Protest against death of Manipuri student in Bangalore

Imphal, May 4: Hundreds of students on Friday, May 4 took out rallies in several places here in

against the mysterious death of Manipuri student Richard Loitam at Bangalore on Apr 19, police said.

Students carrying placards 'We want justice,' 'North east students are not safe in metropolitan centres' also launched a sit-in protest demanding immediate intervention of Karnataka government.

The protests were organised by major students' organisations, including All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and Democratic students Alliance of Manipur (DESAM).

An AMSU spokesman said the students' organisations would launch a series of agitations if the Manipur and Karnataka governments did not act on the issue. Loitam, 19, a second year student of architecture at a local college in Bangalore, was found dead in his hostel on Apr 19 with neck injuries.

Local media had earlier reported that Loitam was allegedly beaten to death by senior students while watching television.

Manipur Home Minister Gaikhangam had already written to his Karnataka counterpart to provide complete details of the matter, official sources said. A senior-ranking police official would be sent to Karnataka to look into the issue.

PTI