Family prepares to perform last rites of Hemanjit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 21 2024: What can be more painful for any parents than to hold the last rites of their children without their bodies is what Ibungobi said sorrowfully as he finally decided to cremate his son Phijam Hemanjit.

Parents of Phijam Hemanjit have decided to hold the last rites of their son by replacing the body with a tree plank (pangong) on July 24 after waiting for over a year to have a final glimpse of whatever is left of their son.

Speaking to the media at his residence at Takyel Kolom Leikai, P Ibungobi, father of Hemanjit, appealed to the people to approve their decision and attend the funeral.

Notably, Phijam Hemanjit went missing along with Linthoingambi Hijam of Sagolband Tera Tongbram Leikai on July 6, 2023 .

Their whereabouts and status, however, remain unknown.

Family prepares to perform last rites of Hemanjit

They were presumed dead after two pictures of the two surfaced on social media on September 25, 2023 with one showing them in captivity and another showing them lying on the ground.

Ibungobi said that the inability of the Government to retrieve the bodies of Hemanjit and Linthoingambi till today despite investigating the case all these months is unfortunate.

The two teenagers were possibly killed at Joujangtek and buried there, he said and added that they have gone from pillar to post and met the Governor, the Chief Minister and the Security Advisor to trace their son and his friend Linthoingambi but to no avail.

Ibungobi said that there is no progress in the case after the CBI arrested some suspects involved in killing his son and Linthoingambi.

"When contacted, one of the CBI staff told me that a chargesheet has been submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kamrup against the accused and there has been no update from the agency since then," he said.

The funeral will be held between 7 am and 8 am on July 24 by replacing the body with a tree plank, Ibungobi said and asked what can be more painful for any parents than to hold the funeral of their children without even a piece of bone.

Ibungobi said that he, however, will never forget the support given by the people to find his son.