Rape accused sent to jail

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 12

A man has been remanded to judicial custody for 15 days for allegedly forcibly eloping and raping a 22-year-old woman today by the chief judicial magistrate, Imphal West.

The accused is identified as Thingom Malemnganba alias Macha Meitei (21) son of Th. Tangka Meitei of Liwa Road, Awang Maibam Leikai. He was was arrested on Thursday by Singjamei police.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case submitted before the court that the victim lodged a complaint on September 1, that on July 10 while she was packing up for going to Silchar from Imphal, she was called several times by the accused asking her to come out of her rent house in Imphal. The accused threatened her that he will come to her room if she refuses. 

Due to his threat she came out and she was made to pillion-ride on a scooter forcibly by showing a knife like object and was taken to one house of a friend of the accused located in Imphal and she was raped, added the IO.

The next day she was taken to the accused’s house and the family members of the accused forced her to say that she eloped with her consent, he continued.

The IO said as the victim refused to marry the accused, he beat her every night and also raped her forcibly, and on September 12 she was informed that information of elopement had been given to her family according to traditions and her mother was likely to come sooner for confirming her consent.

She was threatened by the family members that they will not spare anyone who came for asking her. Fearing she did not disclose any words to her mother rather than weeping, added the IO.

Moreover, the accused took away her mobile phone, however after allowing one small conversation with her aunty from Silchar, said the IO.

Later on July 17 the accused took her to D.M. College campus and freed her. He threatened her against disclosing the facts to the police or anyone if she values her and her family member’s life, the IO further submitted.

He added on the next day the she went to her aunty’s house at Silchar to and a civil organisation called “Sanulal”. But the said organisation threatened not to file any case against the accused.

Later again the accused person filed a suit to the civil judge, senior division, Imphal West by making a false allegation that she left the house secretly on the day their family arranged his marriage with her, submitted the IO.

During interrogation the accused person confessed that he had committed the crime and moreover on examining one of the prosecution witnesses, A. Chinglemba Luwang the owner of the scooter used in the alleged elope stated that the victim was against the elopement and tried to run away from the house where she was taken to, continued the IO.

The IO prayed before the court to remand the accused to judicial custody for 15 days as if the accused is released on bail there is possibility of hampering and tempering evidence.