Imphal (Manipur): Around 100 students were injured on Wednesday, as students continued to protest demanding “justice” for the killing of two Meitei students who went missing on July 6 in Bishnupur District. Protest erupted in the valley area in Manipur on Tuesday, 26th September after photos of the dead bodies of the two missing Meitei students surfaced on social media.

Despite the Manipur government closing all schools for three days, thousands of school and college going students in uniform took out a rally seeking justice from the authorities (centre and state government) for their two friends who were brutally killed after abducting(suspected to be killed by armed Kuki miscreants).

Huge numbers of students both boys and girls from different parts of the valley converged at Moirangkhom in Imphal West, which is around 500 metres away from the Chief Minister’s bungalow.  As the number of students grew stronger, they marched towards CM Bungalow to meet Manipur CM N. Biren Singh to let him know of their grievances. However, heavy numbers of state police and RAF personnel deployed there tried to prevent them from marching ahead.

Angered over the stoppage, the students began to forcibly move ahead which led police and RAF personnel firing tear gas shells and smoke bombs. The students ran away directionless, but those students(boys) began pelting stones towards the police and RAF personnel. Retaliation on both sides continued for hours, however tear gas shells, smoke bombs and pellet guns rained on students injuring many of them. Some of the students were chased away by the security forces, but few who were caught faced the brutality of security forces.

Many of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Advanced Hospital in Imphal saw chaos after 51 students were brought there for treatment. Many of the injured were unconscious after inhaling smoke from chilli infused tear gas shells and smoke bombs. Some of the boys' students were hit by pellets fired from pellet guns and they were operated quickly to remove the pellets from their bodies. People from nearby the hospital helped the hospital's authorities in treating the injured students.

After the clash ended, 15 student leaders were allowed to meet the Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren at CM secretariat. The students submitted a memorandum to Biren Singh demanding justice for the two students. After meeting CM Biren, one of the students said that they had urged the CM to catch the culprit within 3 days to which the CM replied that the government will take stringent action against the culprit, but the CM did not mention how many days it will take.

The students also said that until and unless the government arrests the culprits and delivers justice, students will not attend class and will continue to protest.

On the other hand, students and people of Thoubal district burnt the office of BJP Thoubal after the protest turned violent. In the late afternoon huge numbers of students and people of Thoubal attacked the BJP office with stones. CRPF personnel who were posted at the office tried to defend the office, however, as the protestors number was huge, they ran away. After that the protestors burnt down the BJP office. Two protestors were also injured after a gas cylinder inside the office exploded. Similar incident also occurred at BJP Wangjing Tentha Mandal office,  where protestors ransacked the office.

Many organisations condemned the action and brutality of the security forces carried out to student protestors.

In connection with the missing and murder case of the two Students, a CBI team led by its Special Director, Ajay Bhatnagar reached Imphal on a Special Flight. The CBI team landed at Imphal International Airport and quickly departed from there. The team headed by Ajay  will investigate into the case of the two students Hijam Luwangbi Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit who went missing on July 6. According to sources, the CBI team led  by the Special Director  comprises Officers who are experts in Special crime, Crime Scene Recreation, Interrogation and  Technical Surveillance.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh expressed strong condemnation against the brutal killing of the two students who went missing since 6th July this year, terming it as a heinous crime. He maintained that the culprit would not be spared and stringent action would be taken against them as per law.

Briefing the media at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday, the Manipur CM said that the case regarding the missing of the two teenagers was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 28th August, 2023.

The Chief Minister informed that he had talked with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the case and added that the case is being taken seriously. He continued that Special Director, CBI Ajay Bhatnagar along with other 5 officials had landed in the State today and had started the investigation. He appealed to all the people of the State to have trust in seriousness taken by the government regarding the case.

He further said that the Government knew that a large number of people had turned out at roads in different places out of emotion and anger, after seeing the viral photographs of the two students. He instructed the security forces to have maximum restraint while controlling the mob and added that action would be initiated, if security personnel use excessive action against the public especially the students in controlling their agitation.

While seeking support and cooperation of the public in handling the current crisis and restoring peace in the State, he informed that 25 companies of central forces and 2 companies of Rapid Action Force had been deployed in 23 places of Churachandpur District. He also added that a process had been taken up to deploy 3 companies of central force in Behiang, maintaining that the Government is taking up steps to enforce law and order.

The Manipur Chief Minister further informed that the State Government is in continuous contact with the Union Home Minister regarding the current situation in the State. He also said that the State Government has been taking all steps to restore peace under the supervision of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.