PLA cracks case, awards capital punishment to child killer
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13: Acting swiftly, cadres of the Division IV of the RPF rounded up the person responsible for the dastardly killing of an 8 year old child yesterday and executed him today.

The 8 year old child, Laishram Shankerdev alias Chinglenkhomba was found killed with his throat stabbed by a sharp weapon yesterday evening at Pishum Chinga Macha.

The killer had taken away his gold ear ring too.

Speaking to the media somewhere at Imphal East today, a spokesman of the communication and publicity wing of outfit said that as news of the murder of the child spread, cadres of the Division IV of the RPF started an investigation and narrowed down on one suspect.

Identifying the killer as one Mayengbam Bungthoi alias Naoba (21) son of Ibochou of Khagempalli Panthak, the spokesman said that he was earlier involved in a case of cutting off an ear ring from a child.

Child killer M Bungthoi

Other than this, Bungthoi was also involved in a number of petty thefts.

Bungthoi who was paraded before the media said, "I met Laishram Chinglenkhomba near the gate of his house yesterday evening.

When I asked him where he was going, Chinglen khomba said that he was going to receive his sister who was coming back from school.

I then persuaded him to let me accompany him." Narrating his tale, Bungthoi said that while they were going to receive the kid's sister he went to the house of one of his sisters, who is settled at Khagempalli, leaving the kid at the gate.

At the house of his sister he looked for a suitable tool to cut off the ear rings from the child's ear.

"However as I could not find a suitable tool, I went back home telling Chinglenkhomba that I needed something from my house" Bungthoi recalled and added, "I left Chinglenkhomba at the gate and got hold of a scissor." After reaching Pishum Chinga Macha, they both played for some time, said Bungthoi and added that after some time they took a break.

"While we were resting, I tried to cut the ear ring from Chinglenkhomba's ear from behind.

At this he started shouting that someone was trying to murder him," said Bungthoi and added, "I then covered his mouth and stabbed him on the neck and other parts of the body with the scissor and killed him." After killing the child, the killer then cut off the ear ring and washed himself at a pond located near Pishum Chinga Macha.

"Later I took the cycle Chinglenkhomba had brought with him and went to Keishamthong through Ngakraba Leirak," he informed.

Bungthoi said that he abandoned the cycle near Yumnam Leikai and sold the gold ear ring at Keishamthong for Rs 1040. Later on reaching home, he washed his blood stained pants and went to a place at Kwakeithel Moirang Purel Leikai to buy SP tablets from a person identified as Maisnam Bungocha.

Strongly condemning the killing, the spokesman recalled the killing of Class I student way back on March 23, 1987 by drug addicts at Singjamei Thongam Leikai.

After this there has been Lungnila Elizabeth, he said and added that two kids from Senapati are still to be traced after being kidnapped.

Since 1990, RPF has been opposing such dastardly acts, he said and added that since such crimes are closely linked to drug abuse and other intoxicants, the outfit will ban its use with more sustained efforts.

Stating that Bungthoi would be given the death penalty, the spokesman said that if drug users continue with their habits after this, they would be given the same penalty.

The body of Bungthoi was found at the bank of Lilong river late evening today.