Manipur Boils Again as Students’ Protest Rocks Imphal Over Killing of 2 Youngsters

Imphal: Tension returned to Manipur as hundreds of school and college students protested in the Imphal Valley on Tuesday over the killing of two students who had been missing since July 6.

Both these murdered students were from the Meitei community. They were identified as Phijam Hemjit, 20, and Hijam Linthoingambi, 17. Pictures of their killing came out on social media on Tuesday.

Because of Tuesday’s protests, the Manipur government again suspended mobile Internet services across the state till October 1.

The state education department announced the closure of all schools on Wednesday and Friday in view of the prevailing law-and-order situation in the state. Thursday had already been declared a holiday because of Milad-un-Nabi.

During the day, protesting students were stopped around 100 metres from the chief minister’s residence.

Protests by youths continued in some localities of Imphal West and Imphal East districts throughout Tuesday night. Security forces fired tear gas shells at some places to disperse the mob. Chief minister N. Biren Singh tweeted that the CBI director, along with a “specialised team”, would arrive in Imphal on a special flight on Wednesday morning to “expedite this crucial investigation”.