Murdered women identified; nine arrested, three banished
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 16 2023: The female, who was found shot dead by unidentified miscreants at Keibi Heikak Mapal Ekop Ching (hill) under Sagol-mang PS, Imphal East district on Saturday, has been identified as M Lucy Maring (57) d/o (L) M Thoukhal Maring of Narum village under Tengnoupal sub-division but was residing at National Games Village Zone-III-A99 .

Meanwhile, Maring frontal organisations have demanded arrest of the assailants within 48 hours.

Addressing a joint press meet of Maring Uparap Assembly, Maring Napuiya Yinglam and Maring Students' Union (MSU) at Manipur Press Club on Sunday, MSU president Sontrun Dangshawa strongly condemned the brutal murder of M Lucy Maring.

He informed that Lucy had gone missing after stepping out of her home in Game Village around 7 am Saturday.

One of Lucy's abductors contacted her relatives where they (abductors) were informed that Lucy belonged to the Maring Naga tribe.

Despite this, she was brutally murdered by her captors.

Stating that various attempts have been made to antagonise the peace-loving Maring tribe, Sontrun recounted that an ambulance driver belonging to the tribe was thrashed during the violence on May 28 at Kakching.

In addition, members of the tribe have been obstructed many times when transporting essential items to and fro the valley areas.

These incidents have raised concerns over the safety of neutral communities currently residing in the valley, he said.

The president continued that in connection with Lucy's murder, a public meeting was organised by the three Maring frontal organisations at Beaulahram on Sunday and adopted various resolutions including arrest of the culprits within July 18 noon; United Naga Council (UNC) to look into the matter and ensure delivery of justice; and to launch intense agitations if the demands are not fulfilled.

According to Maring Napuiya Yinglamgi president Hoinu Cha-ranga, Maring tribe is a peace loving community and as such, strongly condemned the murder of M Lucy on Saturday.

Lucy was a mother and her child loved her dearly, Hoinu informed and declared that agitations will be launched until Lucy's killers are apprehended.

While announcing that sit-in protests would be staged from Monday onwards, she appealed to the state CSOs to help in revealing the truth of the matter.

In another development, Lam-lai police arrested nine persons including five women in connection with the murder of Mary Lucy, who was abducted from Sawongbung area and killed in Keibi Heikakmapal area.

The nine were produced before the court and remanded to police custody for seven days.

The arrestees have been identified as Konsam Naocha alias Lan meithanbi (43) son of late Maipak of Huidrom Makha Leikai, Okram Samungou (38) son of Ibomcha of Keibi Heikakmapal, O Suraj alias Ibungo (27) son of Biari of Keibi Heikakmapal, Thounaojam Chingkheinganbi (25) daughter of Megha of Sawombung block, Ah-anthem Sobita alias Aliang Newimi (61) wife of late Pundari of Sawombung Maning Leikai, Thounaojam Lata (63) wife of Pacha of Sawombung Block, Ayekpam Ashalata (56) wife of Ojit of Sawombung gate, Ahanthem Ito (50) wife of late Ibohal of Sawombung Gate and Ngaseppam Sunita (42) wife of Tejmani of Sagolband Tera currently living at Keibi Heikakmapal.

Police also seized one .303 rifle with three live rounds from Konsam Naocha and one 9mm pistol along with two live rounds and an A-Star car (MN06LX) 0345 from Okram Samungou.

Addressing a press conference at his office on Sunday, SP Imphal East Ksh Shivakanta said that a case was registered at Lamlai PS in connection with the abduction and killing of Mary Lucy.

The nine persons were arrested in the course of the investigation and were remanded to police custody for seven days after producing before the court.

The SP further appealed to the public to refrain from committing such crimes and report any suspicious activities to police.

He also said that any person involved in the incident will be arrested.

Meanwhile, different organisations condemned the killing of Lucy Maring at Keibi Heikakmapal, Iniphal East on Saturday.

In separate releases, Federation of Hao mee, Zeliangrong United Committee Manipur Valley, Village Development Committee Heikakmapal Awang Leikai and Eramdam Kanba Lup denounced the killing of Lucy and demanded stringent punishment of the murderers according to the law' .

Sharing pain and grief of the bereaved family, they called upon the stakeholders concerned to ensure that such unfortunate incidents does not recur.

While Zeliangrong United Committee Manipur Valley appealed to the parties in conflict to exercise utmost restraint and caution in dealing with people belonging to neutral communities, Village Development Committee Heikakmapal Awang Leikai informed that three accused from Heikakmapal namely O Suraj, O Samungou Singh and Ng Pate Singh have been banished from the locality.

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