Proprietor brushes aside murder slur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 24 2010: Proprietor of the jewellery house in which late Longjam Inaobi was working has refuted the allegation levelled against him by the deceased family and clarified that he, his family and other workers in the jewellery house are not related to the death of Inaobi in any way.

28-year old Longjam Inaobi of Patsoi Part-I, who worked as a goldsmith in the jewellery house owned by Kangabam Pritam s/o Mouro of Keishampat Kangabam Leikai was reportedly found dead hanging in the toilet of his master's house yesterday morning.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with the allegations levelled against him by the family members of late Inaobi, Pritam informed that Inaobi was found dead by some of his fellow co-workers.

Family members protesting the death of Inaobi

At the time of the incident, Pritam said, he was in the jewellery shop.

So, there is no question of him or any of his family members and other workers relating to the death of Inaobi.

Pritam further informed that after Inaobi was found involved in stealing 5 tolas of gold from the jewellery house, he decided to hand over Inaobi to the police.

But Inaobi's wife, Ishingjaobi and his mother-in-law Tombi Devi came along and pleaded against handing Inaobi over to the police.

Pritam also clarified that no money for the stolen gold had been refunded by Ishingjaobi and her mother Tombi Devi nor he had given any permission for continuation of Inaobi to his work in the jewellery house.

Furthermore, Pritam informed that he was trying to contact the police at the time of taking down the body.

But the family members of the deceased stopped him saying that they were not going to complain nor make any claim over the incident.

An agreement had also been prepared in this connection.

But just before signing on the agreement, the family members of the deceased received a telephone call.

Afterward, they left saying that they would come back in the evening.

However, they lodged a police complaint.