Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 23 2010:
A young widow and her teenage daughter were found murdered near their Phayeng Makha Leikai residence under Lamshang police station today with the police not ruling out possibility of double rape before being done to death.
The victims have been identified as Angom ongbi Chanbi (36) and her 17-year old daughter A Ibemcha alias Menaka of Phayeng Makha Leikai.
Chanbi's husband namely Khomei reportedly passed away some years back following illness.
As per account of Angom Chaoba, elder brother of Khomei, two unidentified persons (suspected to be armed) called out Chanbi and Ibemcha on the intervening night of January 12-13 with the insistence that the mother-daughter duo had been summoned by elder/s for talks on certain issue.
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As the three other young children were warned not to inform to anybody the matter was kept under wrap due to fear and possible reprisal from the unidentified persons, conceded Chaoba who added that as whereabouts of both remained unknown searches were finally launched but without success.
However, at about 9.30 am today a local mustard farmer came across the bodies while chasing away stray cows from his field, said Chaoba.
The spot where bodies of Chanbi and Ibemcha were discovered lies about 900 metres east of the victims' house and near a haystack in the open field.
A team of Lamshang police station led by its Officer in-charge soon arrived at the spot with the OC upon observing the crime scene expressing strong suspicion that the victims might have been raped.
When this reporter reached the spot, bruise marks were visible on the face, legs and back portions of Ibemcha, whose clothes including phanek and upper body undergarments were also in improper position.
Moreover, other undergarments with blood-stains were also found scattered about 25 feet away from the body.
The mother was also found in similar state with tell-tale signs of futile struggle and outrage of modesty.
The bodies were also in a state of decomposition with Chanbi's head and bare torso section found to have been gnawed in bits either by predatory animal or birds. On completion of preliminary spot inspection the police team deposited the bodies to RIMS morgue.
It is informed that out of five children Chanbi's eldest son Ibohal (19) left home to join an insurgent group with no further information on whether he is still active with the outfit or not.
The other remaining survivors who include 13 and six year old sisters of Ibemcha and a nine-year old brother along with victim sister are/was students of Phayeng Don Bosco, informed Chaoba.
Chanbi, who was also an Anganwadi helper and a Christian convert had been living in isolation at the fringe of the village after embracing Christianity.
Significantly, 9-year old son Tinku recounted that two persons who took away his mother and sister were likely to belong to Meitei community and that they did not display any weapon that night.
The child further stated that one of the two wore a jogging shirt with the head covered and had entered into the room moments after the power cut.
Tingku reportedly insisted on accompany his mother to which the two intruders objected saying that the matter was to have talks between adults and presence of children would not be appropriate.