CBI arrests 4 people in connection with killing of two youths in Manipur
New Delhi/Imphal (PTI): The CBI on Sunday arrested four people in connection with its probe into the cases of two missing Manipuri students who are believed to have been killed, officials said.
Phijam Hemanjit (20) and Hijam Linthoingambi, a girl aged 17 years, had gone missing on July 6. Photos purportedly showing their bodies surfaced on September 25, leading to violent protests, mainly by students.
In a joint operation with the Manipur Police and the central forces, the CBI arrested two men, Paominlun Haokip and Smalsawm Haokip, and two women, Lhingneichong Baitekuki and Tinneilhing Henthang, in connection with its cases registered on August 23.
The central probe agency has brought the four accused to Guwahati, officials said.
"The arrested accused will be produced before a competent court in Guwahati, designated as per the orders of the Supreme Court. Two children, who accompanied the arrested accused during their transit from Imphal to Guwahati, have been handed over to the district child protection officer of Kamrup metro district for their welfare, protection and care," a CBI spokesperson said.
Based on the complaints of the victims' parents, the two cases related to the missing students were earlier registered with the Imphal Police and Lamphel Police on July 8 and July 19, respectively. A team of CBI officials, led by the agency's Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Manipur on September 27 to monitor and help the probe.
In Manipur's Imphal, Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced the arrests and said that maximum punishment would be ensured by the government.
The CBI arrested four people from the Henglep area of Churachandpur district in connection with the killings. In the operation leading to their arrest, personnel of the Army, paramilitary forces such as the BSF and CRPF, and the state police played a major role, the Manipur chief minister said.
Shortly before holding a press conference, he said in a post on X, "As the saying goes, one may abscond after committing a crime, but they cannot escape the long arm of the law. We are committed to ensuring maximum punishment, including capital punishment, for the heinous crime they have committed."
The government will support the CBI in its investigation and all those involved in the killing of the two youths will be arrested, the chief minister said.
Violent protests by students rocked the Manpir capital on September 26 and 27. A mob tried to attack the ancestral house of Chief Minister Singh on the night of September 28, but security forces foiled the attempt. Another mob vandalised the deputy commissioner's office in Imphal West district.
Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey visited the family members of the two slain youths on September 29.
More than 180 people lost their lives and several hundreds were injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals -- Nagas and Kukis -- constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
