Murder case of N Satyabhama Three accused held, remanded till April 15
mobs take over, houses torched
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 09 2013: Even as the special Investigation Team SIT) personnel of Manipur police succeeded in rounding up three persons in connection with the murder of Ningombam Satyabhama, who was a junior Research Fellow in Pathology Department, RIMS, houses of all three accused persons have been burnt down by angry mob this afternoon as well as the house of a neighbour on the ground that it was housing the goods and assets of one of the accused.

The SIT was specifically set up by the Government to investigate the murder of Satyabhama, whose body was found abandoned at a canal in Bashikhong area on April 5 morning.

Probe activities of the SIT headed by Additional SP (imphal East) M Rajen was monitored by Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joykumar.

Speaking to newspersons at the conference hall of SP (IW) today afternoon, DGP Joykumar confirmed detention of three persons by the SIT.

DGP Y joykumar addressing the media and a strong mob setting a house on fire

The DGP however did not spell out where they were arrested, terming it a 'non-issue' .

JAC members and father of the deceased girl were also present at the media briefing.

The arrested persons have been identified as Toijam Thesus alias Boy alias James (27) s/o T Jugindro of Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai, Thoudam Jibon (27) s/o (L) Th Thoiba of Irilbung Machahal Mayai Leikai and Kshetrimayum Biju alias Holendro (28) s/o Ibungo of Irilbung Bazar.

The Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East has remanded the three accused to police custody till April 15 .

Jugindro and Ibungo are said to be personnel of 7th and 1st Bn Manipur Rifles respectively.

According to the State police chief, Biju and Jibon were rounded up yesterday while James surrendered to the police at Purum Likli village, under Imphal East district this morning.

Disclosing that James and Satyabhama were in love for the last three months with the former proposing on March 15 that they elope, the DGP said Satyabhama declined the proposal as the day (March 15) was inauspicious.

Revealing that Satyabhama was suspicious of being pregnant, Joykumar said second proposal by James to elope on March 30 was also not favoured by the girl as her mother and younger sister had gone to Nambol.

In Meitei tradition, members of the same family going in separate directions is also considered inauspicious.

The DGP also disclosed that James, Biju and Jibon had a drinking session on March 27 during which the latter duo suggested that James give up the idea of eloping with Satyabhama as he (James) was already married and had a child.

Following a plot to deceive the girl, James reportedly handed over his mobile phone to Biju, who contacted Satyabhama to convey that James has eloped another girl.

However, Satyabhama dismissing Biju's claim insisted that she wants to meet James.

At around 9 am on April 3, Satyabhama carrying some clothes accompanied Biju on the latter's Mahindra Rodeo two wheeler with the belief that she and James would be eloping that day.

On the way Biju reportedly made sexual advances towards Satyabhama which was stiffly opposed by the girl leading to an injury on her foot following a brief scuffle.

For the second time Biju made sexual advances towards Satyabhama as they stopped to check her injury, said the DGP and added that the failed attempts infuriated Biju who consequently strangulated her with her own cloth (chunni) .

Biju is said to have confessed that he killed Satyabhama and carried her lifeless corpse before abandoning the same at the Khongman canal.

Informing that further investigation would be carried out to ascertain whether James and Jibon are also involved in the murder case, Joykumar said prior to James surrendering to the police, Biju misinformed the police that Satyabhama was assaulted by James inside Jibon's maruti car leading to her death.

Stating that all three would be remanded to police custody till April 15, the DGP expressed that rounding up of the three murder suspects is a huge success for the State police force.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Satyabhama's father N Tomba expressed elation on the arrest of the three and conveyed hope that the guilty person(s) would be punished at the earliest possible.

Soon after the media briefing, people, including women, in large number stormed houses of the three arrested persons and set them on fire at around 1 pm.

The infuriated people arrived in a number of light as well as heavy vehicles and two wheelers.

Inspite of police presence at the scene the number of people was so large that the police were reduced to mute spectators.

A group of people also moved toward Chingmeirong as news spread about Biju having another house in Chingmeirong area.

However, police used tear-gas to disperse the agitated mob.