Staff Reporter
In a renewed outbreak of violence in Manipur, tensions escalated over the mysterious deaths of two students from the Meitei community who had gone missing in July. The situation took a concerning turn as the photographs of these missing students went viral on social media shortly after mobile internet services were restored.
According to preliminary investigations, the students may have fled their homes on July 6 but found themselves trapped in an area predominantly inhabited by the Kuki community. It is alleged that they were subsequently abducted and tragically murdered, as reported by Manipur police. In response to the gravity of the situation, the case has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for a thorough inquiry.
The incident triggered widespread outrage, prompting students and residents to take to the streets in protest. Regrettably, these demonstrations escalated into clashes with law enforcement authorities and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, resulting in injuries to approximately 25 to 30 protesters. In response to the unrest, authorities imposed a five-day suspension of mobile internet services in the affected area.
Additionally, recognizing the urgent need to address the prevailing law and order issues in Manipur, the Union Home Ministry has repatriated senior Srinagar police official Rakesh Balwal back to the northeastern state. Balwal, an IPS officer belonging to the Manipur cadre, had been serving in Jammu and Kashmir since 2021 and has previously been involved in high-profile cases, including the investigation of the 2019 Pulwama terror attack. This move comes approximately a month after the Home Ministry proposed the deployment of additional officials in Manipur to manage the challenging situation.
