Hundreds of students from the northeast staged a demonstration here on Sunday against what they argued was a deliberate attempt to cover up the April 17 death of 19-year-old Manipuri student Richard Loitham.
Most of the agitators turned up in response to a facebook page created by his family and friends where the incongruities of the case had been documented.
They claimed that he was beaten to death by two of his college mates and was a victim of racial profiling. His body was found by his roommate in room 225 the next afternoon. But the police maintain that the boy died of injuries he suffered in a road accident a few days earlier. They have registered a case of unnatural death.
Richard was a student of the Acharya's NRV School of Architecture (ASArch) on the outskirts of the city. The college initially tried to dismiss the death, claiming that Richard was a drug addict. But the claim has not been substantiated by the post-mortem report.
Documents show that Richard was treated as an outpatient at a private hospital for wounds he suffered in an April 15 road accident, which the police claim caused his death. But the hospital's records show that he suffered only superficial injuries.
The police records show that three students, as well as the hostel warden, gave statements that he was beaten up by two boys on the night of his death. Photographs show him bleeding from the mouth and nose. He also had bruises and contusions all over his body. And the post-mortem report says he died of a cerebral haemorrhage.
“Why then did the police not file an assault case? Why were his assailants not taken into custody,” asked Monika Khangembam, who led the agitators.
“How can a boy die with one punch?” said Superintendent of Police (Bangalore Rural) D. Prakash.
Said Richard's friend Vadsundara Potsangban (20): “How do the police know if Richard was hit once or ten times?”
Speaking to The Hindu from Imphal, Richard's uncle Bobby Loitham said, “Richard was beaten in room 111. The room's doorknob is broken. There are dents on the metal blinds of a window. These things have not been investigated.”
He said the college doctor certified him dead in the hostel itself. Yet, his body was shifted in an ambulance to a private hospital. “Why were the police not informed immediately? The police were informed only late in the night on April 18,” said Mr. Loitham.
He also claimed that Richard was very unhappy in the hostel and was pleading with his parents to shift him out. The college management refused to react when TheHindu visited the campus.
Keywords: protest rally, Manipuri student death, probe, Richard Loitham
INDIA is more than Delhi and its politics. When we say India, its the
whole of India WE ARE talkin about and not just the capital. Discrimination can be clearly seen. its sad that even High degreed people dont consider us as their brothers(symbolic) . I JUST WISH THAT THESE PEOPLE MUST BE GIVEN SOME ORIENTATION IN HISTORY ,GEOGRAPHY AND OTHER SOCIAL SCS. TOO SO THAT ALL COME TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT
'CHINKY' (WHAT they very easliy say to us!! Because they simply humiliate us because of we being differnt from them in terms of our culture ,looks...!! Let the rest of the country know that India cannot feel the unity untill all people of India feel It inside them. Let the barriers fade away with the prompt actions and inculcating Feelings of respect towards each other.
I am a Bhutanese who grew up in India. About 15 years ago, a close friend of mine was run over by a car in north Delhi. The driver, a local affluent, was identified but thanks to the corrupt police, got away scot free. Predictably, the Bhutanese Embassy did not apply enough pressure either.
Today, thousands of Bhutanese students study in India. We would like them to feel as safe in India as Indian visitors feel in our country.
Our prayers and sympathy go out to Richard and the Loitham family. May justice be delivered. And may you find the wisdom to realise closure to this terrible tragedy.
I sympathise with Richard's family, however the treatment of this case
is no different than others in India. It is just plain laziness and
indifference on part of the cops. They always do this, its only money
that talks. So please don't make this a racial thing. It is just a very
Indian phenomenon!
It is very sad to see that happening again and again.. but we are with you and we will get the justice..
I wish this must be the last and disgraceful incident of this sort in southern India. Having lived in north east for some period,I can say with confidence that these people are more intelligent and affable than an average Indian. It is bad that these people are ill treated in Delhi and a few other pockets and must be checked atonce. Then only there is a meaning for 'Hamara Bharat Mahan'!
