To probe killing of Two Meitei students, CBI team driven to Imphal

Imphal: Tensions are high in Manipur, especially in the valley regions of the state, after the brutal ‘murder’ of two Meitei students by suspected Kuki militants, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a probe. It has been decided to send a special team.

The CBI team will be led by Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar and will reach Imphal in Manipur on Wednesday (September 27).
Notably, on Tuesday (September 26), mass protests and demonstrations erupted in the valleys of riot-torn Manipur after photographs of two Meitei students – a man and a woman – surfaced on social media.

The two young students went missing on July 6 during the height of communal violence in Manipur, and were later allegedly ‘murdered’ by suspected Kuki militants.
Both the missing, now dead students belonged to the Meitei community in Manipur.

According to the timeline shown in the photos that went viral on social media, the photos were taken on July 8 – two days after she went missing.
Luwangbi, after attending her coaching class, later went out with the barber for a ride on her KTM bike on July 6. She has not returned home since.
Meanwhile, at least 50 students, mostly women, were injured when Manipur police fired teargas and mock bombs to disperse thousands of protesters.

Student protesters, in their thousands, took to the streets of Imphal and staged a dharna at the Raj Bhavan gate on Tuesday (September 26).

The students were demanding speedy justice for both the dead students.
Hundreds of students from various educational institutions erected roadblocks at various strategic locations in Manipur’s Imphal Valley.

Students of CC Higher Secondary School blocked the road leading to the Chief Minister’s office.

The protesting students later stormed the gate of Raj Bhavan where they staged a sit-in.
Police fired tear gas and fake bombs to disperse the protesters at various places in Imphal city.

Injured students were rushed to RIMS, JNIMS, Raj Medicity and other private hospitals.

The students took to the streets after photos of the bodies of two students missing since July 6 – Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthongambi (17) – surfaced on social media.
On the other hand, Manipur Police claimed that security forces used “minimum force” to disperse protesters in Imphal Valley on Tuesday (September 26).

“Security forces dispersed the protesters with minimal force,” Manipur Police said in a statement.
Manipur Police said, “Students staged protests and rallies in connection with the viral photos of the bodies of the two missing students.”

It added: “Security forces used minimal force to disperse the congregation and fired some tear gas shells injuring some people.”