A seven-year-old girl who went missing from a relief camp in Imphal East district of Manipur was found dead, police said. The accused, a 28-year-old man, confessed to abducting, raping, and killing the girl.
The girl was displaced from Moreh after clashes broke out between Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities on May 3, 2023. Her family members lodged a missing person complaint on Sunday, prompting a coordinated search effort by police teams from Imphal East and Imphal West districts.
Investigators scanned CCTV footage, which led to the identification of the suspect. The accused, Laishram Langamba, was detained for questioning and allegedly confessed to the crime.
Following the confession, the body of the minor was recovered from under a bridge in Singjamei Wangma Keshtri Leikai, Imphal East. The accused has been taken into custody, and further legal proceedings are underway.
Tensions flared later in the day as internally displaced persons from the relief camp gathered outside Irilbung police station, demanding the death penalty for the accused. The protest escalated into a confrontation with security personnel, prompting police to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
