24-hr bandh in Manipur against mysterious death of school girl

Imphal: Manipur is observing a 24-hour state-wide bandh on Wednesday in connection with the contentious death of a Class VII girl.

The bandh came into effect from 6 am on Wednesday and will be effective till 6 am on Thursday and is organised by a local joint action committee (JAC) against the mysterious death of Ningthoujam Babysana Chanu.

The JAC demanded the government to thoroughly look into the death of the 14-year-old student who was found hanging in her hostel room at Standard Robarth Higher Secondary School in Imphal’s Canchipur on the morning of July 18.

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The victim’s family has refused to believe that the student committed suicide while alleging foul play in the case. Meanwhile, the police have detained some hostel staff, and the JAC has accused the state government of slowing down the investigation.

The bandh saw large-scale protests, especially by the women of the state, at separate locations.

On Tuesday, normal life was hit in Thangmeiband area, the hometown of the victim. Various students’ bodies took out rallies and staged sit-in protests. A large number of students of schools and colleges under the aegis of the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) came out on the streets and marched while raising slogans demanding justice for the girl.