Protest Erupts in Imphal as Students Demand Justice for Missing Teenagers

Two students mysteriously disappeared on July 6. CCTV footage revealed the two missing students riding a KTM bike together along Nambol towards Khoupum via Lamdan. Images taken two days of their disappearance both before and after their tragic deaths, along with two armed individuals in the background, went viral on social media

KalimNews, Imphal, September 26, 2023 : Thousands of students in Imphal took to the streets today in a powerful display of collective frustration and grief after photographs of two missing teenagers, believed to have been killed by suspected Kuki militants, emerged. The students, primarily from esteemed educational institutions such as CC Higher Secondary School, TG Higher Secondary School, Johnstone Higher Secondary School, Ananda Singh Academy, GP Women’s College, Ibotonsana School, and Imphal College, assembled to demand justice for the two students who mysteriously disappeared on July 6.

In a strong statement against the alleged killings, students from CC Higher Secondary School initiated road blockades in front of their school during the afternoon. Clutching placards bearing messages such as "We want Justice, Bring Peace" and "We strongly condemn the brutal killing of Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemanjit," the impassioned students marched towards CM Bungalow, disregarding security barricades. In response, law enforcement resorted to the use of tear gas and mock bombs to regain control, unfortunately resulting in injuries to numerous students. Fifty four injured students received medical attention at various hospitals, while the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Security Forces encountered difficulties in quelling the fervent crowd.

A determined student protestor from CC Higher Secondary School expressed their demands to the media, stating, "We demand that the state government swiftly apprehend the culprits responsible for this heinous act. If no action is taken, we will escalate our protests."

Meanwhile, students from Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School formed a human chain on both sides of the Uripok Kangchup road, followed by a rally to denounce the brutal killings of the two missing students. However, their progress was halted by security forces at the western gate of Kangla, who used tear gas and mock bombs to disperse the students.

In a post-protest meeting convened at TG Higher Secondary School, students collectively agreed to maintain their presence at school as a form of protest, donning black badges while on school premises. Additionally, all educational institutions in Manipur are expected to participate in this ongoing protest. The students firmly expressed their commitment to continue protesting until the remains of the two missing students are located and returned to their families. Furthermore, they strongly condemned the use of tear gas and smoke bombs against them and demanded the swift apprehension of those responsible for the killing of the two students.

It is noteworthy that CCTV footage revealed the two missing students riding a KTM bike together along Nambol towards Khoupum via Lamdan, as witnessed by local villagers, before their disappearance on July 6. Images of the missing students, both before and after their tragic deaths, along with two armed individuals in the background, went viral on social media yesterday. According to the timeline indicated in the viral photographs, the pictures were taken on July 8, just two days after their initial disappearance.

The protest in Imphal saw 54 individuals sustain injuries during the demonstration. The injured were distributed among various healthcare facilities as follows: Asian Hospital reported 2 injured, Raj Medicity documented 43 injured, RIMS (Regional Institute of Medical Sciences) recorded 9 injured, and JNIMS (Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences) had 1 injured protester. These injuries occurred as a result of clashes and confrontations during the protest. A total of 54 students including one teacher was injured during the protest