Imphal, January 31 2010: Irate mob today burnt down at least four houses of the prime suspect and his relatives in the murder of 26 year old girl after possible rape whose dead body was found at the paddy field at Langthabal in Imphal west late yesterday evening.

Meanwhile, the prime accused, Soibam Dhanabir (36) of Ningombam Awang Leikai has admitted to the police that he had committed the murder.

During police interrogation, he admitted that he himself committed the crime in the night on January 29 .

Singjamei police have taken him into custody for 11 days.

On the other locals of Ningombam village today decided to turn out the prime accused from the locality forever in a hurriedly public meeting held today in the locality.

The 26 years old girl identified as RK Ratanmala alias Ithoi daughter of RK Ruhinikumar of Khurai Chingangbam Leikai of Imphal East district was found murdered after possible rape at Ningombam Poila Loukon under Singjamei Police Station yesterday late evening.

The lover of the girl, Soibam Dhanabir son of S Tomba , a successful fish farmer of Ningombam Mayai Leikai who has been charged of rape and murder surrendered to the police yesterday later in the evening after the dead body was discovered.

Today at about 9 am, hundreds of people of Khurai area from where the victim girl hailed burnt down the house of the alleged accused and his brothers turning properties worth around Rs one crore into ashes.

Around 300 people who came in three 407 Tata and a truck and started dismantling the houses became highly charge with uncontrolled rage when some rounds of gun shots were fired from inside the house of Dhanabir.

A chaotic atmosphere prevailed for a few moments when mob started running hither skitter on hearing the sounds of gun shots.

The irate regrouped again and stormed the houses and burnt them down.

A government vehicle allotted to the elder brother of the prime accused who is the Adhayaksha of Imphal West District Zilla Parishad also torched by the mob, local report said.

Police and fire service brigade tenders arrived late much later and could not do much to save the burning houses.

Properties estimated to worth around Rs one crore including Rs 20 lakhs in cash and some gold ornament belonging to Debendra, one of the elder brothers of the prime accused were destroyed in the fire.

The two burnt down houses other than that of prime accused Dhanabir belong to Soibam Rajen and S Debendra.

Another pucca building in the neighbourhood and belonging to one Soibam Thambal, the aunt of the prime accused was also partially damaged by fire.

Family members had already left the house before the mob started attacking.

It was only when the police arrived, that the fire tender which was prevented by the villagers to enter were able put the fire under control.

Lamlong Bazar in Khurai observed a total shut down for the day in solidarity to people of the area from where the victim girl hailed..

On the other hand, Singjamei police today has taken into remand the alleged prime accused in the murder of the girl for 11 days after producing him before the Duty Magistrate, Imphal West, Additional CJM, Kimneinang this afternoon.

Police produced him with a prayer for taking custody till February 10 stating that for them it is highly essential to keep him in their custody for investigation into the case registered after the brother of the victim girl, Ruhikumar lodged a complaint.

In the police statement to the court, it was stated that Dhanabir admitted that he killed the girl.

"Further he (Dhanabir) disclosed that the crime was committed by himself during night time," the police said.

Dhanabir reportedly admitted that he had love a affair with Ratanmala since some time back and had kept it a secret.

On that very day (January 29), they met in the afternoon.

When he asked her to go home she refused saying that she had made up her mind to stay together with him.

They watched laiharaoba in the neighbouring locality of Dhanabir on that night.

After coming out from there, he insisted that she go back home but she refused.

Taking advantage of her refusal, Dhanabir killed crushing her neck after she taking her to a the paddy field, police said.

Dhanabir killed Ratanmala because he was already married with three children a fact known to Ratanmala.

Even though, their affair was no longer a secret affair, Dhanabir did not want to take her as his second wife.

That was why Dhanabir killed her, police said quoting interrogation report of the prime accused.

Meanwhile, a public meeting held at Ningombam Ground today has resolved to turn out Dhanabir from the locality forever and also those persons who give shelter to him.

Any other person of the locality found involved in committing the crime, will also be turned out from the locality, the second resolution drafted in the meeting stated The meeting also discussed the attack on the houses.

The meeting also unanimously agreed with the burning down of the house of the accused by the locals of Khurai but condemned the damaged caused to the neighbouring houses, a statement of Ningombam Nupija Yaipha Seva Marup, Ningombam signed jointly by secretaries of three different bodies of the area stated.

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