Two convicts in an infamous 2013 rape and murder case in Manipur were awarded imprisonment till death by a session court in Imphal on Monday.
The two convicts are Kshetrimayum Biju Meitei alias Hollendro (28), son of Ksh Ibochou of Thoubal Kshetri Leikai and Toijam Thesuch alias James Bond (27), son of Toijam Jugindro of Thambalkhong Sabal Leikai. They were convicted of rape and murder of N Satyabhama, a junior research fellow of Pathology department of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in 2013.
Satyabhama was found murdered (with bruise marks on her neck and body) in a canal at Wangkhei Loumanbi Loukol under Irilbung police station on April 5, 2013, a couple of days after she left her Kakwa residence.
Biju is reported to be the boyfriend of late Seityabhama.
Earlier, on December 15, Session Judge Imphal East M Manoj Kumar convicted the two persons and the sentence hearing was held on Monday.
The case was going on from April 2013 and after the completion of the investigation, the investigation officer of the case submitted the charge sheets under section 302 (Murder) and 120-B (common intention) before the Court. Charges were framed against the accused on November 20, 2013 under section 302 and 120-B IPC.
To investigate the crime, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an additional SP.
On August 28, 2013, the SIT submitted charge sheet against the accused trio before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East and charged Biju under section 376 (rape), u/s 302 murder and u/s 120- criminal conspiracy while Jiban and James Bond were charged under section 120-B. It was followed by the Session Judge, Imphal East, framing charges against the three accused persons on November 20, 2013 for initiation of trial. The SIT also submitted an additional charge sheet against the three on October 10, 2015.
The court recorded and examined the statements of 35 prosecution witnesses of 50 persons who were listed for deposing in the case during the trial.
NNN
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