Langol killing: Two held, four still at large
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network

Imphal, December 21 2012: Lamphel police have claimed to have arrested two accused in the murder case of Lourembam Memchoubi and the duo has also admitted to the crime.

They have been remanded to police custody for 10 days after producing in a court yesterday.

Briefing the media at the Lamphel Police Station, Officer-in-charge, N Ingocha said on Friday two accused in the killing of Lourembam Memchoubi have been arrested and they have also confested to the crime.

He identified them as Longjam Ratan alias Yokhatpa, 22, son of late L Lokera of Toubul Awang Leikai, Bishnupur district and Lourembam Ibohal, 34, son of L Nilabir from Haobam Marak Lourembam Leikai, Imphal West but presently staying at Kwakeithel bazaar here.

Lourembam Ibohal is the step son of Memchoubi.

Memchoubi, 48, was found dead with her throat slit on a roadside leading to both Langol and Lamdeng in Imphal West early morning of November 30 .

Lamphel police had registered a murder case in connection with the death on November 30 and started investigation into the case.

Her body was lying unclaimed in the mortuary of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) till December 4 and the Imphal Municipality had disposed of the body on the same day.

However, lately on December 7, her family had identified the body.

The accused were arrested on December 19 from their respective houses after tracking them through mobile phone numbers with the logistic supports from mobile phone companies, OC Ingocha said.

Their phone numbers were detected from Memchoubi's mobile phone, he disclosed.

Ratan, who was a cadre of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF), revealed that he surrendered to Assam Rifles, Tengnoupal post in 2007, the OC added.

At the AR post, Ratan befriended two surrendered cadres of the banned People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) namely, Tongbram Rajesh and Thoi, he said.

Ratan disclosed that Memchoubi was murdered by plotting among her step son Ibohal, his mother, Prabha and one Mangolei, a witch doctor.

The trio had paid Rs 1.80 lakh to murder Memchoubi on November 29, Ingocha further said.

Tongbram Rajesh, the main accused and a resident of Langol Ningthou, called out the victim on November 29 evening in Langol on the pretext of performing a religious rite as Memchoubi was a maibi (witch doctor) and later he told Ratan and Thoi, a resident of Wangoo, Thoubal district to come to Langol.

They then killed Memchoubi by slitting her throat with a sharp knife, the OC said citing the statement given by Ratan.

Rajesh, Thoi, Prabha and Mangolei are at large.

The police are searching for them, OC Ingocha further informed.

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