Photos of missing teens go viral, CM vows action
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, September 25 2023:
Some photos of the two teens, who went missing since July 6, purportedly showing them alive while in captivity of some people armed with sophisticated weapons and their lifeless bodies lying near a boulder in a forested area went viral on social media on Monday.
Subsequent to surfacing of the duo's photos in captivity and after murder, the state government has announced that the case has already been handed over to the CBI, as per the wishes of the people of the state.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Monday night, the state police in collaboration with the central security agencies are actively investigating the case to determine the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and to identify the perpetrators who murdered the two students.
Security forces have also started a search operation to nab the perpetrators.
In response to this distressing situation, the government assured the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the kidnapping and killing of Hemjit and Linthoingambi.
The government is committed to ensuring that justice prevails and severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.
It then urged the public to exercise restraint and to let the authorities handle the investigation, the release stated.
As had been widely reported, Hijam Linthoingambi of Tera Tongbram and Phijam Hemanjit of Takyel Kolom Leikai went missing since July 6 after they went out of home for a coaching class.
Both families filed missing person reports with Imphal West district police.
Police started the investigation and found CCTV footages showing the two riding a KTM bike towards Nambol from a coaching centre at Keishampat.
In the follow up investigation, police also received information about some civilians spotting them heading towards Khoupum through Lamdan.
Due to the ongoing crisis in the state and the area being dominated by Kuki, police could not follow up the investigation and trace their whereabouts.
The government consequently transferred the case to the CBI.
In the meantime, a group of photos purportedly showing them alive in the custody of well-armed persons suspected to be Kuki militants and their bodies lying beside a boulder went viral on social media.
The People's Chronicle tried to contact the family members but could not get a statement from them.
Mention may be made here that family members along with people of the state had organised a series of protests demanding safe release of the two.
They also submitted memorandum to the chief minister to expedite the investigation and trace their whereabouts.
So far, neither police nor CBI could get a breakthrough in the case.