A woman who went missing since December 22 from Lillong Haoreibi Makha Leikai Salam Manung under Lilong Police Station in Thoubal district has been found dead in a suspicious manner on Monday.
The deceased has been identified as one Korimayum Nargish, 21, daughter of Korimayum Ahamad Ali of Lillong Haoreibi Makha Leikai Salam Manung.
Her body was found around 9 am at the bank of Imphal River in Lillong Haoreibi Makha Leikai Konjil near Thambal Academy School. According to her family members, she had been missing since December 22, around 8.30 pm.
Elder sister of the deceased, Sultana, 23, said she received a text message from an unknown number on her mobile phone, before going to bed. When asked, Nargish replied that she did not recognise the number. She fell asleep on the bed she share with Nargish and did not know when Nargish got up and went out, Sultana said.
Later, it was found that the brother of Nargish, Nawaj Sarif ,29, also received a missed call from the same number. Their father, Ahamad Ali ,65, said that the person who called must be after his daughter. He further expressed suspicion that Nargish was probably talking to that unknown person in secret.
He mentioned that he had filed a missing person report on December 23 Lilong Police Station.
When the Cyber Crime branch traced the unknown number, it was found registered in the name of one Chesam Hafiz Mohammad, son of Abdul Salam of Phoubakchao.
On receiving information that the body of Nargish has been found, Lilong MLA Y Antash Khan, Manipur Police DGP P Doungel, SP Thoubal Jogeschandra and OC Lillong rushed to the site for inspection.
Her body was found amid a grove at the bank of Imphal river. A cloth was tied on her neck, while the other end of the cloth was tied to a small tree. Her body from waist down was found stretched and resting on the ground.
A team of State Forensic Science Laboratory investigated the scene and the body has been taken to JNIMS mortuary.
Nargish was a sixth semester student at Lillong Haoreibi College. Alleging that Nargish was murdered, Lilong MLA Y Antas Khan condemned the incident. He announced that the police have launched an investigation and appealed to the public to extend cooperation in bringing the killers to justice.
Meanwhile, in connection with the death, a public meeting was held on Monday at Idigah ground in Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai.
Several resolutions were also taken at the meeting during which a JAC against the Brutal Killing of Korimayum Nargish (20) was formed.
It was resolved to mount pressure on the authority concerned to book the culprits within 48 hours, failing which agitations with support from civil society groups and meira paibis will be launched.
It was further resolved not to collect the body unless the perpetrators of the crime had been booked, and to ensure that video coverage of the post mortem is undertaken.
In the meantime, the Social and Cultural Welfare Organisation (SEWO), Hayel Labuk, Thoubal district expressed vehement condemnations against the incident and demanded justice at the earliest. It stated that the organisation will extend support to the resolutions taken by the JAC.
