Karnataka refuses to handover Richard case to CBI

BANGALORE, June 6: In a setback to the demands made by the apex student’s organizations of Manipur, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sadananda Gowda has refuse to hand over the alleged murder case of Manipuri student Loitam Richard to CBI).

Leaders of six student’s organizations, AMSU, DESAM, MSF, KSA, SUK, SWAK, who landed in Bangalore met Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda today at around 5 pm at his residence in Bangalore’s Race Course.

Contending that the case of Richard Loitam, a first year BE Architecture student of Bangalore’s Acharya NRV School is a “state issue and the government is serious about the case” the 59-year-old Chief Minister refuse to handover the investigation to CBI.

However, the Chief Minister asked the student leaders to wait until the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Crime Branch comes out with a detail report.

Following a direction by the Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok, the state DGP Lalrokhuma Pachuau transferred the case to CID crime branch earlier on Tuesday evening.

While contacted, Vice-President DESAM, Moirangthem Angamba Meitei, who met the Chief Minister along with MSF President Ng. Milan told to IFP that the student bodies would decide on its future course of action once they returned to Imphal from Bangalore.

Loitam, was found dead in his hostel room on April 18, 2012. However, the family of the deceased claimed that he was beaten-up and murdered by his hostel inmates.

The memorandum submitted by the students organization demanded among others the arrest of the two accused Vishal Banerjee and Syed Abzal; a detail report of investigation towards the death of Loitam Richard; if the government is not in a position to give justice, the case should be hand over to CBI; a written assurance should be given that all the students and people residing in Karnataka should be protected; and a written should be given that all the assurance and promises will be transform into action.