Imphal/Guwahati
A day after the CBI arrested four persons in connection with the purported abduction and murder of two Meitei students that led to large scale students-led violence, tribal-dominated Churachandpur witnessed a complete shutdown on Monday even as the investigating agencies sought to refute allegations of any bias asserting evert arrest by them was based on evidence gathered by its team.
The ITLF, a conglomerate of recognised tribals of Manipur, had called for an indefinite shutdown in the district from 10 am on Monday to protest against the arrests and demanded that they be released within 48 hours.
In a joint operation with the Manipur Police and the central forces, the CBI arrested two men, Paominlun Haokip and Smalsawm Haokip, and two women, Lhingneichong Baitekuki and Tinneilhing Henthang, in connection with its cases registered on August 23.
“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,” Chief Minister N Biren Singh posted on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter).
Phijam Hemanjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi (17) had gone missing on July 6. Photos purportedly showing their bodies surfaced on September 25, leading to violent protests, mainly by students.
“As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing the crime, but they cannot escape the long hands of the law,” Singh asserted adding the government was committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, to the culprits for the heinous crime they had committed.
Assisted by the Manipur police and Army, a CBI team intercepted a Bolero in which the four accused were travelling at the Henglep subdivision around noon. Two minor girls aged 9 and 11, both daughters of one of the accused women, were also in the vehicle.
The CBI said the two minor children have been handed over to the District Child Protection Officer, Kamrup Metro District for their welfare and protection. The CBI was tracking the phone of one of the slain students and found that it was being used by the accused.
Facing allegations of bias amid the daunting task of completing investigations in various cases in an ethnically-charged environment, the CBI and NIA asserted that every arrest by them is based on evidence gathered by them.
Refuting the allegations levelled by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Front (ITLF), an organisation claiming to represent the Kuki-Zo community of Manipur hills, officials from both agencies said no partiality has been shown against any community, religion or sect, and that only the rule book of the Indian Penal Code was abided by.
Referring to the recent arrest of Seiminlun Gangte, a tribal, the officials said he is one of the key accused in an SUV blast case that took place in the Kwakta area of Bishnupur district on June 21. Three people were injured in the blast.
He was brought to New Delhi after securing his transit remand from the competent court. In the national capital, the accused was produced before a designated court, which remanded him to NIA custody, they added.
On September 22, the NIA arrested Moirangthem Anand Singh from Imphal in connection with a different case. Singh, along with four others, was arrested by the Manipur Police for possession of weapons looted from the police armoury.
However, all five were bailed out, but Singh was rearrested by the NIA for his involvement in terror activities. He was brought to Delhi and is facing due legal process, the officials said.
