Women mass demands to book ‘student killer’, condemns government

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, August 17, 2019: Refuting the state government’s version of suicide as the cause of the death of a class VII girl student of an Imphal school, women mass demands to book those involved in the killing alleging that the girl was murdered and she did not suicide.

Vendors of Khwairamband Ima Keithel (women market) stopped their daily business and staged protest at the market located in the heart of Imphal. Meira Paibi(s) (women activists) took up road-side sit-in rallies at different parts of Imphal. Shops in Thangal bazaar, Paona Bazar and in other parts of Imphal were shut down during the mass protest.

They demanded quick and fair justice over the death of the student. They also demanded to release the agitators in custody without condition.

The girl student was found death in the dormitory of the school boarding on July 18. The joint action committee (JAC) formed in connection to the student’s death, students, Thangmeiband United Club and people have been pressing the government for ‘fair’ justice.

A leader of Ima Keithel vendors, Mayanglambam (O) R.K. Radhesana told reporters that the women are shocked at the death of the girl student. “Her cause of death is not suicide. She was a girl of tender year of 12, who has no enough knowledge of this world of life. For what reason she was murdered in the school, what dirty scene had she witnessed inside the school campus that would the reason for her murder?” Radhesana said.

“People are alleging that the family of the school principal murder the student. Had they not involved in the murder why can’t the school principal pay visit to the family of the deceased, share the grief and express to join hands to find out the truth behind the death of the student,” she added.

“It has been almost a month, why the 60 MLAs except a few are remaining silent over the issue. They need to take the issue seriously. Are they supporting the murderers?” Where have the truth loving organisations gone in such a juncture? She asked.

Laishram (O) Mema Devi, another vendor leader, said, “The student was murdered inside the school boarding. She was not killed by kidnapping by miscreants. The government keeps promising to give justice to people in issues. Still the government fails to bring out the murderers. We strongly condemn the government. We the women also condemn the principal of the school who does not have the heart of a woman. The school should be banned and the government should find out the truth behind the student’s death quickly.”

“We condemned the police for making such statements like that the student was brought up by her step-mother.  Making hundreds of such errors to curtain the truth will invite risk. Such attitude should be put away and instead should try to give justice to the decrying mothers and sisters,” she added.

She said she agrees to the parents’ concern of their wards career when there were no classes in the school. “However losing some days for the justice will not worsen the student’s career. Months long agitations in the state in various issues like that of ILP did not harm the career of students. Had the death incident happened to another child, the mother will weep heartbroken and seek for justice,” she added and asked, “Have the parents who express worry for theirs wards’ career received bribes from school principal.”

Kangabam Thoibi, a protestor in the market, asked, “Why the government arrested the school principal and her son? Are they arrested in connection with the murder? Why did they want to be released on bail? I think these questions are enough to be raised.”

The protestors also promised to support the JAC in whatever steps they take up to get justice.