Session Judge Imphal East M. Manoj Kumar convicted two accused in the infamous rape and murder of Ningombam Seityabhama Devi in 2013.
The two convicts are one Kshetrimayum Biju Meitei alias Hollendro, 28, son of Ksh Ibochou of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai and another Toijam Thesuch alias James Bond, 27, son of Toijam Jugindro of Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai. Biju is reported to be the boyfriend of late Seityabhama.
The court convicted Th Biju under section 120B, 302 and 376 IPC and James Bond under section 120B, 302 IPC. A third accused Thoudam Jibal, however, was acquitted from the charge levelled against him. He is now in judicial custody, and the court has given the direction to release him from jail.
The court in its judgment order stated that both the convicted persons conspired to eliminate the deceased. It stated that Ksh Biju murdered the victim Seityabhama Devi by strangulation in conspiracy with Toijam Thesuch. It also stated that Biju had committed raped upon Seityabhama. However, the prosecution has failed to provide substantive proof against Thoudam Jibal for committing a criminal conspiracy of eliminating the deceased with the convicted duo, it stated.
N Satyabhama, a Junior Research Fellow of Pathology department, RIMS was found murdered (with bruise marks on her neck and body) in a canal at Wangkhei Loumanbi Loukol, under Irilbung police station on April 5, 2013, a couple of days after she left her Kakwa residence.
The case was on from April 2013 and after the completion of the investigation, the investigation officer of the case submitted the charge sheets under section 302 (Murder) and 120-B (common intention) before the Court. Charges were framed against the accused on November 20, 2013 under section 302 and 120-B IPC.
To investigate the crime, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an additional SP. On August 28, 2013, the SIT submitted charge sheet against the accused trio before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East and charged Biju under section 376 (rape), u/s 302 murder and u/s 120- criminal conspiracy while Jiban and James Bond were charged under section 120-B.
It was followed by the Session Judge, Imphal East, framing charges against the three accused persons on November 20, 2013 for initiation of trial. The SIT also submitted an additional charge sheet against the three on October 10, 2015.
The court recorded and examined the statements of 35 prosecution witnesses of 50 persons who were listed for deposing in the case during the trial.
