Lungnila Elizabeth murder case : Court convicts four after 20 yrs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 28 2023: 20 years after Lungnila Elizabeth was kidnapped and killed mercilessly, the long arm of the law eventually caught up with the perpetrators as four accused of the heinous crime were convicted today.

Imphal East Sessions Judge RK Memcha, on her last day before retirement, delivered justice for Elizabeth and convicted main accused Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki, N Rome Meitei, Thokchom Nando and O Deben alias Arnold.

Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki and N Rome Meitei are the only two convicts alive now as Thokchom Nando and O Deben alias Arnold have expired before completion of the trial.

Notably, KCP chief Thokchom Nando was killed by an underground outfit on March 2, 2021 .

During the hearing of the case today, the Judge fixed March 13 for sentence hearing by the next presiding officer (Judge of Sessions Court, Imphal East) and announcement of the quantum of punishment.

The Court last heard the case on February 17 .

During the announcement of the judgment order today, convict Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki and N Rome Meitei were produced before the Court.

While Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki was already in judicial custody and was produced in the Court from jail, N Rome Meitei was out on bail.

Significantly, the State Government had given the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after a Cabinet decision.

It was one of the most sensitive cases and most heinous in nature that had angered the people and triggered Statewide protests.

Baby Lungnila Elizabeth, as remembered by the people, was only 8 years old when she was kidnapped and killed.

Daughter of then Minister Francis Ngajokpa, she was kidnapped by unknown persons from the front of her school gate--Little Flower School on November 4, 2003 .

She was studying in Class III at the school.

A ransom of Rs 10 lakh was demanded and to save the child, the family members had paid it to the kidnappers.

However, even after the ransom was paid, highly decomposed body of Lungnila Elizabeth was found in a sack at Tera Sadokpam, Imphal West on November 12, 2003 .

This had triggered massive protests Statewide by the people demanding justice for Baby Lungnila Elizabeth.

During the course of the investigation, the main accused, James Kuki was arrested from Dimapur on June 10, 2007 .

The Special Crime Branch CBI Kolkata, after over three years of intense investigation, filed a chargesheet against four convicts-- Thokchom Nando of Khangabok Part-III, Ningombam Rome of Bashikhong, Okram Deben of Langthabal and prime accused Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki before the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West under different Sections of the Indian Penal Code including 302 IPC (murder) .

The chargesheet, citing medical examination report, said that Lungnila Elizabeth was killed within 5 to 10 days after she was kidnapped.

The case was then committed to a higher Court.

The CBI produced more than 70 prosecution witnesses to prove the charges leveled against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.

During the trial, Okram Deben of Langthabal expired and Thokchom Nando escaped from a security ward in JNIMS Hospital Porompat in March 2019.He was receiving medical treatment at the hospital when he escaped.

After two years of hiding, fugitive Thokchom Nando was killed on March 2, 2021 by members of an underground outfit for committing the heinous crime of kidnapping and killing Lungnila Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, none of the convicts produced defence witnesses in their defence during the trial of the case.

During the hearing today, the Court heard the submissions of the Special Public Prosecutor and the defence counsel and examined the materials on record and evidence before convicting the four under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 364-A (kidnapping) and 302 IPC (murder) .

The Court then fixed March 13 for sentence hearing and announcement of the quantum of punishment against the convicts.

Soon after the announcement of the judgment order, Ningombam Rome alias Romen alias Michael alias Ramesh alias Loyalakpa of Bashikhong who was out on bail in connection with the case was taken to custody and remanded in judicial custody by cancelling his bail order.

The Court also directed SP Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa to produce convict N Rome and Letkhosei Haokip alias James Kuki before the Court on March 13 for sentence hearing.

Comment