The Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the Brutal Killing of Two Students by Kuki Militants on Monday appreciated the government’s efforts to apprehend some culprits involved in the killing of two students and announced that these arrests would not deter their scheduled agitations.
The JAC emphasised that the retrieval of the students’ bodies and their handover to their grieving family members are the only course of action that can halt their ongoing protests.
Speaking at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal, the JAC’s convenor L Kanta, commended the swift response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in capturing some of the culprits responsible for the heinous crime.
In accordance with Meitei traditions, mourning is continued until the deceased receive their final rites, he said, stressing that the government should ensure the timely delivery of the bodies to enable their families to perform these rites.
ALSO READ: Manipur Unrest: Achanbigei demands justice for murders
Until the bodies are handed over to the families, the JAC intends to continue its planned agitation, including a statewide rally and hunger strike commencing on Tuesday.
In this regard, the convenor urged the people of Manipur and civil organisations to rally behind the JAC’s quest for justice for the innocent students murdered by Kuki militants or miscreants.
JAC Co-convenor N Bimola, raised concerns that more heinous crimes might have been committed against the girl student before their killings.
ALSO READ: CBI cracks teens murder case
There is a fear that the culprits may attempt to hide evidence of these crimes by disposing of the bodies, underscoring the importance of the CBI’s swift recovery of the students’ remains, she added.
The shocking images of the two missing students, namely Philem Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi, widely circulated recently on social media before and after their deaths, sent shockwaves throughout the region. On Sunday, the CBI apprehended four suspects, including two women involved in the killings.
