Mob torches house of rape accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 31 2010: An angry mob from Khurai area torched the house of a rape and murder accused with the inferno spreading to other nearby houses consequently reducing the structures to cinders.

Burning down of the houses is suspected to be in retaliation of the killing of one RK Ratanmala Devi (26) of Khurai Chinganbam Leikai, whose lifeless body was recovered yesterday morning from Poila paddy field, located between Hiyangthang and Langthabal Phuramakhong under Imphal west district.

Ratanmala's modesty seemed to have been outraged before being mercilessly killed and abandoned in the paddy field.

Fire fighters engaged in dousing the blaze to prevent its spread to the nearby houses.

According to information received here, the murder suspect namely Soibam Dhanabir (36) s/o S Tomba of Ningombam Mayai Leikai Kangjeibung Maning had surrendered to the police late last night and reportedly confessed to have committed the crime.

at about 9.30 am today, several number of people from Khurai Chingangbam Leikai and nearby areas arrived at Dhanabir's residence in four Mini trucks and began to dismantle the accused person's house.

Even as the agitated mob was dismantling the structure shots were reportedly fired from inside the house resulting in a brief retreat by the attackers who nevertheless regrouped and continued to tear down a particular house while some others set it on fire.

As the roofs of most of houses were covered with straw-like material the fire spread quickly and engulfed at least 4/5 nearby structures.

Besides Dhanabir's house, the blaze caused substantial damage to the houses belonging to the accused person's elder brother namely S Subhashchandra, who is also an Adhyaksha of Imphal West Zilla Parishad, and other Soibam clan.

The fire was so swift and devastating that household items including cash, ornaments, furniture, electrical appliances etc could not be shifted to a safe place.

Moreover, a Maruti Gypsy and granaries were also among the destroyed items which is estimated to run into lakhs of rupees.

at the time of arrival of police teams along with fire fighters 4/5 houses were already destroyed beyond redemption.

But the fire fighters managed to control the blaze from spreading to the immediate neighbourhoods.

Mention may be made that RK Ratanmala had left home on January 29 before her body was recovered yesterday morning with tell tale signs of struggle and severe injuries.

The victim's family members conveyed to newspersons that they had suspected Ratanmala to have eloped and were awaiting her return.

The family member began to launch searches as no information could be culled on her whereabouts till yesterday.

Meanwhile, S Dhanabir reportedly surrendered to Singjamei police station and confessed to committing the crime.

After he was produced before the Duty Magistrate, Imphal this morning the Court granted police appeal to remand the accused person for 10 days under police custody.

On the otherhand, an emergency public meeting held today at Ningombam ground unanimously resolved to indefinitely outcast S Dhanabir from the locality with immediate effect and to initiate similar action in case anybody is found providing shelter to the accused person.

Other decisions taken at the meeting include appropriate punitive action such as ejection from Ningombam society in case other persons are found involved in the rape and murder case and endorsing the retaliatory action that led to the destruction of the guilty person's house.

However, the meeting expressed resentment over the unruly action of Khurai public that resulted in the devastation of other innocent families.

Strongly condemning the rape and murder of the young girl, the meeting also conveyed its condolence to members of the aggrieved family.