Imphal, October 21 2009: An 18 year-old housewife and another 35 year-old unmarried woman were found brutally murdered by unknown criminals in two separate incidents that occurred during the last 48 hours.

The two women were suspected to have been raped before murdering them.

The dead body of the young housewife, identified as Okram Tamphasana, wife of O Chinglensana @ Naocha of Serou Part-I Awang Bazar, with stripped to her lower undergarments, was found alongside a drain near a paddy field in Keirao Langdum Loukon in Imphal East district.

Police recovered the dead body of the woman who went missing on Monday last after she left home along with a local man, Pukhrambam Momba Singh, yesterday morning at about 7 am.

Several injury marks from probably hitting by blunt weapons were seen on her face.

Her under garments covering her lower body were missing.

Her phanek was found lying a little away from the spot where her body was found.

A blood-stained stone was also found near the spot.

The woman was suspected to have been raped before murdering her.

Tamphasana left along with her mother-in-law, Indrani and Pukhrambam Momba @ Boby (30) on Monday morning for the SDO's office, Porompat in connection with the release of her husband Chinglensana, who has been in jail for the past three months.

They were going to the SDO's office with the patta of their land for depositing it as surety bond for having Chinglensana released on bail.

When the mother-in law stayed back at the SDO's office, Tamphasana and Momba went together to collect passport photographs from a photo studio.

They failed to return till 5 pm to the SDO's office where the mother-in law was waiting for them.

Indrani said, she stayed back at the SDO's office to talk to their lawyer.

Momba and Tamphasana went to collect photographs from the studio.

Since then, the two were missing until Tamphasana's body was recovered this morning.

In another unrelated incident, a 35 year-old woman was found killed at Pukhao Khabam Mamang Loukhong under Lamlai police station.

She was identified as Sapam Surbala @ Memton (35), daughter of Jugin of Pukhao Khabam.

Her dead body was found lying in a drain by some fishermen this morning.

Her phanek was found some distance away from where the dead body was lying.

Two cut marks with a sharp weapon were found on the back of her head.

It is suspected that she was murdered after gang rape.

According to the family Surbala went out from home at about 6.30 pm yesterday after she was called out on her mobile phone.

Before leaving home she told the family that she is going to watch a cinema show.

When she failed to return back, family assumed that she eloped with someone and did not conduct search for.

But this morning fisherman informed of her dead body being at the drain.

Police have registered cases in connection with the two incidents of murder with possible rape.

Investigation is on.