IMPHAL, December 4: With growing concern over the failure to find the infant who went missing from his mother’s bed at Tekcham even after four days, locals took out a massive rally today.
The rally starting from Tekcham Bazar concluded at Khongjom Bazar.
One and a half year old Phanjoubam Leishemba, son of Ph Ijouba and Chaobi was found missing by his mother around 7.30 pm of December 1 from her bed where he was left sleeping in the afternoon by a four-year-old cousin of the infant.
The mother who runs a hotel at Tekcham Bazar found her son missing when she returned home.
A massive manhunt was soon launched and a case registered with the concerned police station, however, the whereabouts of the boy remains unknown till date drawing the locals to come out to the streets.
Thousands of people taking part in the massive rally shouted slogans demanding all involved to clarify and deliver the infant to his parents at the earliest and the government to find out the culprits involved and book them according to the law.
The JAC formed in connection with the incident has also set 4pm of December 5 as deadline for the Home department to find out the culprits and hand over the infant to the family and the JAC.
In case of failure to meet the set deadline, the JAC will launch strong agitations by joining hands with the civil society organizations of the state, the JAC warned the government.
The JAC’s resolution was also handed over to the Thoubal DC in the form of a memorandum to be handed over to the chief minister and the home minister.
Meanwhile, women protestors also staged a sit-in-protest on the Imphal-Moreh highway at Khongjom Bazar blocking half of the highway.
Showing dissatisfaction with the state Home department over its failure to take up any proper and concrete step in the case even after four days since the infant went missing, the protestors bemoaned the department as a total failure.
Today’s mass rally was taken out this afternoon after the locals converged at the Tekcham Bazar area and under the slogan, ‘hand over Leishemba to his parents’.
Later, the protestors staged a sit in protest at the Khongjom Bazar Community Hall decrying the incident.
Leishemba’s mother who was also present at the protest wept uncontrollably on seeing her son’s picture and failed to find even her voice.
JAC vice-chairman, Sapam Suresh said Leishemba went missing on December 1 and the failure of the state Home department to find any clue even after four days is a big fault on the part of the department.
He further appealed to all civil organizations to join hands and support the issue.
While drawing the attention of the state chief minister, he further appealed for the Khongjom police outpost to be upgraded to a police station.
He elaborated that in the present condition, the lives and property of the public cannot be guarded and the outpost has become a point to collect money from the vehicles coming out from Moreh.
Later, representatives of the JAC handed a memorandum to Thoubal DC T Ranjit to be submitted to the CM and his Home Minister.