Manipur Violence: CBI reaches Imphal; several students protesting for alleged killing of two young students injured

A CBI team led by its special director Ajay Bhatnagar reached Imphal on Wednesday to take up the case regarding the murder of two students. For the second day, students protested in different parts of Imphal valley against the alleged kidnapping and killing of two young students by unidentified armed assailants.

Many students were injured on Wednesday after security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse them in Imphal's Moirangkhom area, about 200 metres from the chief minister's secretariat. BJP's mandal office in Thoubal was set on fire by unidentified miscreants. Police said the agitating students pelted stones at the security forces, who then fired tear gas shells and smoke bombs to disperse the mob.

Students, who were shouting "We want justice", were heading towards chief minister N Biren Singh's bungalow when security forces prevented them, leading to the clash.


Singh said in Imphal on Wednesday that the "Centre and state condemned the incident. Union home minister Amit Shah called on Tuesday and discussed the situation. A CBI team, led by special director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Manipur and the team visited the incident spot for investigation. Perpetrators won't be spared."

The photos of the victims, identified as Phijam Hemjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17), who have been missing since July 6, have surfaced on social media.

The police said the unruly crowd tried to attack a politician's house, but were repelled by security forces. The protesters burnt a police vehicle and assaulted a policeman.

Despite closure of academic institutions, many students in uniform flooded the streets of Imphal. Curfew relaxation was cancelled in both Imphal East and Imphal West districts.

Leading Kuki-Zo organisation, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum's women's wing protested in Churachandpur town by holding a rally.

Somendra quits BJP
Displeased with what he termed as the government's inept handling of the current turmoil and the inhuman murder of two students, celebrated Manipuri film actor Rajkumar Kaiku, aka Somendra, has resigned from the BJP's primary membership.

A resident of Thangmeiband area in Imphal West district, Kaiku contested the last Lok Sabha polls as an Independent candidate and later joined BJP in November 2021.

Perpetrators won't be spared: BJP
BJP termed the alleged kidnapping and murder of students as "gory criminal act".

"Two students who were kidnapped...and murdered in Manipur is a gory criminal act, the perpetrators of which will never be spared," BJP's Sambit Patra wrote on X.