Family claims victim girl's body
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 22, 2011:
Body of the minor girl who was strangulated after rape by a Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) labourer at Seinoujang village in Churachandpur district has been handed over to family members on completion of post mortem examination at RIMS morgue today.
One Arjun of the BRTF is accused of raping and killing the killing 3-year old Ronjona with the victim's mother Regina Begum (30) informing newspersons at the morgue that her child went missing since about 3.30 pm of January 20 when she (mother) returned home from a nearby shop.
As her whereabouts remained unknown till late afternoon Seinoujang Village Authority was intimated after which the villagers joined in the search and finally found Ronjona's lifeless corpse covered with grasses in the jungle.
According to one Salemthar Hmar, who is also a BRTF labourer, three BRTF labourers were questioned by the villagers due to suspicion of their involvement in the ghastly crime.
Even as the trio were being subjected to interrogation, Arjun insisted on answering nature's call during which blood stains were spotted in Arjun's inner-wear.
As the grilling intensified in the presence of BRTF officials and villagers, Arjun ultimately confessed to have sexually assaulted the minor girl before murdering her, narrated Salemthar while adding that Arjun was among the search party and even sobbed when Ronjona's body was spotted.
Seinoujang village in an emergency meeting resolved that Arjun be given fitting punishment and that the BRTF camp would be evicted in case BRTF authorities show any signs of leniency, maintained Salemthar who also added that Arjun was subsequently handed over to Thanlon police station by the Assam Rifles.
Arjun is presently in the custody of Imphal West district police even as Churachandpur district police have registered an FIR case in connection with the incident.
Thirty-five years old Arjun is said to be a bachelor hailing from Silchar and was stationed in the BRTF camp in Seinoujang village, which is about 120 kilometres from the district headquarters, along the Tipaimukh Road.