Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 31, 2010:
A 24-year old girl who worked as a receptionist in a private clinic committed suicide by consuming acid.
It has been alleged that the victim was driven to take the extreme step following constant mental and physical harassment by an Inspector of the State Police Department.
The victim has been identified as Khumukcham Shyamasakhi Devi (24) of Kakching Khunou Ngaikhong Leikai.
She was working as a receptionist cum pharmacist in New Light Health Clinic at Mayang Imphal.
Shyamasakhi reportedly consumed sulphuric acid and was found lying in a room of the neighboring house at around 10 am yesterday.
She was immediately brought to Shija Hospital, Imphal for treatment but breathed her last at around 6.30 am today.
Talking to mediapersons in connection with the incident at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, victim's mother, friends and other staff alleged that one Anand, who is an Inspector of Imphal West Commandos but attached with Mayang Imphal Police had driven Shyamasakhi to take the extreme step.
According to her mother Memicha Devi, Shyamasakhi had come back home from her clinic on March 29.The day before, she had telephoned her mother asking to come and take her back home as she was afraid of staying in the clinic anymore.
After the telephone conversation, one Premchand, who is a relative, had been sending to bring Shyamasakhi back home.
But she came home alone without the accompaniment of Premchand.
When asked how she came, Shyamasakhi replied that she was dropped by Premchand.
However, getting suspicious, her mother insisted on knowing where Premchand had gone.
Then only, Shyamasakhi revealed that she had been dropped forcefully till Kakching Khunou Bazar by Anand.
Her daughter had also disclosed that Anand has been coming to the clinic very often and her reputation was at stake so much so that she would like to die, Memicha recounted.
A friend of the victim recounted that in the afternoon of March 28, Anand came and assaulted Shyamasakhi brutally while they were waiting for the rain to stop at an outhouse located on the road side of Mayang Imphal Chabung Company.
When the public gathered, Shyamasakhi replied that it was her fault and afterward disclosed to her (the friend) that she (Shyamasakhi) and Anand is having a relation.
A woman, who is identified as the mother of a lover of Shyamasakhi from Khongjom, told mediapersons that Anand had once forced Shyamasakhi to make a phone call to her.
Over the phone, Anand said that Shyamasakhi was his wife and she had been aborted once and the woman whether they would still accepts Shyamasakhi as their daughter-in-law.
One of the lady doctors in the clinic said that Inspector Anand is after Shyamasakhi and she had seen him proposing to Shyamasakhi.
Family members of the victim informed that they would be lodging a complaint to Waikhong Police Station taking into account of the alleged involvement of Inspector Anand in the incident that led to the suicide.
They have also made it clear that the body would not be claimed until all those involved in the case have not been arrested and punished.