Your Sacrifice bridged the hills and plains
Adieu to Little Flower
For a state where death and life alternate as night and day, where life comes to a standstill by the sound of AK-47, ‘the little girl’s supreme sacrifice’ has come as a wake up call.

FOR a state where death and life alternate as night and day, where life comes to a standstill by the sound of AK-47, ‘the little girl’s supreme sacrifice’ has come as a wake up call, to wake up from deep slumber and address the reality by searching for quick fixes if not aderlites. It’s a gruesome real-life drama of cruelty and senselessness. It’s  inhuman. The kidnappers took the life of eight-year-old Lungnila Elizabeth and dropped her mortal remains packed in a gunny bag. Lungnila Elizabeth was a standard III student in Little Flower School. She was kidnapped by unidentified persons on November  4 from the school’s gate. Since the day till the last moment, when the news of her death finally arrived, entire Manipuri populace have been pleading to the kidnappers to release the girl. But in the end, highly decomposed body of Lungnila Elizabeth was found today near a pit at Sadokpam Leikai. The body was found by Sadokpam Ibomcha when he was felling a tree. A shocked Ibomcha immediately informed the secretary of the local club United Development Club. After seeing the decomposed body of the girl and the green and white uniform she was wearing, Little Flower School was informed. the teachers of the school went to identify the body. But it was difficult to identify the body as the face was swollen. By seeing the school badge they identified that it was Lungnila Elizabeth. The school uniform, bag and even the ribbon on her hair were intact. Her hand was still gripping the handkerchief. Dr L Fimate head of the forensic department Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) who conducted the post mortem at RIMS morgue said he found no prominent external injury on her body but believed that the kidnappers might have killed the child a few days after the abduction. Lungnila Elizabeth was given a tearful adieu to her last journey. A solemnly attired coffin with a traditional hand woven clothe that comforted the mortal remains was the axis of an invincible force of oneness. When she set off for the last destined journey thousands followed. Earlier, the eight-year-old girl lay showered by flowers and wreaths at her father’s official residence at Lamphelpat where thousands poured in to pay their last respect. School children and people from all walks of life thronged the Don Bosco School compound to offer their last respect to Elizabeth. “I will not see again the smiling face of my friend, Elizabeth any more. God will see all the suffering after the death of my friend, ” It was the letter written by Elizabeth’s classmate Olivia, who shared the school bench. Lungnila Elizabeth’s sister Teresa too bid her sister the final farewell. Several dignitaries, members of social organisations and clubs and students’ bodies placed wreathes. Elizabeth’s parents and family members sat next to the coffin. As the crowds swelled, Lungnila Elizabeth’s father Francis Ngajokpa showing tremendous maturity requested the people to remain calm and restrain from resorting to way to vent their anger for the acts committed to the child. Francis mourned the death of his daughter by saying, “this little sacrifice of my little daughter be the last one in the State, let’s all pray for a unity, let the prince of peace prevail in Manipur. “No matter we belong to different communities we’re all human beings, ” Mr. Ngajokpa said. He further said that he had already forgiven those who abruptly brought an end to his little daughter’s life. He said his Angel daughter has given him the courage to forgive and embrace anyone who could have taken her away from all. “God gave her to us and He has taken her to His Heavenly abode,” Francis said. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the people of the State who have stood behind him and loved his daughter as their own. He appealed to all to return to normal life for his daughter’s sake as she is now under the love and care of the Almighty. The State administration made  special arrangements by arranging buses from different places to ferry school children to pay their last respect to the departed child. Defying the curfew imposed by the administration, thousands came to have a last glimpse of the long and last march to the rest the little child who met the face of tragic fate. Those who could not attend the last rites at the Don Bosco School, paid floral tributes to the portrait of Lungnila Elizabeth in their locality. Condolences continue to pour in from different parts of the State and people have urged the administration to act fast to nab the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to justice.

