Representational image of Imphal-Moreh road

Thadou Students’ Association of Manipur has called a 36-hour bandh from January 16 against the government’s indifferent attitude to solve three murder cases and the non-introduction of Thadou Kuki language as MIL subject in higher secondary schools.

The bandh will be imposed on the areas extending from Imphal to Moreh, Imphal to Dimapur, Imphal to Jiribam and Imphal to Churachandpur roads.

TSA secretary general Michael Lamjathang Haokip announced the bandh on Thursday. He criticized the government for its failure to solve the murder cases of Thongkhogin Haokip, Nengkhokim Haokip and Kaikholen Tuiboi.

Giving details of the incidents of murder, Haokip said an assistant teacher of Molnom Junior High School at Tengnoupal namely Thongkhogin Haokip was found murdered on February 29, 2016.

Similarly, 21–year old Nengkhokim Haokip also known as Cecilia a private school teacher was gang raped and murdered and her body was found at Muoltinchan village road junction near Sugnu on May 5 last year. The same day body of Kaikholen Tuboi was recovered about a kilometer from the spot where Cecilia was found raped and murdered.

Unfortunately police are yet to nab the culprits of these heinous crimes. The student body has made repeated appeals to the authorities to nab the culprits but all their appeals seem to have fallen to deaf ears.

A TSA delegation even met the Kakching police super and the Investigating Officer (SDPO Kakching) of this case and also the ADGP (Law & Order).

The student body also served an ultimatum to the home department on December 22, 2017 to solve these cases on or before January 10, this year. But, the authorities have turned a blind eye to their demand.

Non-introduction of Thadou Kuki language for the Thadou tribal students has also irked the TSA. TSA chief Michael Lamjathang Haokip expressed resentment on this.

The Manipur government had issued a notification regarding the introduction of the language in Classes 11 and 12 back in 2016. However, the notification remains in paper only due to its non-implementation till date.

TSA has threatened that it will be compelled to resort to launch vigorous agitations if the government keeps on neglecting the matter.