Find at least pieces of skeleton: NPP to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 15 2023: Pointing out that some accused of the cold blooded murder of missing Meitei students had been netted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National People's Party (NPP), Manipur State unit has urged the Government to take up concrete measures and bring at least some piece of skeletons to the bereaved families.

Speaking to media persons at their Naoremthong office today, NPP National vice-president Y Joykumar lauded the State Government's initiative of delivering dead bodies of the victims of the violent conflict to their native places.

However, it is a matter of grave concern that the Government authorities are still unable to find the bodies of the two students and the two boys who crossed Kanglatongbi from Sekmai, Joykumar said.

He then urged the Government to communicate with Kuki leaders and ensure that the bereaved families get at least pieces of bones of their loved ones.

As the CBI has already arrested some accused involved in the cold blooded murder of Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit, the location of their bodies or whatever that remains can be located without much difficulty by interrogating the arrested accused.

Likewise, some accused involved in the killing of Ningthoujam Anthony and Maibam Avinash were also arrested.

The Government must do everything to ensure that at least pieces of their skeletons are recovered, he said.

Pointing out that Imphal-Jiribam highway is currently serving as the lone lifeline of Manipur as majority of the transporters have been avoiding Imphal-Dimapur due to threats and disturbances in Kangpokpi, Y Joykumar said that continued shutdown of Imphal-Jiribam highway would create serious problems for Manipur, specially the valley.

People have been blocking the highway between Keithelmanbi and Khumbong in protest against its highly deplorable condition, he said.

He decried that the NHIDCL has shown no intention to develop Imphal-Jiribam highway as a standard highway while the State Government is paying little attention to the highway and its dilapidated condition.

For people living in the valley, the airway is the only option for travelling outside the State at the moment but air travel is highly costly as compared to travelling on highways.

In addition to development of both Imphal-Jiribam highway and Imphal-Dimapur highway as standard highways, there is a need for deployment of highway protection force along both the highways, he asserted.

Although several disturbances have been reported on both the highways, the Government is still unable to take up any tangible action, he said.

The Government should also develop Imphal-Ukhrul-Jessami as a reliable, alternative highway, Joykumar said.

The Government must also monitor the highway projects being executed by NHIDCL and see that the projects are progressing at the desired rate, he continued.

He also expressed keen desire for Sagolband AC MLA RK Imo, Patsoi AC MLA S Keba and Konthoujam AC MLA Dr S Ranjan to pay special attention to the construction and maintenance of NH-37 (Imphal-Jiribam highway) .

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