Sit-in protests staged against cold-blooded murder of students

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 6 : A sit-in protest was staged today at Macha Leima School in Palace Compound against the heinous crime of cold-blooded abduction and murder of two innocent students, Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi, by Kuki terrorists.
A large number of students and staff took part in the sit-in jointly organised by Macha Leima School and Macha Leima Organisation.
Speaking on the sidelines of the sit-in, a student expressed deep shock & sorrow over the gruesome murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoinganbi, and demanded the Government to arrest all the perpetrators and award befitting punishment.
He urged the Government to recover the bodies and hand them over to the families of the two students at the earliest.
He also conveyed his anguish over the trend of shutting down schools/ educational institutions frequently by the Government and urged the authorities concerned to take necessary measures to ensure classes are not interrupted for the students.
Macha Leima School headmistress Khaidem Memobala questioned the failure of the Government to hand over the bodies of the two students to their families even after the arrest of some perpetrators.
Denouncing the brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations carried out by students, she appealed to the authorities concerned and Security Forces to show restraint and refrain from using excessive force against unarmed students.
Similarly, Keirao Bitra Awang Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup also staged a sit-in protest at Irilbung Panthoibi Keithel demanding justice for Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi and implementation of NRC in Manipur.
At the sit-in, Keirao Bitra Awang Leikai Apunba Meira Paibi Lup president Thokchom Tabopi asserted the gruesome and senseless killing of two innocent students by Kuki Narco Terrorists is a crime against humanity and every right thinking citizen should condemn it in the strongest term.
Tabopi appreciated the CBI for apprehending the perpetrators of the brutal murder and urged the authorities concerned to award befitting punishment as per the law of the land.
Alleging that the present conflict was caused by Chin Kuki Narco Terrorists from foreign countries, she appealed to the Government to implement NRC at the earliest to track illegal immigrants in the State.
At the sit-ins, the protesters displayed placards with the writings such as, "We condemn cold-blooded murder of innocent students", "Justice for Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoinganbi", "Hand over bodies of two students to their families", "No Separate Administration in Manipur", "Safeguard territorial integrity of Manipur", etc.