More than nine months have passed since violence erupted in Manipur but Hijam Kulajit, father of Lingthoingambi, who went missing since July 6, 2023, still awaits for his daughter’s mortal remains.
Sitting at his home in Tera Imphal West, Kulajit lamented that there has been no lead in finding the body so far, even after more than eight months since his daughter went missing.
Two students, Lingthoingambi along with her friend Hemanjit went missing in the peak of ethnic violence in Manipur.
On September 23, 2023, a series of photos showing their dead bodies were circulated on social media platforms. Kulajit expressed his grief in living with the fact that his daughter went missing eight months ago, but not a single cloth worn by Lingthoingambi has been found yet.
Kulajit also lamented that the chief minister had failed to pay a visit to his home even for once since tragedy struck his family, and the public uproar after their photos surfaced on social media.
Kulajit wants no money or compensation but his daughter’s body or mortal remains.
On entering their home, photographs of Lingthoingambi is the first thing a visitor will notice. Family members and neighbouring locals are struggling to come to terms with loss of young lives, Kulajit informed.
As Manipur Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin from Wednesday, Kulajit is hoping that the matter will be echoed on the floor of the house so that necessary action might be taken up.
It may be recalled that fresh protests broke out in Imphal after the photographs Linthoingambi and Hemanjit surfaced on social media after the mobile internet service was restored on September 23, 2023.
The incident sent shockwaves through Manipur’s valley districts, resulting in three days of protests in and around Imphal, resulting in more than 100 people, mostly both boy and girl students, being injured.
The CBI had arrested four people while two were detained in the murder case. The four include two men and two women, apart from the two girls who have been detained. The four were flown to Guwahati in Assam.
The arrested persons have been identified as main accused Paominlun Haokip, 35, son of Thenkhogin Haokip of Kungpinaosen village; S Malswan Haokip, 40, son Akhup Haokip of L Phaikholun village; Wohkhogin Baite alias Tiger, 36, son of (l) Janglam Baite of Leimatak Bungmol; and Lhingneichong Baite, wife Wohkhogin Baite of Leimatak Bungmol village.
The four individuals were arrested by a combined team of CBI and security forces including the state police from Henglep area, Churachandpur district.
