Classmates of slain Manipur teen Seigunlal Misao stage protest, says NRFM’s allegations unacceptable

By Kaybie Chonglo
Correspondent, Kangpokpi

Hundreds of Damdei Christian College students including the classmates of Seigunlal Misao who was brutally killed on March 25 evening at Motbung Model village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi District held a sit-in protest today near the college vicinity along the National Highway 2.
Speaking exclusively to the NE Live on the sidelines of the sit-in protest, the Vice Principal of Damdei Christian College, Dr. Helkhomang Touthang said that the protest is jointly organized by the College authority and the student community to demonstrate their outrage against the false and baseless allegations of the National Revolutionary Front Manipur (NRFM) upon Seigunlal Misao, who had been one of their bright and sincere students.

The College authority and the students totally denounced the false allegations levelled against Seigunlal Misao and demonstrated today in a peaceful manner by organizing the sit-in-protest.

Strongly condemning the NRFM allegations, Dr. Touthang termed the outlawed militant organisation’s allegation as “groundless, unfounded, and fabricated” and said, “deceased Seigunlal Misao was our student and we know him very well, he was a good student, sincere and honest. During his stay with us for the last two academic years, he was a rule-abiding and faithful student.”
“As per his academic record maintained by the college there was not even a single instance where his morality was in question. Rather, he was one of the talented students, who was instrumental in entertaining the gatherings during the college festivals. Though, he came from an economically backward family, he had recently completed his study course successfully and his contribution in the college was commendable”, the Vice Principal of the college added.

He also wondered as to how a student who always struggle to pay his college fees be a drug peddler and termed the allegations as unfounded and baseless.

The college governing body, teaching faculties, non-teaching staff, and the student fraternity also demanded that the National Revolutionary Front Manipur to come forward and give satisfactory explanations or otherwise their act will be treated as terrorist act.

It also appealed to the state State Government and authorities concerned to expatriate all possible means to nab the culprits at the earliest and award appropriate punishment as per the law.

The protestors held placards which read, “We reject baseless allegations”, “We stand because we care”, “Book the culprit”, ” We condemn the killing of Seigunlal Misao”, “Student life matter”, “allegation after the killing is unacceptable”, “Seigunlal Misao is innocent”, “Punish those involved in the barbaric killing”, “Stop wild allegation”, “Respect human right”, “Death cannot defend itself”, “Student deserves Safety”, “Killing innocent students is a heinous crime”, etc.

Seigunlal Misao was a Class XII student of Damdei Christian College at Taloulong in Kangpokpi district. He had just finished the Higher Secondary Examination and was awaiting the practical exam when he was shot dead on March 25 evening.

An outlawed militant, the National Revolutionary Front Manipur had claimed responsibility over the brutal killing of Seigunlal Misao and accused him of being a drug peddler which created a widespread protest and condemnation in the district.

Also Read : Manipur: No breakthrough yet in Seigunlal’s killing; family members refuse to claim body, seeks clarity over NRFM’s ‘drug seller’ accusation