Manipur Violence: Photos Showing Bodies Of Two Missing Students, State Govt Initiated Action (Image: www.twitter.com/nongthangmeetei)
The students are from the Meitei community – Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20.
Government ensured swift action.
Manipur government ensured “swift and decisive action” after pictures showing dead bodies of two students from the violence torn Manipur, who were already reported missing, has surfaced on social media on Monday.
The students, both from the Meitei community, identified as Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20. They were missing since July, 2023. As per the photos circulated the students are sitting in a grassy compound which appears to be a makeshift jungle camp of an armed group.
The case has been already handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), informed the Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on tuesday morning through an official press statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). The bodies are yet to be found.
“The government assures the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the kidnapping and killing of Phijam Hemjit and Hijam Linthoingambi”, reads the official statement from the State goverment.
Ms Linthoingambi, wearing a white t-shirt and having a black mask is looking up to the camera, while Mr Hemjit, in a checked shirt and holding a backpack looks somewhere else. The photograph also incorporated two men with guns in the background.
In July, the students were spotted in CCTV cameras installed at shops but the police remained helpless and were unable to crack the case. A massive outrage has sparked the country pointing the inefficiency of police and administrative tools.
“It has come to the notice of the state government that the photos of two students Phijam Hemjit (20 years) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17 years), who have been missing since July 2023 have surfaced on social media. It may be noted that this case has already been handed over to the CBI as per the wishes of the people of the state”, reads the press release from the Chief Minister”s Secretariat issued on Tuesday.
The government also ensured that 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”.
“In response to this distressing situation, the government assures the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all those involved in the kidnapping and killing of Phijam Hemjit and Hijam Linthoingambi. The government is committed to ensuring justice prevails and will impose severe punishment on any perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime. The Government encourages the public to exercise restraint and to let the authorities handle the investigation”, the statement added.
Press Release from Chief Minister’s Secretariat. pic.twitter.com/Z7ds64Pas8
— CMO Manipur (@manipur_cmo) September 26, 2023
Manipur, a North Eastern Indian State, is still burning due to ethnic violent clashes since May 2023. All started after a high court order directing the state government to consider including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes got released.
More than 170 people have been killed and several hundred others injured since ethnic violence first broke out in the state on May 3 when a “Tribal Solidarity March” was organised in hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community”s demand for ST status, reported the Hindustan Times.
