Loitam Richard murder case: Forensic report arrives
Effigies of three state Chief Ministers, Gaikhangam torched
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 16 2012: The report of the forensic experts whose opinions have been sought to find out the exact cause that led to the death of Richard Loitam was handed over to Bangalore police yesterday.

Accordingly, IPS officer Potsangbam Dhanakumar, who was deputed by the State Government as a representative of the state police department to assist Bangalore police in the investigation, forwarded a copy of the report to the Government of Manipur today evening.

Though no officials of State Government has disclosed anything about the report, it is expected that the report forwarded by IPS Officer Potsangbam Dhanakumar would through light on the exact cause that led to the death of Richard.

On the other hand, despite receiving the forensic report, Bangalore police have not yet initiated any further cause of action in connection with the case, although it has earlier assured that necessary steps would be taken up based on the forensic report.

College students burning effigies of Chief Ministers of three states to demand justice for Richard, Laaba

Meanwhile, Protesting brutal killing of Loitam Richard and Okram Laaba in Bangalore and Chennai respectively and demanding justice, students from different colleges of Manipur today set aflame the effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, Home Minister Gaikhangam,Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalitha and Chief Minister of Karnataka Sadananda Gowda.

The effigies were burnt as a part of the protest strategies chalked out by six student organizations of the state namely AMSU, DESAM, MSF, KSA, SWAK and SUK decrying the brutal murder of Loitam Richard and Okram Laaba.

The students of Imphal College, Manipur College and Standard College took part in the agitation.

Prior to burning down of effigies, sit-in protest demonstrations were also observed at the gate of the respective colleges.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Sairem Joychandra, General Secretary of Imphal College Students' Union said that the act of killing of the two students was dastardly and it should be condemned by all.

It is very sad that the Chief Ministers of Manipur, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have remained silent instead of trying to solve the issue by bringing the culprits involved in the gruesome act, Joychandra lamented, and asked whether the Chief Ministers of the three states would still remain silent if the deceased persons happened to be their own children.

During the sit-in protest staged today, placards and festoons written with "What is the fault of Richard and Laaba?", "We condemn the act of discrimination meted by students of mainland India towards students from North East", "Give capital punishment to the killers of Richard and Laaba" and "We want Justice" etc, were used.