Imphal, December 22: "Book the murderers", "Punish the culprits", "Don't ever allow such heartless crimes" were the heart-rending cries of the mother, sisters and brother of Ichal.

Ichal, a young girl of just 10 years went to Nongmaiching hills to procure firewood on December 17 but never returned home.

She was found brutally murdered near a bush in the hill.

Born to Samjetshabam Munal and Amubi of Andro Awang Leikai, Ichal had three elder sisters and one elder brother but her loving brother cannot do any hard work as he is suffering from three fractures after a fall from a tree.

Petty cultivation, procuring of firewood from hills and collection of vegetables were the main sources to sustain the family of Ichal.

The shattered mother visualised how her young daughter would have been mercilessly raped and murdered by slashing her neck and other body parts by those savages.

The heart-broken mother recalled how her loving daughter left home for the steep hills, challenging the spine chilling coldness of the winter morning of December 17 just to bring home a bundle of firewood on her young shoulder.

"Can any human being commit such a heartless crime?", questioned the wretched mother to herself.

Though young in age, Ichal used to carry a heavy burden on her tender shoulder.

She looked after poultry of the family, she used to fetch water, cook foods besides procuring firewoods from the hills, all without a grudge.

Notwithstanding the heavy domestic burden, she was reading at class IV in the Andro Dam High School.

In studies too, she was a mediocre student.

On the fateful day, Ichal left home at around 6:30 am to bring the firewood cut down by her father.

Ichal's uncle ( her mother's brother) Y Devchandra observed with contempt that the young girl was raped by some savages before she was done to death.

The way the body was recovered, the recovery of her pants away from her body, the wounds seen on her thighs and private part were all indicators that his young niece was mercilessly raped, noted Devchandra.

The bereaved mother, shocked by the brutal murder of her daughter, appealed not to allow such heinous crimes ever again.

She also pleaded for justice against the cruel murder of Ichal.

Recalling that Ichal was always obedient to the elders of the locality, secretary of the All Andro Meira Paibi Association Kh Leirentombi lamented the murder of Ichal.

Meanwhile, a joint meeting of the Andro Awang Leikai and Chambra Leikai Youth Club has announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to anyone who could provide a clue to the savage murderers of Ichal alias Thambaltombi.

The JAC Against the Killing of Sh Thambaltombi (Ichal), Andro Awang Leikai had adopted five resolutions during a public meeting held under its aegis at Andro Kangjeibung yesterday.

It resolved that the people of the area would put their best efforts to book the culprits.

To submit a memorandum to the authority concerned urging for immediate arrest of the murderers, to award fitting punishment to the culprits as and when the killers are nabbed, to appeal to all the organisations including underground outfits for their help in the search for the culprits and to seek help from the State Commission for Women to investigate into the murder case were the other resolutions adopted during the meeting.

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