in Senapati, said the Core Committee Chairman and on behalf of the Committee, Solomon has appealed to the people to remain calm and not to give any communal tinge to the dastardly murder of the two kids.

The Core Committee said that it would not compromise on such crimes and that the culprits will be dealt with fittingly and appropriate punishment would be given to the perpetrators of the crime.

According to police, the spot from where the skeletal remains of the two kidnapped children were found is located 2 kms east of Senapati Police Station.

Killing the two children even after the ransom amount had been taken is highly condemnable, Solomon said bitterly.

The National Identity Protection Committee, (NIPCO) has also strongly condemned the dastardly murder of the two children.

It is learnt that the kidnappers had taken Rs 15 lakhs from the family members on the assurance of releasing the two children on December 19.Apart from the claim of the police that some suspects have been arrested, the proscribed outfits NSCN (I-M), KNF, KRA and UNLF had even reportedly taken into their custody some of the suspects for interrogation in connection with the case.

The number of suspects reported to be in the custody of these outfits are: NSCN (I-M)-9, KNF-2, KRA-1 and UNLF-2.