Widescale protests erupt over merciless killing of teenage students, demand for justice echoes
Source: The Sangai Express

Bpr/Jbm/Kak/Tbl, September 27 2023: A sea of protestors took to streets today demanding justice for the merciless killing of two teenage students, Phijam Hemanjit (20 yrs) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17 yrs) who went missing on July 6 .

Following the surfacing of agonizing photographs of the two teenagers on social media, the State has been witnessing wide scale protests since yesterday.

The heart-wrenching photographs of the two hapless teenagers being held captive by armed Kukis and their lifeless bodies emerged only yesterday triggering massive outrage.

Widescale protests erupt over merciless killing of teenage students, demand for justice echoes

Bishnupur
Thousands of students staged a rally at Moirang today denouncing the merciless killing of the two young students.

The students thronged at the residence of Moirang AC MLA and submitted a memorandum to the MLA listing a number of demands which include awarding befitting punishment to the culprits, recovery of the dead bodies of the two students and hand it over to the respective bereaved families.

The students took out the rally from Moirang Multipurpose Higher Secondary School ground.

The MLA after listening to the grievances and demands of the students, assured to make all possible efforts to deliver justice and to resolve the ongoing communal crisis.

Later the students also went to Moirang Police Station and submitted a memorandum to the OC.

Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was staged today at Moirang Thana Leikai Youth Unity Club campus by Thana Leikai Apunba Ima Lup and Youth Unity Club Moirang Thana Leikai condemning the killing of two students by armed Kukis.

Expressing strong condemnation over the excessive actions of the Police forces upon the students at Imphal who were protesting against the killing of their fellow mates, a sit-in protest was held at Thanga Shamukon by Naya Club Shamukon and Shamukon Leikai Meira Paibis.

The protestors also burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister, Security Advisor and BJP Manipur Unit President.

A protest was also staged at Ningthoukhong Keithel by Apunba Lup Ningthoukhong, Ningthoukhong Keithel Phambi Ima Lup and Ningthoukhong Apunba Meira Paibi Lup.

Jiribam
Several student bodies in Jiribam have strongly condemned the brutal murder of two missing students-Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit and the excessive use of force by the security forces on student protesters.

In a joint statement, MSF, KSA, DESAM and other student unions said the Government must take up all efforts to arrest and punish the culprits at the earliest.

The two students went missing on July 6 and photographs of them lying dead appeared on social media on September 25.Meanwhile, the police shouldn't brutally crackdown on students protesting the murder of the two students, they said.

The student organisations also said the State Government's order declaring school holiday till September 29 is condemnable.

The order violates the right to education.

Why should schools in Jiribam be closed? They asked, stating that the ZEO Jiribam should apprise the higher authorities of the situation in Jiribam to open the schools.

A condolence and candle-light prayer ceremony was also held by Manipuri students of Assam University today praying for the peace of the departed souls.

The students also demanded befitting punishments to the culprits as per law.

The Manipuri Youths' Front of Assam and Manipur Kanba Loop, Assam also strongly condemned the killing of the two innocent students.

Thoubal
Demanding justice for the two teenage students killed brutally by Kukis, students in Thoubal took out a rally organised by prominent student bodies and marched towards Thoubal DC Office today.

The rally started from Waikhom Mani Girls' College, Thoubal Okram and marched till Thoubal DC passing through Thoubal Bazar.

Meira Paibis of the area also joined the rally where slogans demanding to book the culprits involved in the heinous crime, recovery of the dead bodies and to let the students study peacefully were chanted.

Some selected student representatives met with Thoubal DC and put forth their demands to the DC.

However, the situation turned ugly after the meeting when some protestors started pelting stones leading to intense scuffle between the masses and the security personnel.

The security forces fired tear gas shells, rubber bullets, mock bombs and live rounds to disperse the agitating crowd but it was put under control due to intervention of the Meira Paibis.

Many students sustained injuries during the scuffle.

Condemning the brutal killing of the two innocent students, a sit-in protest was staged at Thoubal Melaground today organised by Thoubal Apunba Lup.

Similar protests were held near Thoubal Okram Asian Highway organised by Okram Youth Club and Okram Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and at Wangmataba Magic Parking organised by Thoubal Wangmataba Doctor Maning Meira Paibi and Social Service And Welfare Association (SSAWA) .

The protestors used placards which read 'We Want Justice', 'We condemn abduction and killing of innocent students', 'Book the culprits and award befitting punishment', 'We Want Peace' etc were used and similar slogans were raised.

The Thoubal and Kakching District Apunba Lup (TAKDAL) also cautioned that intense agitation will be carried out if the culprits involved in the killing of the two students are not booked within 48 hours.

On the other hand, students of Kakching district outraged over the merciless killing of two young students by armed Kukis, took out a protest rally today.

Extending support to the rally, members of Langsai Thouna Kakching also joined in the rally.

The students also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister through Kakching DC .