Tanu JAC alleges husband’s family foul play

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 5

Joint action committee against the killing of one Oinam ongbi Tanu Devi (32) alleged her husband Oinam Chandrababu Singh and his family responsible for her death. Tanu passed away on September 2 under doubtful circumstances. 

The JAC along with the family member today carried out a protest rally from Tanu’s birth place Tera Sadokpam leikai towards the chief minister’s bungalow to submit a memorandum. The rally was blocked by a team of police personnel at near Tera Sayang Pukhri.

After moments of negotiation the rally continued and the agitators staged sit-in-protest at the west side of Kwakeithel bazar community hall.

Speaking to media person co-convenor of the JAC, Khumukcham ningol Langlen Leima recounted that Chandrababu’s elder brother called up Tanu’s mother at around 3.30 am on September 2, informing that Tanu has committed suicide by hanging herself on a Tamarind tree inside the residential premise of her husband.

On hearing the news, Tanu’s elder brother, Taorem Jayenta called back to the residence of Tanu and requested them not to take down the body from the tree until their reach the spot, she said.

When Jayenta reached the residence of Chandrababu, Thanga Karang Mangae Makhong police personnel was already there and the dead body was taken away to Bishnupur police station without the consent of Tanu’s family, Langlen added.

According to police personnel the body was already on the courtyard before they reach the crime scene, she added.

Langlen further said family members and Jayenta demanded for post-mortem as Tanu had died under doubtful circumstances. Consequently, Tanu’s body was taken to the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) morgue for post-mortem.

“Jayenta and family members could sense pungent smell oozing out of Tanu’s body. They became more suspicious of foul play by Chandrababu and his family. During the process of post-mortem three scars were found on her dorsal side; one near the neck, two at the middle and lower back areas”, said Langlen.

Further the JAC co-convenor maintained that Tanu had frequent quarrel between her husband on the matter of dowry.  “The JAC strongly refute the police report of suicide as there are enough evidences that point to foul play by the husband’s family”, she added.

The stories narrated by the in-laws and husband of the deceased are all concocted to cover up their crime, Langlen asserted.

Meanwhile, the JAC submitted a memorandum to the chief minister demanding justice for the death. It demanded that a special investigating team (SIT) be formed to investigate into the matter hand over the findings to a fast-track court.

Investigation should be time bound within September 10 and the government should produce a white paper on this crime against women and should advise the SIT to act in conformity with the justice Verma Committee, Langlen demanded.

The dead body must not be handed without any proper investigation to both the parties, she said.