Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 30:
After minute investigations, the Joint Inquiry Committee of the PREPAK and UNLF which was formed to probe the murder of Salam Punam, has finally established the guilt of accused Khwairakpam Henry and awarded him capital punishment in the wee hours of today.
The bullet riddled body of Henry (25) alias Herojit of Sagolband Moirang Leirak Akham Lampak was found at Phaobakchao near Litanmakhong under Mayang Imphal police station this morning and the body has been brought to RIMS morgue.
The punishment was given by PREPAK after the JIC submitted a report which confirmed his hand in the murder of the young girl on September 16.Briefing the media, the JIC convenor read out the findings of the probe somewhere at Churachandpur district last night.
The Committee was formed on September 24 and the investigation began from September 26.After minute investigations, the report was prepared and submitted on September 29.During the course of the probe it came to light that Henry strangulated Punam with a cloth which was worn by her in the night of September 16 and later hung the body with the same cloth from a mango tree inside the compound of the deceased to make it look like a case of suicide.
The heinous crime was committed by Henry alone, the convenor said.
Henry who was also paraded before the media confessed to the crime and said, �I did it as I lost control of my temper�.
He admitted to all the charges framed against him and which was read out by the convenor of the JIC.
Giving a backdrop of the story, the convenor said that Henry had an affair with Punam since Krishna Janma this year.
They also shared a physical relationship.
Henry, who married five years back and had two children, met Punam in the night of September 16 at a house at Nongmaikhong Mayai Leikai where they copulated.
They also decided that they would elope at 7 pm the same day.
At about 7 pm, Henry requested a local girl to call out Punam, but the girl declined saying that she (the girl) was not feeling well.
The accused then called out a boy, who used to keep him company and moved out to see Punam, but came back when they saw the younger brother of Punam.
At around 8.30 pm, Henry sneaked out from his room which he shared with the boy and went to Hiranpham where he met Punam, the convenor said.
At that time the family members were inside watching TV.
The two then moved towards a corner of Arong Nongmaikhong Jr High School, where they once again copulated.
Later Henry told Punam that they could not elope that night as he had some work related to the organisation in the morning and asked the girl to return home.
Punam however demanded that they should elope that night itself and refused to go back home.
A scuffle broke out and Henry in a fit of rage strangulated the girl with the piece cloth worn by her.
Later Henry kept the body of Punam at the verandah of the school and returned to his room where he slept.




