Man bludgeons school girl to death
Source: Chronicle News Service

Thoubal, June 06 2024: In a spine-chilling incident, a man bludgeoned a girl student to death with a digging bar while she was on her way to school in Sapam under Khongjom police station, on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, enraged locals apprehended and thrashed the man before handing him over to the police.

The deceased student has been identified Jenika Sapam d/o Sapam Khelendra of Sapam Maning Leikai.

She was studying in Class VI at Ibemhal Vishal Academy, Sapam Khongjom.

Her attacker has been identified as Sapam Sarat (45) s/o (L) Kalachand of Sapam Sabal Leikai.

Sarat is said to be mentally unsound and alienated by his own family.

According to reports, the incident occurred around 7.15am on Thursday.

The victim had left her home and was cycling to her school to appear in an exam, when she was attacked at Sapam Sabal Leikai.

The attack was witnessed by a young child, who was standing on the side of the road and immediately ran back to inform his elders that someone had been killed.

When the adults came out, they found the girl student lying on the road.

She was immediately rushed to Thoubal District Hospital for first aid and later, referred to RIMS Hospital but she succumbed to injuries.

Her body is being kept at RIMS morgue for post mortem examination.

Meanwhile, the accused man was seen trudging towards the east.

As such, an alarm was raised and a group of people caught the man before thrashing him.

A police team arrived at the spot and took the man to Thoubal District Hospital for first aid, after which he was referred to JNIMS Hospital.

As per the reports, the accused was a former drug user.

However, as he is mentally unsound, the locals do not interact with him.

On the other hand, a joint action committee (JAC) against the Brutal Killing of Jenika Devi Sapam has been formed and raised various demands.

The demands include awarding capital punishment to Sapam Sarat Singh within 24 hours; banishing family of the accused from Khongjom Circle and holding any relative providing shelter to the family responsible for any resulting unwanted consequences; the government to look into the suffering of the family; and not to claim the body until the demands are fulfilled.

The JAC has also cautioned that the government should be held responsible for any unwanted consequences if the demands were not honoured within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, strongly condemning the incident, students of Ibemhal Vishal Academy staged a sit-in protest at Khongjom Bazar on Thursday.

During the sit-in, the protestors held placards inscribed with slogans like "Award befitting punishment to the accused within 24 hours", and "Justice for Jenika Sapam".

The young protestors also urged the government to look into the incident and do the needful at the earliest.

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