Shillong, Oct 13:Police believe that 4-year-old Insaphira L Mawnai was the victim of a homicidal drowning but are still working to ascertain the motive behind the crime, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem informed today.
Insaphira disappeared from her home in September and the following day her body was discovered in a small pool of water at an under-construction building in her neighbourhood. A 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to having been involved in the death but claimed that it was an accident. He is currently in detention at a juvenile home. The boy and the girl were known to each other prior to the incident.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the case has “confirmed that the drowning was homicidal in nature,” Syiem said today. However, the SIT is still trying to determine whether the act followed an argument over a packet of biscuits, which is now what the accused says, or if it was linked to attempted sexual assault.
Police have ruled out anyone else being involved in the case, believing the boy to be the sole perpetrator.
Meanwhile, on the murder involving a 7-year-old boy from last week, Syiem said the SIT is exploring multiple leads. Like Insaphira, the boy was also a resident of Nongrah and his lifeless body was found dumped in a forest in nearby Mawpat.
“We are working to establish the motive, whether ransom, sexual assault, or something else,” Syiem said, adding that the body was found with injury marks, some of which may have been caused before death and others afterwards. The post-mortem will provide more clarity on the cause of death, he said.
