Imphal, Jan 22: Manipur Police have arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the brutal killing of a 76-year-old woman in Imphal West district, a crime that has sent shockwaves through the local community and renewed concerns over the safety of elderly people living alone.
The accused, identified as Surendrajit Oinam, is the nephew of the victim, Oinam Thoibi Devi, who was also known in the locality as Ibendhou or Pishakcha. Police confirmed that the arrest was made on January 21 following sustained investigations into the case, and that the accused has confessed to his involvement in the murder. Investigators are continuing to probe the case to determine whether any other individuals played a role in the crime.
The murder came to light on the afternoon of January 19 when Thoibi Devi’s body was discovered inside her residence at Singjamei Oinam Thingel Makha Leirak. The body was found concealed under a bed and wrapped in clothes, days after neighbours last saw her. Family members had grown alarmed after she went missing, prompting residents to check her house, leading to the grim discovery.
Police from Singjamei Police Station, accompanied by forensic experts, rushed to the scene and conducted an inquest in the presence of an Executive Magistrate. Preliminary observations revealed signs of extreme brutality, with the victim sustaining multiple stab wounds on her face and body. Her throat had been slit, and fingers on her right hand were severed, pointing to a deliberate and violent attack.
The body was later shifted to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences mortuary for post-mortem examination to ascertain the precise cause and timing of death. A murder case was registered, and investigators began questioning relatives and others connected to the victim as part of the inquiry.
The killing sparked fear and outrage among residents of the area. An emergency public meeting was convened at Eikhoigee Club in Oinam Thingel, where locals condemned the crime and demanded swift and strict action against those responsible. The meeting also resolved to form a Joint Action Committee Against the Brutal Killing of Oinam (ningol) Thoibi alias Pishakcha to pursue justice in the case.
The committee further adopted a resolution seeking the expulsion of the accused and his family from the locality once responsibility is conclusively established. Police said investigations are ongoing to verify all possible links and ensure that anyone else involved in the crime is identified and brought to justice.
