Imphal, October 13: Fear gripped residents of Yaiskul Chingakham Leirak in Imphal West district after a 67-year-old woman was brutally murdered inside her own house on Monday afternoon, in what locals describe as one of the most shocking crimes in the area in recent years.
The victim, identified as Dr. Asem Ongbi Rita, wife of Asem Muhindro, was found lying in a pool of blood inside the living room on the second floor of her residence. She was reportedly alone when the assailants entered her home.
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Police said the murder likely occurred between 1 pm and 1:30 pm, a period when most neighbours were indoors. “The main gate of the house was found open, which was unusual,” a police officer said. Family members found her motionless body around 5 pm and rushed her to Raj Medicity, where doctors declared her “brought dead.”
During the spot inspection, a police team from Imphal Police Station, accompanied by a forensic team, found that all valuables in the house remained untouched. However, the CCTV cameras had been damaged, and the hard drive containing recordings was missing, a sign that the culprits may have tampered with evidence before fleeing.
A case has been registered, and investigators are examining possible angles, including targeted attack and attempted robbery.
Local residents expressed deep shock and fear following the incident. Chingakham Jamuna, Vice President of Yaiskul Apunba Meira Paibi, said, “We saw her lying in a pool of blood, and it looked like she had been hit with a heavy object on the head. We appeal to the authorities to catch the culprits quickly. We are scared to stay in our own homes after this.”
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Another resident said that Dr. Rita was a respected figure in the locality and often stayed alone during the day. “It’s hard to believe something like this could happen inside her own home,” the resident said. The killing has raised serious questions about security and public safety in residential areas of Imphal, as residents demand swift action and visible policing to prevent similar crimes.
(Newmai News Network)