IMPHAL, May 2: The Bangalore police has registered a murder case with regard to the killing of Loitam Richard in Bangalore, as against the unnatural death death as filed earlier, amidst public pressure.
The Bangalore police had earlier maintained the death of Richard Loitam as of death due to injuries sustained during a road accident incurred before the incident of beating by senior students at the hostel of Axcharya NRV School of Architecture at Bangalore.
Loitam Richard was beaten up by two students at the Acharya NRV Insitute of Architecture over a alteration regarding a, IPL cricket match.
Despite protests from the Manipur government and civil society groups in Imphal over the death of the students, Bangalore police had held that, Richard’s death was due to injuries sustained during a road accident which occurred before the beating.
Richard was found dead in his hostel room after a fight at the drawing room of the hostel. The Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam had written to his counterpart in Karnataka to properly investigate the case and bring the culprits to book.
Meanwhile, it is reported that, the alleged culprits have been asked by the police not to leave station till the investigations are over.
Karnataka Chief Minister D Sadananda Gowda has ordered the police to register an FIR in death case of Manipuri Student Loitam Richard.
The order came after Sunil Deodhar, national convener of BJP’s North east India Sampark Cell, called on Gowda Monday night demanding a through investigation in the case. Gowda assured Deodhar that the investigation will be foolproof and there will be no loopholes.
The Inspector General of Police (Intelligence),Gopal Hosur has asked the local S.P. to file a case of murder against unknown persons.
As fallout of unrest in North Eastern population across the country in the case of death of a student from Manipur, Richard Loitam, Sunil Deodhar rushed to Bengaluru yesterday for timely intervention. North East India Sampark Celll is formed with specific object of providing helpline to the north eastern people in the rest of India.
Sunil Deodhar along with Omprakash (President, Manipuri Meitei Association Bengaluru) and Tiken (President, Manipuri Students Association Bengaluru) also met the Karnataka State home minister R Ashoka and requested him to look in to the matter seriously.
Home Minister assured immediate action once the forensic report is received which is expected within one week.
There is a view in media that this is a case of racism but Deodhar does not subscribe to this view.
He asserted that one should wait for forensic report and completion of investigation by police before coming to any conclusion.
Richard Loitam a Manipur student was found dead in his hostel room on 18th of this month. He was a student of B. Arch (1st year) at Acharya College, Bengaluru. The circumstances under which he was found dead were mysterious and needs investigation.
The immediate action and support by the BJP’s cell has given some solace to the parents of the victim in particular and the Manipuri migrants in the city.
