The Fast Track Special Court No 2, Manipur has acquitted Laishram Ibomcha Meitei from charge levelled against him in the 2014 Ranjita murder case.
The court stated that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges u/s 376 IPC and 302 IPC against the accused Laishram Ibomcha Meitei beyond all reasonable doubt.
Thongram (N) Lourembam (O) Ranjita was found murdered and abandoned at Kakmayai Mamang paddy fields on August 2, 2014. In connection with the case, Laishram Ibomcha Meitei, aged about 55 years, son of L Bira Meitei of Khoirom Mathak Leikai Yairipok was arrested on August 7, 2014.
The charge sheet had been submitted by the IO of the case under rape and murder case of Ranjita against him.
The court order stated that extra judicial confession of the accused is not corroborated by other reliable prosecution evidence. There is no chain of circumstances pointing towards the accused for commission of the crime u/s 376 IPC and 302 IPC.
The FSL report has not corroborated the prosecution case as the FSL, Pangei has no facility of DNA profiling for individual identification, the exhibit may please be referred to a competent laboratory where DNA profiling facility is available. No step was taken for further DNA profiling to a competent laboratory, the court stated.
Therefore, with the prosecution failing to prove the charge of rape and murder against the accused, the court acquitted the accused from the charge levelled against him.
The court also directed for providing compensation to the family members of the deceased.
Accordingly, the court granted a compensation amount of Rs 5 lakhs only to the deceased's family for mental trauma suffered by them in the incident and during the period of investigation as well as trial i.e., from the date of occurrence on 02/08/2014 till this date of conclusion of trial on 20/01/2023.
The compensation awarded by the court is to be paid by the state government from the victim compensation fund or any other scheme U/s 357-A of Cr.PC. MASLSA through the DLSA, Thoubal, was also directed to provide maximum assistance to the deceased's family in payment of compensation after proper enquiry.
