Imphal: Churachandpur district in Manipur is grappling with another horrifying incident as the body of a ‘mentally challenged’ minor girl was discovered in a forest within the Thanlon sub-division on April 11th.
The distressing discovery followed the girl’s disappearance on Friday when she had ventured into the Leijangphai area forest to gather firewood. Her failure to return prompted her concerned father to search for her.
Tragically, her body was found on Friday afternoon, bearing visible signs of a violent assault. Police officials reported that the victim’s clothes were torn, and there were injury marks present on her body, suggesting a struggle.
In response to this heinous crime, law enforcement has apprehended a suspect, and a thorough investigation is currently underway to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
This latest incident has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly as it marks the third such case of alleged sexual assault against minor girls in Churachandpur district within a disturbingly short span of less than a month.
Earlier in April, a ten-year-old girl in the same district was a victim of sexual assault perpetrated by an underage boy. Prior to that, last month witnessed the tragic death of a nine-year-old girl whose body was found near a relief camp housing internally displaced individuals in Churachandpur.
In that earlier case, the victim’s body exhibited an injury mark on her neck and bloodstains nearby, leading her parents and civil society organizations, including the Zomi Mothers’ Association, to allege both sexual assault and murder. The recurring nature of these violent crimes has ignited widespread fear and anger within the region, raising serious concerns about the safety and security of children in Churachandpur.
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