Family of slain Manipur teen Seigunlal Misao claims body; final rites today at Motbung

By Kaybie Chongloi reporting from Kangpokpi

It was a heart breaking scene at Regional institute of Medical sciences (RIMS) Mortuary in Imphal as the family, friends and relatives of slain Manipur teen Seigunlal Misao took possession of the Class 12 student of Damdei Christian College, Taloulong who was shot dead near his home in Kangpokpi on March 25.

The family along with members of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) set up to ensure justice for Seigunlal, claimed the body today, a day after the Manipur government announced its decision to hand over the murder Seigunlal to NIA (National Investigative Agency) and nine days after he was killed in cold blood.

The lifeless body of Gideon Seigunlal Misao arrived at his Motbung residence at 1:00 pm today. He will be put to rest at Motbung Model Village cemetery as per the Christian funeral norms or tradition.

A mourning ceremony was held at the deceased’s residence at Sharon Veng in Motbung Model Village by thousands of mourners from across Kangpokpi district before the funeral event at the village cemetery.

The JAC Convenor, Paominlal Lhouvum speaking to Northeast Live said, “We are convinced that the state Government is very much serious in the brutal murder of Seigunlal Misao by handing over the case to the NIA Agency. We have finally decided to claim the dead body of Seigunlal Misao to put him to rest today”.

He also maintained that handing over the case of Seigunlal Misao to the NIA by the state Government demonstrated the commitment and seriousness of the state Government under the leadership of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in bringing justice towards the brutal murder of Seigunlal Misao and “we are very grateful and satisfied. We have faith on NIA and we hope it will definitely bring justice”.

The JAC Convenor also said that they will pursue the official understanding signed between the state Government and the JAC and they hope that the ex-gratia and compassionate appointment will be delivered soon by the Government as agreed.

It may be worth recalling the sequence of events related to the killing of Gideon Seigunlal Misao and what ensued:
• A Class XII student of Damdei Christian College, Taloulong who had just finished appearing in his Higher Secondary Examination was mercilessly shot dead by arms miscreants near his residence at Sharon Veng Motbung Model village at 8:30 pm on March 25.

• Enraged mobs disrupted the movement of vehicles along the National Highway-2 by blocking the road moments after the incident.

• Joint Action Committee was formed on March 26 in connection with the brutal killing of Seigunlal Misao.

• On March 27, the JAC met Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the State Government signed an Official Understanding to provide an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakhs and compassionate appointment of eligible next of kin of the deceased in a suitable post under the Government and the JAC agreed not to resort to agitation and claimed the dead body kept at RIMS Morgue, Imphal.

• A few hours later after the signing of the official understanding, an outlawed militant outfit, the National Revolutionary Front Manipur claimed responsibility for the brutal murder of Seigunlal Misao with an accusation of Seigunlal Misao a drug peddler.

• Late in the evening of the same day, the NRFM allegation infuriated not only the mobs but the student community of Kangpokpi district which compelled the JAC to take a U-turn on its decision to claim the dead body and not to resort to agitation and took a firm decision not to claim the dead body.

• Then, from March 31 the student community in Kangpokpi district resorted to a peaceful democratic sit-in-protest under the aegis of the JAC.

• In a big development over the case, the state Government on April 2 afternoon announced its decision to hand over the brutal murder of the Seigunlal Misao case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) following which the JAC decided to claim the dead body and put him to rest amidst thousands of mourners.

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