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When tragedy strikes it is hard for others to fathom the deep sense of loss and deprivation that those directly affected feel and the best the others can do is to merely lend some words of sympathy and understanding and maybe a shoulder to cry.
Though we are outraged and yes deeply hurt by the manner in which the life of a 10 year old girl, RK Thoibinao, was snuffed out by a bullet that came whizzing past inside here residence on the night of June 10, the magnitude of the tragedy and the sense of loss her family members, her mother and father, must have felt, can only be imagined.
According to reports in the State media the tragic incident occurred while the family members of Thoibinao were watching television in the night. Security personnel armed to the teeth came firing all the way from their weapons and even as the family members ducked for cover one bullet came whizzing in and hit the child on the head.
The father of the child also suffered a minor bullet injury. Now just imagine the picture. Thoibinao did not die instantaneously but succumbed to her injury while she was being rushed to the hospital. Imagine the trauma of the parents. Imagine that your child can get killed by a bullet while sitting inside your house.
Of course to the high and mighty, who live in RCC buildings, equipped with wall fencing to keep out the unwanted visitors, the chances of getting killed by a stray bullet is remote as the concrete slab of cement and bricks are sure to block any bullet that comes whizzing by, but not all the people of Manipur can afford to live in RCC buildings and there are a number of fathers, like RK Ajit, who can house their children and family only in ‘lesser homes.’
We really do not know what parameters, the UNO and other international bodies take into consideration to define a conflict situation, but if children who are watching TV inside their homes are going to get killed by some stray bullets, fired from the muzzle of the guns carried by security personnel, and then we think the situation is alarming enough.
Expectedly the death of the child evoked mass furor in Thinungei area and the JAC even refused to accept the body of the girl child for days while simultaneously imposing a bandh on Tiddim road. Fortunately the matter has been resolved and the Government has assured to institute a magisterial inquiry into the incident besides promising a sum of Rs 1 lakh to the family members of the victim.
Admittedly, no inquiry on earth and no amount of money can compensate the loss of life, but at least we need these things to show that it is the duty of the Government to protect the lives and properties of the civilians. It is still not clear what prompted the security personnel to come out with their guns blazing that particular evening, but it is frightening to think that the home is no longer a safe place for young children.
No one can cheat death and no one is immortal and save for suicide squads and those who take their own lives, we cannot choose the manner in which we will depart to the other world, but definitely for a 10 year old child to get killed by a stray bullet inside the confines of her home is certainly not a desirable way to die.
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