The mysterious death of a 21-year-old Manipur girl in her room in Delhi has triggered protests in the national capital, with people from northeast India and the victim's well wishers demanding the Delhi police to register a murder case.
The victim, identified as Reingamphi Awungshi from Ukhrul district, Manipur was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her rented room in B Block, Chirag Delhi on 29 May.
The young girl was found in a pool of blood with injuries on her face, nose and toes, and a cell phone in her hand when the police broke open the door after the landlord informed them. The police claimed the death as suicide, but the victim's relatives and friends have stated that Reingamphi was murdered.
"I saw her (victim) covered in blood in her room and had taken a few pictures. There are injuries in the nose, toes and other parts of her body. The front door was locked from inside but the rear door was open. It is certainly a murder," said A.S. Chirmayo, cousin of the victim.
He said that the police have filed a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 306 (suicide) but refused to file an FIR under IPC section 302 and 304 (murder). The relatives of the victim refused to sign the FIR, terming it as "manipulated".
"How can Delhi police already tell media and try to convince all that death was a suicide even as AIIMS report says cause of death pending!" tweeted Binalakshmi Nepram, writer-activist and founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network.
The indifferent and manipulative attitude of the Delhi police towards the case has forced the friends, relatives and well-wishers of the deceased to take to the streets demanding justice for her.
"We have been protesting outside the Malviya Nagar Police Station, New Delhi since Friday afternoon and will continue to do so till the police file an FIR and bring the culprits to justice," said Chirmayo.
A massive protest is being held in front of the Malviya Nagar Police Station on Saturday with people from all walks of life joining the protest to get justice for the victim. Dr Kiran Walia, Minister for Women and Child Development, New Delhi, arrived at the protest site and demanded for another investigation and post mortem of the victim's body, after seeing gruesome pictures taken at the crime scene. She also said that the police cannot dismiss the case as suicide.
The incident reminds us of several unsolved criminal cases concerning the northeast people including the murder of Ramchanpy Hongray (2009) and Loitam Richard (2012).
