After 28 years 3 convicted for murder of Satyajit
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 12 2018: Additional Session Judge, Fast Track Court Manipur East, W Tonen Meitei, convicted three individuals for committing a murder 28 years back at Khoyathong Pukhri AchoubaMapal (in 1989), under Imphal police station, today.

The Court also fixed January 18 for sentence hearing and for announcing the quantum of the punishment to the convicts.

The judgement order was announced in an open Court today, after it was kept reserved from December 19, last year, following the continued hearing of the case on October 16, November 17, November 21, November 28 and 29 and December 7, last year.

The three convicts of the murder case are identified as Pukhrambam Joykumar alias Shahjahan (60) s/o P Shyamnagar of Sagolband Meino Leirak, Khangjarakpam Basanta (60) s/o Kh Ahanjao of Sagolband Meino Leirak and Phangeijam Ramananda (62) s/o P Ibotombi of Sagolband Salam Leikai.

Three other co-accused of the case, identified as late Salam Bobo alias Somorendro of Sagolband Salam Leikai, late RK Sanatomba alias Moba of Uripok Ningthoukhongjam Leikai and late P Dhananjoy alias Mobi of Uripok Haobam Dewan Leikai, had passed away during the course of the trial.

Kh Basanta and P Ramananda appeared before the Court with their respective counsels but the main accused, P Joykumar, was absent after filing a dispense through his counsel on ground of illness.

RK Pratima, the PP (D) cum Prosecution Director, was also present during the announcement of the judgement order.

The trial began against the three convicts as well as the three deceased co-accused after a complaint was lodged by Polem Indrajit, father of deceased Polem Satyajit alias Satyajit Kumar Singh, on June 23 (1989) at around 4 pm, stating that at around 2.30 am the same day, his son was returning home along with one of his friends, Nongmaithem Megha, when 8 to 12 unknown individuals assaulted him (Polem Satyajit) near the eastern side of Khoyathong Pukhri Achouba Mapal, using iron rods, sharp edged weapons and clubs etc resulting in profuse bleeding injuries on the victim's face, forehead and skull.

Significantly Polem Satyajit was a noted football player, having represented the State football team as a goalkeeper.

He also played for NISA during his days.

According to the complaint, the culprits had also thrashed N Megha and threatened him not to shout /struggle during the commission of the crime before escaping in a jeep which did not have any registration number.

Satyajit was rushed to RIMS, then Regional Medical College, with the help of some locals at around 2.50 am, but he succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead at around 3.30 pm.

The case was endorsed by the OC Imphal, Helli Mao and the accused individuals were arrested after necessary investigation.

During interrogation, they admitted to committing the crime as revenge for a previous assault on the main culprit Pukhrambam Joykumar and that the fatal blow was dealt by late RK Sanatomba with an iron handle which fractured the victim's skull.

The 10 of the case also recovered the weapons used in the crime.

After a gap of 9 years, the charge sheet of the case was submitted to CJM Court Imphal on July 31(1998) and cognizance was taken up after the case was put up before the Session Court.

Charges were framed against the convicts (including the three deceased co-accused), on June 14, 1999 and the case was transferred from Session Judge Imphal West to Additional Session Judge Fast Track Court Manipur East, at the stage of argument hearing.

During the trial, 36 prosecution witnesses gave their submissions before the Court.

After going through the record and the observation, the Court deemed it proven beyond doubt that on June 23, 1989, at around 2 am.

the three convicts along with the other three deceased co-accused, had assaulted the victim in revenge, using deadly weapons such as the iron handle of a jeep, wooden sticks, clubs and knife, thereby murdering the victim.

Hence the Court convicted the surviving three accused individuals.

The Court also turned down the application for dispense filed by convict P Joykumar through his counsel on the ground of illness reasoning that the convict was also absent on the last occasion citing illness and issued non-bailable warrant against the convict.

The Court cancelled his personal bond and surety bond and directed SP, Imphal West to take necessary steps with immediate effect.

It also cancelled the personal bond and surety bond of both Kh Basanta and P Ramananda and handed them over to SP, Sajiwa Central Jail.

A team of Imphal police were requisitioned to escort the convicts upto Sajiwa Central Jail and the Court directed SP, Sajiwa Central Jail to bring the three convicts before the Court on January 18 for their sentence hearing.

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