It was a case of murder, not suicide, allege womenfolk
Death of housewife threatens to take a nastier turn
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 25 2023: Even as the State Commission for Women has started an investigation into the death of Rajkumari ningol Laishram ongbi Bidya alias Devia, a memorandum has been submitted to the Chief Minister for swift and strong action against all involved.

Family members of the late woman from Ningthoukhong and Joint Action Committee (JAC) members arrived at Imphal in a bus and a van to present their case to the Chief Minister, but only some members of the JAC were allowed to meet him at his Secretariat in the presence of Imphal West Superintendent of Police.

The JAC's co-convenor RK ongbi Tombisana while speaking to the media said they urged the Chief Minister for swift investigation and identification of all involved in the suspected murder case by April 27 .

It was a case of murder, not suicide, allege womenfolk

The Chief Minister also gave the JAC a positive response, the co-convenor added.

Meanwhile, sit-in protests were held at the paternal locality at Ningthoukhong as well as at Thangmeiband today demanding stringent punishment to all involved in the case.

It may be noted that Laishram Bidya alias Devia, a married woman of 30 was found hanging in the bedroom of her house at Thangmeiband Hijam Dewan Leikai on April 22 .

She had multiple marks on her body indicating she was "tortured" .

She was wife of Laishram Rocky and left behind a one-year-old baby girl.

Police have so far picked up six members of the family including the husband.

During the sit-in staged in front of Mountain Gym at Thangmeiband today, womenfolk held placards demanding arrest of all responsible for her death and befitting punishment.

Members of Ebendhou Mawam Lairembi Thougal Lup, Thangmeiband Youth Centre, Peace and Humanity Labour Youth Organisation, Meira Paibi Lups, Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur and locals took part in the sit-in.

They raised suspicion that the family of the husband may be responsible for her death and denounced crime against women.

The womenfolk demanded swift and speedy investigation of the case.

During the sit-in, a woman of the locality said the death of L Bidya was suspicious.

Giving the case a tinge of "domestic violence", she said such cases continue to occur in all places due to slow and low conviction rate and lack of stringent punishment.

To check such cases and other crimes against women, the law should be quick and strong enough to deter future recurrence of similar cases, she added.

She alleged that Bidya was brutally tortured and when she ran crying for help outside, she was dragged inside her house by family members of the husband.

"It is not a case of suicide, but murder.

All involved and found responsible should be given stringent punishment," she said.

Some of the womenfolk also commented that they are deeply saddened by Bidya's death and the womenfolk will take action to deter such cases from happening again in the future.

All family members involved in the murder will be ostracised and they have no place in the locality, they said.

The womenfolk also stated that they want the Government to name the one-year-old baby girl left by the victim as the owner of all the properties of the husband's family.

The case should serve as a fine example to deter similar cases from repeating, they added.

Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba Manipur president Longjam Memchoubi said that Bidya's death was heartbreaking and all women and mothers should condemn such crimes.

"We want the Government and the police to take swift action against the family of the husband involved in the case.

The members of the locality are witnesses to the torture she suffered at the hands of the family," she said.

While any torture is bad, she said "Yek Thoknaba" [sharing the same group of clans] shouldn't be the basis for torturing a married woman.

There are many "Yek thoknaba" married couples [belonging to the same group of clans] nowadays.

And, a woman shouldn't be tortured after marriage just because they share the same "Yek", she said.

The women organisations, Meira Paibis and the Joint Action Committee will work together to get justice for Bidya, she added.

Meanwhile, Manipur State Commission for Women Chairperson, Salam Ulka, who came to enquire about the death said the case is not the first that has happened in the State and is strongly condemned.

The incident is very saddening and emotional, she said, adding a collective stand is required to deter such cases from happening again.

The Commission has started an investigation and it has visited that parental family of the deceased.

All involved and found guilty will be punished, she added.