Outraged citizens vent anger, show solidarity. Strongly condemning the brutal murder of eight year old school girl Lungnila Elizabeth several organisations took to the streets in the hill districts of the State, while sit-in-protest was staged at some pockets of Imphal district. Various student and social bodies of the hill districts organised protest rallies to denounce the gruesome murder of the young schoolgirl. The Senapati District Students’ Association organised a peaceful rally at Mao and Tadubi area. Large number of students of Don Bosco higher Secondary School, Maram demonstrated holding placards and banners denouncing the brutal act. Protest agitation at Mao under the joint aegis of Mao Council, Mao Naga Women Welfare Association, Mao Officers’ Union and Mao Students’ Union was also held with the protesters converging at Sochue located in between Mao and Tadubi where several speakers vehemently condemned the inhuman act. The organisations also observed November 14 as Black Day. About 12,000 people staged two rallies at Ukhrul. Two protest marchs, one began from Hundung Church another group of rallyists marched from Kharasom ground with both converging at Tangkhul Long ground in Ukhrul district headquarters. A massive condolence meeting was also held at the venue.The rallyists comprised of students from 23 different educational institutions and was held under the auspices of Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (Takhul Students’ Union). Chandel district headquarters wore a deserted look as a total bandh was observed to protest the murder of Lungnila. Normal activities at the border town of Moreh came to a grinding halt due to the bandh imposed by Anal Students’ Union and AMSU, Chandel among others. The Chandel District Lamkang Students’ Union also conveyed its condolence message to Elizabeth’s family while strongly condemning the murder of the innocent student. Shops and business centres downed their shutters as a mark of protest against the killing. Normal life was also severely affected in Jiribam sub-division as vehicles stayed off the road and shops remained close following a twenty four bandh called by AMSU, district committee. Defying curfew and AMSU’s general strike over 50 women members of All Manipur Nupi Marup (Sagolband area) and Nishaband and Meira Paibi, Keishampat Thokchom Leikai staged a sit-in-protest at Keishampat Thokchom Leikai. Prior to the start of the protest a two minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the departed soul and at the end slogans were raised to demand the arrest of the culprits for appropriate punitive action.

Churachandpur also closed down in mourning for Lungnila. As mark of condolence and a show of solidarity with the grieving family, all schools in Churachandpur were closed down and all shops in the market also down their shutters. Many people were seen crying on hearing the news of the death. Don Bosco School, Lamka observed a two-minute silence in prayer for the family of Elizabeth and announce two days of mourning in the school. In a statement, CCpur District Students’ Union strongly condemned the kidnapping and killing of Elizabeth and organised a protest rally together with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Council. The news of recovering Lungnila’s body spread like wildfire, almost all sections of people living in the state were shocked with sorrow. A galaxy of ministers, prominent public leaders and women folks  thronged the RIMS morgue to share the sorrow of the bereaved family members. In order to control the public tension over the incident, the state authority imposed indefinite curfew in and around the greater Imphal area. Reacting to the unfortunate incident, works minister and spokesman of the SPF government Gaikhangam condemning the act of the kidnappers said, “this is beyond our imagination, condemning only in words is not enough. Assuring that the State authority would hunt out the responsible criminals at the earliest, he further disclosed that some of the suspects were picked up and details could not be announced due to security reasons. A meeting of the Council of Ministers was held , presided by the Chief Minister at the CM’s conference hall. It condemned the killing and discussed me situation in the aftermath of the killing and resolved to take up action to apprehend the culprits.

Almost all the apex bodies including All Manipur Students Union, All Zeliangrong Students’ Union, All Naga Students Association Manipur, Kuki Students Organization, Naga Women Union Manipur and a number of social and voluntary bodies have strongly condemned the heinous crime committed by kidnappers. The Boy Scouts and Girls Guides of Manipur North Scouts Union, Hqr.Kaibi, Mao and the children of the Training School and staff, Kaibi, Mao Senapati District, Manipur vehemently condemned the act of kidnapping innocent citzens particularly innocent child named Lungnila Elizabeth. The Commissioner MNSU, ARAMO also issued a press statement in  this regard. The Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) in the highest, term condemned the kidnapping and killing of a school going girl. Kidnapping and killing of a minor girl for ransom should be condemned by each and every one as it is a cowardly and beastly act done by the kidnappers and should not be allowed to be repeated in near future in our society.

The ZYF blamed the State Government for not being able to release and save the precious life of a little girl who was kidnapped on November 4 by some unidentified persons even though she was kept by her captive within the greater Imphal area the statement said. The ZYF demanded that the state government should arrest all the culprits immediately and punish them in the highest term according to the law of the land. The ZYF also condoled and shared the pain and sorrow of the family members of Late Lungnila Elizabeth at this juncture and prayed for the departed soul for peace. All Manipur Muslims (Meitei Pangal) Welfare Assn, Babupara terming the heinous crime as challenging the entire mankind demanded severest of capital punishment against the culprits.

