7-year-old Manipur girl raped, murdered; body disposed under bridge

In a deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves across Manipur, a seven-year-old internally displaced (IDP) girl was found dead less than 24 hours after she was reported missing in Imphal East district. Police have arrested a 28-year-old man in connection with the alleged rape and murder, and a court has remanded him to police custody for further investigation.

The victim, originally from Moreh and residing at a relief camp in Imphal East, went missing on Sunday evening. Her family lodged a police complaint around 7 pm, following which a search operation was launched.

Police teams from Imphal East and Imphal West districts carried out a coordinated search under the supervision of senior officers. CCTV footage from nearby areas was examined, which helped identify a suspect.

The accused, identified as Laishram Lanngamba (28), also from Moreh and currently staying at a relief camp, was detained later that night. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to abducting, sexually assaulting and killing the child, and disposing of the body under a bridge in the Singjamei area.

Acting on his disclosure, police recovered the body in the early hours of Monday. It was later sent to the mortuary at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences for post-mortem. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The accused was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, under tight security. The court remanded him to five days of police custody till April 10.

Police said custodial interrogation was required to establish the sequence of events and examine whether others were involved. Officials also said the accused was not cooperating with the investigation.

Meanwhile, residents of the relief camp staged a protest outside Irilbung Police Station on Monday morning, demanding strict punishment. The protest turned confrontational, and security personnel used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Officials from the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights, led by chairperson Keisham Pradipkumar, visited the victim’s family at the relief camp. Members of the Child Welfare Committee under the Social Welfare Department also met the family to assess the situation and extend support.

Further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and examine all aspects of the case.

- Ends

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