Mother wants Delhi gangrape verdict against daughter's killer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 14 2013 : Apparetly spurred by a Delhi court verdict awarding death sentence to four rape and murder convicts a mother who lost her young daughter in similar circumstan-ces as the delhi victim de- manded that the culprit be punished in the most stringent manner.

Speaking to the Sangai Express at her Khurai Chin-gangbam leikai residence, 63-year old RK Nganbi Devi wondered why the man who has already confessed to have had extra-marital affair and murdered her daughter should not be given similar punishment as the Delhi case con- victs instead of the rapist murderer continuing to stay at the comfort of his home.

Recounting that Soibam Dhanabir s/o S Tomba of Ningombam Awang Leikai had surrendered to the police after committing the crime against RK Nganbi's daughter Ratanmala, the distraught mother said Dhanabir too de-serve to face the gallows for his inhuman intention and beastly execution in committing the crime merits most severe form of punishment.

Mother wants Delhi gangrape verdict against daughter's killer

Raising strong objection against Dhanabir's release after a few months of imprison- ment, Nganbi said the culprit enjoying freedom contradicts assertions by no other than the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and his ministerial colleagues namely Th Debendra, Phungzathang Tonsing and Gaikhangam to a joint delegation of the victim's family and the JAC formed in connection with the rape and murder of RK ratanmala that there would be no leniency against the accused person.

While the assurances by the Ministers made at the CM's bungalow on February 1, 2010 year are unlikely to be translated into action as the culprit is no longer in confinement the most dishear- tening part is the police autho-rity yet to file a charge-sheet in the case, said the mother adding that enquiries by the victim's family members whe-ther or not charge-sheet has been prepared evoked negative response.

tracing the case genesis, Nganbi said her daughter left home after receiving a call from dhanabir's mobile phone at around 2.30 pm of January 29, 2010 and did not return home even after dusk leading to the family believing that it was a case of elopement.

With none from the man's side confirming the matter, as required under Meitei customary practice, to be case of elopement suspicion grew with each passing hour eventually leading to some of the family members deciding to approach Dhanabir's family.

but on the way the search party was told by about 4-5 locals who came out from S Tomba & Sons Fish Farm, owned by the soibam family that body of a woman covered in straws is lying at a paddy field (Poila Loukon), Nganbi maintained and stated that her daughter's lifeless corpse was finally discovered at around 8 pm of January 30 .

While the search party spotted Dhanabir washing his Maruti Alto car (MN01W/3975) as if he was innocent information was received the next day about his surrender to Kakwa police and confessing that he sexually assaulted Ratanmala before murdering her, claimed the mother who also informed that then 45 years old Dhanabir was already married and had three children before courting Ra-tanmala by pretending to be a bachelor.

Referring to an FIR registered at Kakwa police station, release of the rape-murder accused on bail and non prepa- ration of charge-sheet against Dhanabir, Nganbi opined that the accused person walking out from jail as well as delay in legal process amounts to denying justice to the victim and her family.

Conceding that owing to economic constraints she or Ratanmala's siblings could not afford to hire legal counsel, Nganbi fervently appealed to the Government to do the needful for punishing the culprit as any sort of leniency against the guilty person would breed more individuals like Dhanabir.

he also stated that the Delhi court verdict for death sentence against those convicted in the rape and murder of a medical student at the national capital has given her renewed hope that the country's legal system will eventually take its own course and nail the culprit.