The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday arrested four persons in connection with the killing of two Meitei students in Manipur in June with Chief Minister N. Biren Singh saying the government will ensure maximum punishment to the culprits. The strife-torn state had witnessed a fresh bout of protests last week after photographs of the bodies of the students surfaced on Internet.
All the four arrested, identified as Paominlun Haokip, Malsawn Haokip, Lhingneichong Baite and Tinneikhol, were captured in a joint operation by the police and the Army from the hill district Churachandpur. According to reports, the CBI has taken them to Guwahati in Assam.
Officials of the chief minister's secretariat said two minor girls, aged 11 and 9 years, were detained in connection with the case but they were released later. The two are daughters of the main accused.
“I’m pleased to share that some of the main culprits responsible for the abduction and murder of Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi have been arrested from Churachandpur today,” the chief minister said in a post on X.
“As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law. We are committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, for the heinous crime they have committed,” he further said.
The two students, Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20, had gone missing on July 6.
Manipur witnessed a fresh wave of protests last week ever since the photographs of the two students started circulating on social media. On Thursday, a huge mob tried to attack the chief minister's private residence at Heingang locality of Imphal, despite a security clampdown in the district. Security forces managed to stop the mob around 100-150 metres away from the house, police said.
The protesters also targeted the residences of state BJP president Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi and BJP MLA Soraisam Kebi in Imphal East district.
On Wednesday, protesting students tried to hold a march towards the CM Bungalow and Raj Bhavan, alleging that the chief minister and other ministers remained silent against the violent activities of the Kuki militants and their supporters.
The protesters also torched two vehicles inside the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Imphal and another civilian vehicle parked nearby the DC office.