Prosecution fails to prove case: FTC releases murder accused
Freed man appeals against mob justice
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 22 2023: A person accused of murdering a woman in 2014 has been released by a Fast Track Court on January 20 as the prosecution failed to prove its case.

The accused acquitted in the case has been identified as Laishram Ibomcha (55( of Yairipok Khoirom Ataobung Bazar.

He was accused of murdering Lourembam Ranjita, wife of Lourembam Loken of Yairipok Khoirom Mathak Leikai and had spent 6 years in judicial custody.

He was acquitted by the Lamphelpat Fast Track Court of Judge Ch Brajachand Singh after prosecution failed to prove its case against the accused and an agreement was signed between the prosecution and the defense.

On August 2, 2014, Lourembam Loken, husband of the victim, had filed a complaint with the Yairipok police stating his wife was found dead at a paddy field in Yairipok Kakmayai area.

The victim, Lourembam Ranjita had gone to the field at Kakmayai on the same day on a bicycle and was later found dead.

She had cuts on her head and neck caused by a knife.

After an investigation was launched, police had arrested Laishram Ibomcha and sent him to judicial custody.

The police had found bloodstained clothes at his brick-field, some 200 metres from the murder scene.

After a series of hearings, the Court on January 20 observed that the prosecution had failed to prove the case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.

Acquitting Laishram Ibomcha, the Court also awarded Rs 5 lakh as compensation to the family of the victim woman from the Government's victim compensation fund and other schemes.

Meanwhile, after the Court's judgement in the case, Laishram Ibomcha has appealed to the people and his locality to allow his return at his home.

At Manipur Press Club today, Ibomcha said he is still unable to return home even after the Court exonerated him in the case.

Without searching for the truth, mobs had burnt down his two houses and a brick farm and ever since his family has been facing immense hardships.

Ibomcha said.

Following the incident, Ibomcha said he had lost his dignity, reputation and properties, and was ostracised.

Stating the Court has acquitted him, he appealed to the people to allow him to return to his home at Yairipok Khoirom Ataobung Bazar.

Also, appealing to the Government to assist him in recovering the properties he lost, Ibomcha said people should discourage and shun the practice of mob justice.

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