Manipur to press Karnataka for CBI probe into Richard death

IMPHAL: Bowing to the popular demand for handing over Richard Loitam's murder case to the CBI, the Manipur government has resolved to take up the matter with its Karnataka counterpart formally and urge them to hand over the case to the CBI.

This came at a time when six powerful student bodies of the state, in pursuit of the same demand, have imposed a ban on import and sale of all products manufactured in Karnataka in the state.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh will write a letter to his Karnataka counterpart, Sadananda Gowda, on Monday to urge him to hand over the probe to the CBI, official sources said.

The Centre or the state (Manipur government) cannot authorize a CBI inquiry into the murder case without the consent of the Karnataka government, which is why Okram will write the official letter, the sources added.

Okram had earlier said that his government was pressing the Centre to institute a CBI probe into the matter to ascertain the veracity of the case with the due consent of the Karnataka government.

A resident of Uripok Yambem Leikai in the heart of Imphal, Richard was found dead on his hostel bed at Acharya NRV School of Architecture in Bangalore on April 18. Senior students of the college allegedly thrashed him badly inside the hostel complex the previous night.

Richard's parents, who are medical practitioners, said the student bodies as well as several opposition parties have rubbished the post mortem report, which said that Richard died of a heart attack.

The Manipur unit of BJP has already moved the Karnataka CM on the matter and Gowda has assured that a fresh post mortem examination into Richard's murder would be conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi for a second opinion. Gowda also assured to transfer the investigation to the 'Corps of Detective', Karnataka.

The agitating student bodies - All Manipur Students' Union (Amsu), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (Desam), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Swak and Suk - said the ban would be lifted only when Richard's murder case is handed over to the CBI.

They are also demanding justice for the alleged mysterious death of another Manipuri student, Okram Laaba, in Chennai last year.