Divorce tiff turns ugly, dad-in-law killed
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 13 2009: Following the death of an elderly man, after being picked up by some unidentified armed persons, in connection with the divorce case of his son, an infuriated mob today destroyed the maternal house of the daughter-in-law.

The incident took place at Top Upokpi Mamang Leikai under Wangoi Police Station in Imphal West District at around 11 am today.

According to information culled from the site of the incident, 22-year old Longjam Ranabir s/o Tomba of Top Siphai Mayai Leikai and 21-year old Yumnam Ningol Pravabati Devi d/o Tomba of Top Upokpi Mamang Leikai got married one and half years back but separated even before completion of one year.

The remains of the dismantled house and furniture items and other goods being set aflame by a mob to avenge the murder of an elderly man in a divorce case

While separate cases filed, both from the side of the man and the woman, are still pending in the Family Court, 58-year old Longjam Tomba, father of Ranabir, was picked up by some unidentified persons from his hotel at Thongkhong Luxmi Bazar on the night of July 11 only to be found dead in the shed of a fish farm located at Khunou Yangoi Khongbal at around 10.15 am today.

Ranabir and Pravabati do not have any child and after separation, Pravabati had eloped with another man from Sekmaijin Khunou.

On the basis of the complaint lodged by Pravabati in the Family court, Ranabir had been providing maintenance for her.

But after her elopement, Ranabir filed another case against Pravabati in the Family Court stating that he would not be able to accept a woman who had eloped with another man.

On July 2, an unidentified youth had come to the house of Tomba (father of Ranabir) and told him to come to Yangoi Khullen and asked for one Engallei.

When asked the reason for the summon, the youth told Tomba that it was in connection with the separation case.

At that time, one of the family members said something about Pravabati to which the youth threatened to bomb the house and left.

The following day, Tomba went to Yangoi Khullen as directed but met nobody and came back.

After this, five unidentified armed persons came in a DI Tata on the night of July 11 at around 11 and picked up Tomba from his hotel at Thongkhong Luxmi Bazar.

On hearing the news, the same night, the family members and local residents Ranabir also picked up Yumnam Tomba, father of Pravabati from his house.

Yesterday (July 12), the unidentified armed persons conveyed that the two elderly men should be exchanged at Yangoi.

But at around noon yesterday, some women fish traders saw the body of Tomba, father of Ranabir lying at Yangoi but they were detained by the armed persons till late evening.

It was only this morning that the body was recovered after a search party had gone to the fish farm at Yangoi Khongbal Khunou.

Infuriated over the incident, a mob stormed and destroyed the house of Yumnam Tomba, father of Pravabati this morning.

The situation was brought under control after a police team led by the SDPO of Imphal West arrived.