IMPHAL, May 11: In a significant development in the sensational rape and murder case of Lungnila Elizabeth, one of the accused of the case has identified the prime accused in the murder, Thokchom Nando Singh during the ongoing trial of the case in the court of District & Sessions Judge, Imphal West at Uripok Cheirap Court complex on May 9.
The trial in the court has been going on based on the charge sheets framed by Central Investigation Bureau (CBI) against the accused of the case.
The accused (Prosecution Witness No 67), who eye-witnessed the ordeal of the kidnap, captivity, murder, gatherings and communication amongst the abductors in a place somewhere in Imphal West clearly identified the prime accused before the court.
Deposition of the remaining prosecution witnesses of the case will be held in the court.
Blood sample of the prime accused Th Nando has been sent to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for DNA test.
It may be recalled that Lungnila Elizabeth was kidnapped by some unidentified miscreants from the gate of Little Flower School, Kwakeithel on November 4, 2003 for ransom.
Later, her dead body was found inside a gunny bag in a pond at Tera Sadokpam Leikai in Imphal West district on November 12, 2003.
Following the recovery of the body, a case was registered at Lamphel Police Station and investigation into the incident was launched.
Later, the case was handed over to Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Manipur Police Department for faster results.
After the case could not be cracked, CBI was entrusted with the investigation which started from January 27, 2004.
Senior Advocate H Chandrajit Sharma stood for CBI as Special Public Prosecutor in the ongoing trial case.