I request my brothers from north east ,to not to make it a north east
vs mainland issue and rather try and involve the whole nation I accept
that north east is heaven when it comes to respect for woman and love
for fellow man we mainland people have lost the humanity to certain
extent but to be honest and frank a educated middle class mainland
person is as troubled as a person from manipur or sikkim , Only thing
that changes is method and mode of crime may be you are taunted with
racist remarks but parallely we have our own purview for it. Your
girls are eve teased not because they r from north east or wear
certain clothes but simply because they are girls same things happen
with us too but I do not understand as to why media and government is
not taking this everyday street fight and eve teasing seriously
First, please start thinking as a human being and restrict yourself and others from any regional comments.Please remember each one us are equally responsible in discriminating people. We, the people, are not binded to any region. Each one of us have our our esteemed identity. Let us not forget that the most important thing at this hour is to fight for the justice for this young boy. It does not matter where he belongs, all it matters he is a young boy who needs the proper justice and culprits, if any, are needed to be punished equally.
this is fight for all people who seek justice, transparency ,not for a
particular region. to get justice is our birth right and also spreading
this kind of valuable information will be the eyes of tomorrow.In this
context the Hindu must take the privilege to act as a beacon to
dispersed the clear and reasonable information to everyone.
Those fellows who killed Richard Loitham need to be treated as cold
blooded murderers.I am not from the north east but I fully support the
campaign for justice for Richard as a fellow Indian and as a human
being.
Wake up guys. We are all Indians. Racial discrimination is the term used in uncivilized society. This is the 21st century. All Indians should seek justice for Richard. Transparency should be maintained at all level of enquiries. Media should do justice to their job to bring transparency in seeking out the truth.I condemn for the death of Richard and every Indian should. Pliz continue this agitation.Let us prove that culprit cannot survive in this world.
yes this must be stopped immediately else it will catch fire in north
east india and the govt will suffer for it so just hand over the culprit
and make the peaceful land with equality..........
We are Indians first.Please dont think so.I am not from north eastern state but i am supporting this causes.
WE SUPPORT YOU IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE..we will not give up till u get the justice you so rightfully deserve Richard. may you R.I.P my friend. we all miss you.
Hi all, Its a really sad news. May god give his family strength and wisdom in this tough time... Now every one knows Richard and his family but the murderers are still hiding...Please publish few photos of the culprits too.. Let people know about him.. He shouldn't be able to walk on the street freely...
come on fellows !!!!!!!!! Let us stop this nonsense, They already suffer in their state, they have a terrible life there, why trouble them here too, the government is already giving them enough trouble in Manipur. Stop this discrimination, I am also with you all !
we will support u guys dont leave ur agitations. the persons who troubled richard should be punished.
Its sad that people from North east have to protest and carry out demonstrations so as to force the state administration to carry out their constitutionally mandated duty. Indians always justify the military actions in the North east and they always emphasize on the fact that the people of North east are Indians but when we come out of North east, the rest of India consider us foreigners, Chinese, Tibetans nepalis, Chinkis and what not. Discrimination starts from the moment we reach mainland India, whether while travelling, interacting, colleges,etc. People from J&K have no problems when they come to mainland India, infact people look at them with awe and always try to be friendly with them. For the poor people from North east with mongoloid features its a catch 22 situation. Army and the state says we are Indians but the people of India considers that we are not. As one North eastern rightly put it " MILITARY BOOTS AT HOME(North east) AND RACIAL DISCRIMINATION OUTSIDE(rest of India)".
The people from Manipur are also Indians and the Indian Law should be applicable in the cold blooded murder of the student. It is apparent that the guilty are the chidren of influential people here and that is why the Police is trying to hush up the brutal murder.
At last a briefing into this brutal murder by a leading newspaper. Richard belongs to a state which is riddled with insurgency and almost year round blockades but bounces back to normalcy soon enough. but this time we will not let it go away easily. we will fight till justice is delivered. I urge the media to have a fair coverage on this like in the case of jessica lal and others.
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