It has taken more than three decades but justice was finally delivered last week when three men suspected of murder were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment for a crime dating back to 1991.
Two other accused died in the intervening period and so did the investigating officer.
In another example of India’s slow judicial process, the original FIR was registered on November 16, 1991 when the brother of the victim, Sada Muruh, accused five relatives – Tngen Muruh, Lowit Muruh, She Muruh, Tne Muruh and Kamai Muruh – of the murder.
They were accused in the FIR, lodged at Ummulong beat house, of the murder that same day at Lumkhudung village.
The case was investigated by Sub-Inspector QE Pala and a charge sheet was registered against the five.
Kamai and Lowit both died during the course of the trial and Pala, the investigating officer, passed away in June 2022.
The trial continued against the three survivors and, on August 4, they were found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for murder amounting to culpable homicide, a police press release informed today.
