Devastating Discovery: Missing 8-Year-Old Found Dead in Manipur; Arrest Made
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Imphal, April 6 (NationPress) Tragically, an eight-year-old girl who had been reported missing since Sunday was discovered deceased beneath the Singjamei bridge spanning the Imphal River on Monday, according to police reports.
A police representative stated that the girl, an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) who vanished from the Akampat Relief Camp in Imphal East district on Sunday evening, was found lifeless under the Singjamei bridge on Monday.
Authorities have arrested a suspect linked to this incident, who has been placed in police custody for five days following an order from the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Imphal East district.
The young victim hailed from Moreh in the Tengnoupal district and had been residing at the Akampat relief camp since ethnic violence erupted in the region in May 2023.
The victim's family promptly reported her disappearance to the Irilbung Police Station, which initiated an immediate search operation. Both IDPs and local community members collaborated in the efforts to locate the girl.
Police teams from both Imphal East and Imphal West districts conducted a coordinated search overseen by senior officials. Analysis of CCTV footage from nearby locations facilitated the identification of the suspect.
The accused, a 28-year-old identified as Laishram Langamba, was detained and later formally arrested. Officials indicated that he had also been residing in the same relief camp following the ethnic violence from May 2023.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly admitted to abducting, assaulting, and murdering the child, subsequently hiding her body beneath the bridge. “Following Laishram Langamba's confession, the girl’s body was recovered from beneath the Singjamei bridge along the Imphal River. Initial assessments suggest this is a case of rape and murder,” disclosed the police representative.
This tragic incident has ignited unrest in Imphal, prompting a significant number of IDPs to protest outside the Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East district, demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
In response, security forces deployed tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, and police eventually managed to restore order.
A five-member delegation from the protesters met with police officials, who assured them that a comprehensive investigation would be conducted and necessary legal actions would be expedited.
Investigations are ongoing.