Breakthrough: 3 including ex-UG charged with murder of Kohima youth

Police authorities have arrested three persons, including a former activist of the underground group FGN in connection with the gruesome murder of a youth in Kohima, Meciebo Loch. Kohima police informed on Wednesday, July 1, that all the accused from arrested in the capital town following for months of investigations.

Interestingly, the accused also include persons who have a disturbing history of criminal activities including murder and extortion. For instance, one of the accused served only 6 years in jail after being convicted of murder in 2006.

The role of the local judicial system and the “bail system” continues to be a matter of concern. It is disturbing that the police have been arresting criminal elements only to find out that they were either on bail thanks to the courts or have criminal histories.

The most recent instance was in April this year when Dimapur police arrested an extortionist and found out that he was out on bail from the court from an earlier case of murder. The latest breakthrough by Kohima police appears to be one such case.  

The police authorities of Kohima issued a press release on Wednesday in informing about the arrest of the persons accused in the murder of local youth, Meciebo Loch, on March 29. Reports had said that the youth ran a small shop and was taking care of his aged parents.

Sources had said that the hands of the victim were tied from behind while a noose was found tied around his legs which wound back around the neck, and his body and face bore extensive injuries that his family members could not recognize him. On March 30, police personnel found the dead body from the jungles below the road connecting the Secretariat and Meriema village.

Kohima police said to have been investigating the case “from various angle”.

According to the authorities, the mobile phone of the deceased was ‘also examined’ and the investigating agency got a lead from Call Detail Records about the last call made and last call received by the deceased.

After investigating the case for exactly four months from the date of the case registration, Kohima police could finally apprehend all the accused involved in the murder of Meciebo Loch, the press release said.

The first accused the police arrested has been identified as one Kruse Terhuja, a 35 years old man of Khonoma village, and a resident of lower Bayavu colony in Kohima town. “He is reported to be a former SS captain of FGN Non-Accordist and previously arrested in two counts of crime, one at North PS Kohima in the year 2011 and the other at South PS Kohima in the year 2013 for commission of extortions in Kohima town,” police said.

Terhuja was arrested the previous evening at around 5 PM from the BOC area in the town.

Following his capture, the police zeroed in on an accomplice identified as Vilalhoulie Rupreo, 31 years of Chiechama village and residing below Alder College in Kohima. Rupreo was arrested by the police on the same day from Tinpatti in Kohima.

“The past records of Vilalhoulie were also checked and he is found to be involved in one count of crime in the year 2006. His past records reveals that, he is already convicted in connection with a murder case and have already served 6 years of imprisonment at Central Jail Dimapur,” the Kohima police said.

Finally, the police said that the third accused involved in the murder case was identified as Kezhaletuo Pielie, 34 years, of Gariphema village and a resident of Sepfüzou colony in Kohima town. He was arrested from his residence Tuesday night at around 11:00 PM, police said.

“As per the statements given to the police by the three arrested persons referred above, all of them have voluntarily admitted before the police to have murdered Late. Meciebo on the night of 29th March 2015. Further investigation is on to ascertain the motive behind the murder case. The conveyance used for commission of the crime is also seized and taken into police custody,” the police said.

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