Shillong, September 26: In Imphal, at least 34 students, including girls, sustained injuries during a Tuesday protest against the killing of two young students by unidentified armed assailants.
As per IANS, the clash between agitating students and security forces left 34 students injured as they attempted to march toward Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s residence. Tear gas shells and smoke bombs were deployed by security forces to disperse the protesters, and the injured students were subsequently admitted to various hospitals for treatment.
The demonstration, which saw hundreds of students from different schools taking to the streets, was sparked by the circulation of photographs of the bodies of two missing students on social media. Seventeen-year-old girl student Hijam Linthoingambi and 20-year-old Phijam Hemjit had disappeared on July 6 during the height of ethnic violence in Manipur, with their families suspecting foul play.
The Manipur government has entrusted the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), while security forces have initiated a search operation to apprehend the culprits, according to an official from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. State police, in collaboration with central security agencies, are actively investigating the case to determine the circumstances of their disappearance and identify those responsible.
In response to the distressing situation, an official statement assures the public that swift and decisive action will be taken against all involved in the kidnapping and killing of Phijam Hemjit and Hijam Linthoingambi. The government is committed to delivering justice for the victims and imposing severe penalties on any perpetrator found responsible for this heinous crime. The statement also encourages the public to exercise restraint and allow the authorities to handle the investigation.
According to Inspector General of Manipur Police (Operations), I.K. Muivaa, since ethnic violence erupted in the state on May 3, at least 175 people have been killed, 1,108 injured, and 32 individuals remain unaccounted for.