Imphal, May 26: The casualty department and OPD of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here remained closed for the second consecutive day with students taking to the streets to protest the killing of a visitor inside a students’ hostel yesterday.
Jyotirmoy Deb Burman, a visitor from Tripura, was gunned down by three unidentified assailants inside the boys’ hostel number 2 at 9.40 am.
The victim and his cousin, Banita, were visiting the latter’s husband Maniranjan Deb Burman, a post-graduate student at the RIMS.
No one has claimed responsibility for the killing. The police, too, are clueless about the identity of the killers and their motive.
The medical students closed down the casualty department and the OPD immediately after the killing. The RIMS students’ union today organised a silent rally to denounce the incident. The protesters carried placards, reading “We want security”, “We want a peaceful atmosphere at RIMS,” “We strongly condemn the killing at RIMS,” and others.
Classes remained suspended today even as the authorities began a probe to find out how security was breached in the hostel and why were the guests staying in the hostel for so many days without the knowledge of the authorities.
The victim was staying in the room of an MBBS student from Tripura, while Banita was staying with her husband in the post-graduate hostel since May 15.
The House Officers and Internees’ Association strongly condemned the incident.
In a statement issued today, the association urged the authorities to investigate the incident and take steps to prevent such incidents in future.
It also appealed to all sections of society to help maintain an academic atmosphere at the institute. The Ethno-Heritage Council, a social organisation, also condemned the killing and appealed to the people not to repeat such incidents in future.
Body found
Police found a bullet-riddled body at Phunan Maring Lamkhai under Irilbung police station of Imphal East this morning. Police said the man, who is yet to be identified, was shot dead last night. Residents claimed that they had heard two gunshots last night.