Village Authority of Naga River flayed the State Govt for failing to protect life and property of citizens while questioning the rationality of continuance of the SPF Govt. Kangmong Public H/S Guardians’ Committee expressing sorrow at the untimely demise of the class III student of Little Flower School urging the State authorities to make public related development also called upon the student community to attend class with fear as the public would extend unstinted support for their well being. All Liangmai Naga Students’ Union, Tamenglong expressing concern at the insecurity of student community of the State also appealed to all concern to spare lives of innocent students. Describing Elizabeth as “Bridge of hills and plain” Culture Preservation Centre, Kangabam Leikai said she would be bestowed with the highest State honour at the ‘maichou memorial programme in Jan 31 next. Asserting that memory of Lungnila Elizabeth will forever linger amidst the people of the State Paona Bazar tribal Women Development Welfare Association called upon all persons cutting across community barrier to join hands in fighting the menace of terrorism.

Condemning the killing, Maram Union and Maram Students’ Union in a joint memorandum to Chief Minister demanded that all possible measure be initiated to nab the culprits failing which State Govt would be held responsible for any untoward consequences. Failure to deliver justice will not only disgrace the State but also embolden anti-social elements to carry out criminal activities thereby imperiling the safety of all citizens of the State, mentioned the representation. The memorandum, however expressed gratitude to State authorities for their effort in searching Lungnila. We are also overwhelmed by the manner in which the entire citizens of Manipur responded to the situation and shared the loss and grief, said a statement. Condoling the demise of the schoolgirl Sagolband Apunba Lamjing Nupee Lup on behalf of civil bodies of Sagolband area clarified that Sangaiprou residents did not oppose rescue operation conducted by members of the bodies. The release further said a religious ceremony would be con- ducted at 10 am of November 16 at Lainingthou Khamlangba Shanglen to pray for peaceful rest of the departed soul. Organisations condoling the demise are Social Activities Living Arts Institute (Keishamthong Thangjam Leikai), Chanura Marup MPP, People’s student front Manipur, Kanan Devi memorial college of education (Pangei), united Muslims Council Manipur (Kshetrigao), Shakhi Devi Girls’ High school, Thokchom Leikai Youth Club (Heirok Pt-II), Oinam Govt Girls’ High School, DM College of Teacher Education, Sirarakhong Women Society (Ukhrul), United North Eastern Tribal Village Authorities Council (Nagaland centre), Manipuri Sahitya Parishad (Assam), Phubala Apunba Women’s Union, Hmar Youth Association (Joint headquarters, Imphal), Mass Education & Social Development Organisation (Khurai Khomidok), Nationalist Youth Congress Manipur Pradesh, united Development Association (Khangabok), Kuki Students’ Organization (general Hq, CCpur), DMC Arts, Panthoibee Meira Marup (Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak), Hou Khunai Inat Thousil Lup (Lamboikhongnangkhong), United College (Chandel), Maram Students’ Union (Delhi), Naga River Tangkhul Baptist Fellowship, Eema Leipak Thougal Lup (Nagamapal Singjubung Leirak), Rotary Club of Imphal, down Town Academy (Keishamthong Irom Pukhri Mapal), Brighter Shepherd Academy (Kwakeithel), Laongmai Bazar Board (Tamenglong district), Block Congress Committee (I) (Tamenglong), Rising Knowledge Club (Khoyathong), All Manipur Minorities and other backward classes Welfare Development Corporation Ltd, Lamphel Sanakeithel development Authority, All Heirok Labour Association, Imphal Municipal Council, Changangei Chaokhat Nupi Lup, Passenger benefit Assurance Welfare Association, Nambol L Sanoi College Students’ Union, Manipur Peace Committee (Yaiskul), All Zeliangrong Arts and Cultural Organization Manipur, Phoijing Awang Leikai Youth Club, Apokpa Marup (Mayai Lambi), Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee, Rural Women’s and Children’s Development Welfare Assn (Taobungkhok Awang Leikai), Takhel Sanjenbam H/S, JNV (Pfukhro Mao) and others.