Murdered girl identified, chilling magnitude of crime sinks in
Cops on track of prime suspect
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 12 2011: The girl found murdered at Thangmeiband Cheiraoching yesterday afternoon has turned to be a class XI student of RK Sanatombi Vidyalaya, Pangei and it is suspected that the girl might have been murdered by her boyfriend.

The deceased identified as Vasmi Khaleng (16) d/o Ngathingkhui Khaleng of Paorei village, Ukhrul district went out from Working Women and Girls Hostel located near Tangkhul Baptist Church in the morning of September 10 .

Sources from the Girls hostel of Tangkhul Baptist Church Imphal said that Vasmi went out of the hostel on Saturday morning between 9 and 10 am alone saying that she was going to meet her friend.

Saturday being a day out, she was allowed to go out but was expected to return by 2 pm for the worship period but she failed to turn up during the worship hours and even at night.

It was only through the local TV channel that her friends came to realise she had been murdered.

They managed to recognise her by her dress and the finger rings she wore.

Members of TKLI protest the brutal murder of Vasmi and inset (the victim)

Tangkhul Katamnao Long Imphal (TKLI) former president Pamreisho Raiping said that Vasmi was a bonafide member of TKLI.

Condemning the brutal murder in the strongest term, he urged the authority to book and punish the culprits at the earliest.

While Lamphel police have collected necessary human fluids for laboratory test, post mortem of the corpse was conducted today at RIMS.

Police have also started tracking a man who had an affair with the murdered girl.

However, police have been refusing to give the name and other details of the man.

Police suspect that Vasmi might have been raped first before she was murdered.

On the other hand, TKLI members staged a protest demonstration today in front of Tangkhul Baptist Church, Dewlahland against the brutal murder of Vasmi Khaleng.

The Tangkhul Shanao Long Imphal , Naga Womens' Union (NWN), Longmei Women Union (LWU), Tangkhul Naga Aze Katamnao Long (TNA-ZKL), Zingsho Tangkhul Katam nao Long (ZTKL), Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), Hunphun Katamnao Long (HKL) and Tangkhul Katamnao Long Imphal (TKLI) in a joint statement have strongly condemned the barbaric act.

The organizations appealed to the authority concern for immediate arrest of the killer and pronouncement of befitting action according to the law of the land.

Condemning the murder, United NGOs Mission has urged the Government to check and investigate the crimes against women and children and book the culprit immediately.

UNMN also urged Manipur State Women Commission for proper investigation of all such crimes.

Meanwhile, Ukhrul ADC Chairman Shangam Luireiwo, concerned Councillor Ngashanchui Horam and other Members have also condemned the dastardly act of murdering the girl, saying that it was a blot to the very foundation of the society.

The ADC Members urged the Chief Minister to personally intervene into the matter and issue stringent orders to competent authorities so as to nab the culprits at the earliest possible time and take necessary action immediately.

They also shared the grief and pain of the bereaved family.

The Zingtin Tangkhul Katamnao Long has also condemned the brutal murder of Vasmi Khaleng.

At the time of filing this report the culprit was yet to be arrested and the needle of suspicion has been pointed at her boyfriend who she said was going to meet to some of her friend before she left the hostel that day.

The alleged boy friend has been identified as Mungthem MW of T Changhong Tushar village son of lightson MW but staying at Lamphel Imphal.

Mungthem was said to be the students of DM College doing B-com.

Sources said that the victim was raped, tortured and strangulated to death.