The arrested accused person has been identified as Paolunmang (22). With his arrest, the premier investigating agency of the country has so far nabbed five persons in connection with the sensational case, which boiled the trouble-hit state for several days. On October 1, CBI arrested four, including two women, from Kuki-Zo-dominated Churachandpur. The arrested accused persons S Malsawm aliam Boisawm, Paominlun Haokip, L Baite and W Baite were brought to Guwahati for further investigation.
Confirming Paolunmang’s arrest, security advisor to the state government, Kuldeep Singh said that the investigation agency arrested Paolunmang on the basis of the leads it generated through its previous arrests.
However, said that as the bodies of the two students have not been recovered, the nature of the case should be treated as missing.
“Till now in the records, it is only kidnapping, unless and until you get a major portion of the body before that you cannot say that the person is killed. Because photographs appear and, in that photograph, it looks as if they are no more, that is why you are saying killing,” Kuldeip told reporters at a media conference in Imphal on 13th October.
“But that is not sufficient to say that they are no more. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the person from Pune and interrogation is going on”, the security advisor added.
It should be mentioned that class 12 students – Hijam Luwangbi Chanu(17) and Phijam Hemanjit Singh (19) of the Sagolband Tera area in Imphal West district – have been missing since July 6.
Luwangbi was a student of TG Higher Secondary school, while Hemanjit attended Kindergarten Montessori School at Takyel. Both schools are located in Imphal.
The two were seen riding a bike at Keishampat in Imphal city around 8.15am of July 6 and CCTV footage captured their last visuals in the bike at Bishnupur district’s Nambol, sources said.
They suggested that Luwangbi’s mobile phone was last located in Kwakta, in Bishnupur bordering Churachandpur district. Hemanjit’s phone is suspected to have been used by a man staying in Churachandpur. It was suspected that the students were abducted by Kuki militants from Bishnupur district and were taken to Churachandpur which is around 35 kilometres away.
Expressing happiness on the latest arrest made by CBI, father of the missing girl Hijam Kulajit, we hope they will soon arrest all other accused persons,”
“Our pains and sorrow would be eased and only after ascertaining whether my daughter is still alive or not, ” he added.
It should be mentioned that the photo of the missing students went viral last month in which they were seen in a militant camp in a jungle in one picture. In another picture it was seen their bodies were lying on grass in the same place. Thousands of students in Imphal valley took to streets to protest the abduction and killings of the two students.
