Lifer for murder convict
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 08 2018:
Maibam Manojkumar, Session Judge Imphal West sentenced murder convict Soibam Dhanabir (42) to life imprisonment today, along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
The Court also directed the State Government to give Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the mother of the victim.
The sentence against the convict Soibam Dhanabir s/ o Tomba of Ningombam Mayai Leikai, was announced after the sentence hearing was held before the Session Court Imphal West at around noon today.
It may be mentioned that on October 4, Soibam Dhanabir was convicted of murdering RK Ratanmala Devi on January 30, 2010, at around 1.30 am and destroying the evidence.
During the hearing today, the Court heard Special PP, A Sushila Devi for the State and Senior Advocate N Ibochouba, assisted by Advocate RK Gopal, in defense of the convict.
The Special PP submitted that the convict murdered RK Ratanmala, who was his lover, by strangulating her and also got rid of all the evidences.
The Special PP continued that the crime committed by the convict is a serious offence and as such prayed for awarding capital punishment.
On the other hand, the defense counsels contended that the convict is a person recognized by the State for producing a rare fish "Pengba" and the convict has a wife and three sons at the present and as such, prayed for awarding only life imprisonment.
After hearing both parties carefully and going through the case records, the Court sentenced Soibam Dhanabir to rigorous imprisonment for life and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh under section 302 .
The Court also sentenced the convict to another seven years under section 201 along with a fine of Rs 50,000 and directed the total amount of the fine to be given to the mother of the victim.
The Court also directed another Rs 5 lakh to be paid the victim's mother under section 357 A of the code of criminal procedure by the State Government through Member Secretary, Manipur State legal services Authority.
On the other hand, a large number of angry locals and family members of the victim who were present at the Court complex for the sentence hearing, attacked the convict while he was being transported towards the prisoner van, by pelting water bottles and other objects.
RK Ngangbi, the mother of the deceased, expressed gratitude to the Court, Special PP, members of Human Rights and the IO of the case Thokchom Vikramjit (then SDPO Singjamei) for their sincere effort in connection with the case and for delivering justice.
It may be mentioned that the victim RK Ratanmala was found murdered at a paddy field located between Hiyanthang and Langthabal Phuramakhong on January 30, 2010, a day after she went missing from her residence.
She was found with her phanek lifted up to her waist raising suspicious that she might have been raped before she was murdered.
Apart from strangulation marks on her neck, injuries were also found on the victim's head cause by a hard object.
The convict, Soibam Dhanabir then surrendered himself before Singjamei PS later that same day.
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