IMPHAL, April 12: A co-accused in the 11-year-old case of abduction and cold blooded murder of eight years old Lungnila Elizabeth, on September 4, 2003 was today remanded to judicial custody.
57-year-old Ningthoujam ongbi Heishnam ningol Prem Devi alias Ningol , daughter of Heishnam Yaima Singh of Nongmaikhong Awang Leikai, Thoubal District who was arrested by a special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation was produced around 2 pm before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West at Uripok Cheirap Court Complex.
Deputy Superintendent of Police RK Bhattacharjee of the CBI who is in Imphal petitioned the CJM, Imphal West to give a remand for keeping the co-accused under judicial custody. The court after hearing the petition has remanded the co-accused under judicial custody until April 25. The court demanded to know the views of the co-accused about the proceedings against her and her health conditions to which she replied that she had nothing to say.
There were no attempts from the co-accused or her legal representatives to get her out of the judicial custody on bail.
The co-accused, Ningthoujam ongbi Hesihnam ningol Prem Devi was arrested by a special team of CBI at around 3.30 pm on April 8 from the RIMS gate when she came to the hospital for medical treatment. A court had earlier remanded her to two days under judicial custody on April 9.
A case bearing FIR no 181(II) 2003 was registered at the Lamphel Police Station against the murder of Lungnila Elizabeth, a minor, daughter of Francis Ngajokpa, a cabinet minister, who was abducted and killed for ransom. The state government transferred the case to the CBI which registered a case bearing no RC/5/5/2004-KOI Vs 364A, 368,400,302 IPC.