Manipur Govt Reacts After Photos Of Killed Missing Students Go Viral

Photos of the bodies of a man who is apparently decapitated and a girl who has been missing since July have gone viral over the weekend after the ban on mobile internet was lifted in the ethnic violence-hit Manipur region.

The photo showed two students sitting on the ground in what appeared to be a forest, with two armed men in the background. Another photo showed the duo lying on the ground after being shot to death. The head of the man seemed to be missing; the photos were apparently taken on July 8, two days after the students went missing.

Photos Of Dead Manipur Man And Girl Goes Viral

Manipur Chief Minister’s Secretariat released a statement late on Monday, stating that the photos were of Phijam Hemjit, 20, and Hijam Linthoinggambi, 17, both belonging to the Meiteis community from Imphal.

The students had gone missing on July 6 and couldn’t be traced, even though security agencies looked for them and locals took to the streets trying to find their whereabouts.

Statement From Authorities

The statement read, “It may be noted that this case has already been handed over to the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] as per the wishes of the people of the state.” It added that the police and central security agencies were investigating the case, and search operations were going on in pursuit of nabbing those who murdered the two students. The statement also assured the public that the government would take swift and decisive action against all those involved in the kidnapping and murder of Phijam Hemjit and Hijam Linthoingambi.

The statement further added that the government was committed to ensuring justice for the murdered students and providing “severe punishment on the perpetrators found responsible for this heinous crime.” It also urged the public to “exercise restraint and let the authorities handle the investigation.

The ethnic violence in Manipur between the dominant Meiteis and Kukis has been happening since May and has claimed at least 175 lives and displaced around 50,000 people. The Kukis live in the hill districts, while the Meiteis live in the Imphal Valley and plains. Central forces have been deployed in the areas adjoining the foothills to ensure that armed people from both communities do not cross and launch an attack.

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