Massive protests erupted Imphal after photos of missing students' bodies go viral
Source: Waari Singbul Network *

Imphal, September 26 2023: Police on Tuesday had to fire several teargas canisters and stunt bombs to disperse protesting students who took to the streets of Imphal city after images of the two missing students showing their lifeless bodies went viral on the social media.

More than 50 students of different schools and colleges were injured in the police action even as the government acknowledged the cold blooded murder of the two students - Class XII students - Hijam Luwangbi Chanu and Phijam Hemanjit Singh of the Sagolband Tera area in Imphal West district.

The government appealed to the people to remain calm and let the authorities handle the investigation.

Massive protests erupted Imphal after photos of missing students' bodies go viral

The injured were rushed to different hospital in the capital.

Demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, students marched towards chief minister's secretariat around noon before the police quelled them.

Hijam Luwangbi Chanu and Phijam Hemanjit Singh went missing since July 6.Luwangbi was a student TG Higher Secondary school, while Hemajit attends Kindergarden Montessori School at Takyel.

Both schools are located in Imphal.

The two were seen riding a bike at Keishampat in Imphal city around 8.15am of July 6 and CCTV footage captured their last visuals in the bike at Nambol in Bishnipur district, sources said.

They suggested that Luwangbi's mobile phone was last located in Kwakta, in Bishnupur bordering Churachandpur, they added.

The mobile phone of Hemajit is suspected to have been used by a man staying in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district, they continued.

Phijam Ibungobi (63), the shattered father of Hemjit said the photos confirmed the status of his son finally.

" Now that their cold blooded murder in captivity is established, as his father I want justice for my son, nothing less than capital punishment, death by hanging just as in the case of Nirbhaiya rape and murder case." Phijam said.

Giving the same line, Hijam Kullajit , the father of Linthoingambi said " how can they( perpetrators) do this to her, a student studying for her medical studies entrance test? Don't they have a heart? What would they achieve by killing innocent students? Would they achieve they demand by killing? And how many people will they kill?" .

A CM's secretariat statement, while confirming the photos of the two students being surfaced in the social media, said that the case has already been handed over to the CBI as per the wishes of the people of the state.

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," it said, adding that security forces have also started search operation to nab the perpetrators.

In response to "this distressing situation," the government assures the public that swift and decisive action would be taken against all those involved in the "kidnapping and killing" of Hemjit and Linthoingambi.

"The government is committed to ensuring justice prevails and will impose severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime," continued the statement.

"The Government encourages the public to exercise restraint and to let the authorities handle the investigation," it said.

In view of the volatile situation, the state education department has declared closure of all schools on Wednesday and Friday.

An order to this effect was issued by Manipur joint secretary of schools, Anjali Chongtham on Wednesday.

Further as preemptive measures mobile internet data which was lifted on 23 September after suspending the service for over four months was again suspended for 5 consecutive days.

* The sender of this news can be contacted at waarisingbul(AT)gmail(DOT)com .