Grandma of bombed kids cries for justice

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 9: Justice will be served only when terrorists who "murdered my innocent grandchildren" in their sleep are punished, a grieving Oinam Loidangtombi said, speaking to reporters at Raj Medicity today.
"No amount of money [ex-gratia] can bring back the innocent lives taken. My grandchildren can't be replaced with money," said the grandmother of the two children killed in a bomb attack at Bishnupur's Tronglaobi on April 7.
The siblings, 5-year-old Oinam Tomthin and 5-month-old Oinam Yaisana, were sleeping with their mother, Oinam Binita, when an explosive fired by suspected Kuki militants exploded inside their bedroom. Hit by splinters, the children succumbed. The mother, Binita, survived but sustained serious injuries.
Binita is currently undergoing treatment for her injuries at Raj Medicity, Imphal.
The father of the children, Oinam Mangalnganba, is a BFS soldier. He was away from home on duty when his children were killed in the bomb attack.
Speaking to reporters at the hospital, Loidangtombi said she wants the Government to deliver justice by arresting and punishing the perpetrators of the attack that killed her grandchildren.
"We don't want any other family to suffer what we are suffering now. The Government must go after the Kuki terrorists and root them out so that no other family suffers because of them," Loidangtombi said.
She condemned the Government for failing to protect innocent lives.
"The Government said the 'war' was over and there was peace, but my grandchildren were killed in their sleep," she said.
No ex-gratia can replace "my precious grandchildren." The terrorists who attacked and killed "my grandchildren" must be arrested and punished appropriately for the heinous crime "within 5 days," she added.
The people of Manipur want peace, but unless the terrorists are rooted out, they will never remain truly safe and many more families will suffer, Loidangtombi said. "No mother can bear the pain of losing a child, but she has lost both. Her condition remains fragile," Loidangtombi said about Binita, the mother of the children undergoing treatment at the hospital. "We didn't tell her, but she has now learned from the media that she has lost her children. She is angry at us for not disclosing the news sooner. She is constantly in and out of consciousness--she faints frequently, and is demanding to see her children and go to them," Loidangtombi said to reporters.
Her children were taken from her. No mother can bear such pain. Her condition remains fragile, Loidangtombi said.
No other mother and family should suffer such pain. The Government must take decisive action and root out terrorists, Loidangtombi said.