Killed In 2011, No Justice Yet : Gutsy mom puts Shradha on hold
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 23 2013: Shrada ceremony which is a compulsory death ritual for majority of the Meitei community is still kept at bay in the case of Inaobi for her mother is determined to see the culprits punished according to law before she bids adieu to the departed soul of Inaobi and ends her mourning period.

"There is no room for compromise in the murder case of our daughter", said the heart-broken mother.

"How dare they offer us money to settle the matter after murdering my young daughter ?" questioned the mother.

Talking to The Sangai Express, Asem (O) Ibemcha of Khoidum Pat, who originally hailed from Sekmaijin Ningol Khong, maintained that her daughter did not kill herself by hanging but was hung after being strangulated.

Late Asem Inaobi who was reading in Class IX was the second eldest of the four siblings born to Asem Tomba and Ibemcha.

She was found hanging in their outhouse in the morning of September 12, 2011 .

The main suspect was pulled up and lodged in jail for two/three months.

But he was released soon after and was moving around as if he had done nothing wrong.

"I cannot see him moving around like a free and innocent man.

That was why, we sold our homestead land at Sekmaijin Ningol Khong and shifted to Khoidum Pat", Ibemcha said.

Taking advantage of the fact that Inaobi's shrada ceremony has not been held till date, the accused and his family offered money needed for holding shrada ceremony and settle the matter with some amount of money.

Every time the matter was enquired with the police, they only said that due charge-sheet would be filed very soon, Ibemcha conveyed.

While Ibemcha's eldest daughter has married, the remaining three siblings are being kept in different school boardings.

By cultivating paddy and rearing fish at their Khoidum Pat farm, Tomba and Ibemcha were working hard to ensure that their children become educated and successful individuals.

Inaobi's fingers and nails were covered with mud and her phanek was wet with dew when she was found hanging.

Wild grasses and leaves were also observed on her clothes whereas her slippers could not be found anywhere.

There were reports about Salam Dilip of Sekmaijin Mayai Leikai proposing to Inaobi to elope with him in the night of September 11.All these are clear indications that Inaobi's case was not a case of suicide, said the grief-stricken mother.

A complaint was lodged at Kakching police station listing Salam Dilip as the main accused.

Accordingly, Dilip was apprehended on September 18 and was lodged in judicial custody.

But he was released by an order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate on January 5, 2012 .

"Many times we went to police and witness commission praying to establish facts and circumstances of the murder but police seemed to be little interested in the case", Ibemcha lamented.

Saying that nothing has been offered to the Almighty for the departed soul of Inaobi till date, Ibemcha said "Customary rituals and ceremonies would be performed only after the culprit is adjudicated and punished according to law.

"As we are engaged in our farm activities from morning till night, we cannot take care of our children.

Taking advantage of this situation, the criminals outraged modesty of my daughter", Ibemcha said.

Inaobi was see reading books when Tomba and Ibemcha went to bed in the night of September 11 .

There was no case of any tiff or quarrel in the family.

"Even though the rich, powerful and influential family of the accused derail police investigation, we are hopeful that the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women who is coming to Manipur shortly would help in establishing the facts (about the murder) and ultimately deliver justice", Ibemcha exuded.

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