Students Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20 before they were killed in Manipur
Imphal/New Delhi:
The Manipur government today said it will ensure “swift and decisive” action after photos emerged on social media showing the bodies of two teenagers who went missing in July.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had investigated the case, although the bodies of the two teenagers are yet to be found.
The photos show the two teenagers from the Meitei community – Hijam Linthoingambi, 17, and Phijam Hemjit, 20 – sitting on the grassy grounds of what appears to be an armed group’s makeshift jungle camp.
Ms Linthoingambi wears a white T-shirt, while Mr Hemjit, wearing a backpack and checked shirt, looks on. Two men with guns are clearly visible behind them.
In the next photo you can see their bodies slumped on the ground.
The bodies of the two teenagers killed in the camp of a suspected armed group in Manipur
The case has sparked outrage across the country, with many wondering why it took so long for police to clear up the case.
In July, the two teenagers were spotted on CCTV cameras installed in shops but could not be traced.
Investigators will likely use advanced cyber forensics tools to clear the images and determine the identities of the two men visible in the background, said people with direct knowledge of the case, who requested anonymity.
“It has come to the notice of the state government that the photographs of two students… who have been missing since July 2023 have surfaced on social media. It may be noted that this case has already been transferred to the CBI as per the wishes of the people of the state,” the Manipur government said in a statement today.
The two teenagers from Manipur went missing in July amid the ethnic violence
“The state police, in collaboration with the central security agencies, are actively investigating the case to establish the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and to identify the perpetrators who killed the two students. The security forces have also started the search operation to nab the perpetrators.” the government said.
The government said it will take “swift and decisive action” against anyone involved in the kidnap and murder of Mr Hemjit and Ms Linthoingambi. It called on the public to remain calm and let investigators do their work.
The ethnic violence between the hill-majority Kuki tribes and the valley-majority Meiteis began on May 3, following a protest by the Kukis over the Meiteis’ demand to be granted Scheduled Tribes (ST) status . More than 180 people have died and thousands have been internally displaced.
