Viswema warns against bailing murder accused

A youth organization representing Viswema village, under Kohima district, has issued a stringent warning against bailing out the three persons accused in the murder of a local youth on March 29 in the capital town earlier this year. 

Tepumecie ‘Meciebo’ Lcho was allegedly murdered by three persons identified by the police as one Kruse Terhuja, a Vilalhoulie Rupreo, and one Kezhaletuo Pielie.

Police authorities had informed on Wednesday that two of the arrested persons had other criminal-conviction records including for murder and extortion. 

The Viswema Youth Organization issued a press release on Thursday, July 2, stating that the three accused should be tried and awarded befitting punishment.

The youth organization has strongly cautioned individuals or organizations against granting or bailing out the accused. “…the organization also demand that no bail should be granted to anyone of them under any circumstances, and no individual should come forward to bailout any of them,” the youths stated while demanding ‘befitting punishment’ for the accused.

“…we demand that the authority should award the highest befitting punishment to the perpetrators of this most heinous crime”, the press release from the Viswema youth said.

The youth organization of Viswema village said that Tepumecie Lcho was a member of the Viswema Youth Organization. The group said to have learnt that the persons responsible for the brutal murder of the person have confessed to the crime. 

Police clarifies

The Kohima police authorities have clarified to a detail in the news reports published in all the local newspapers on July 2. The police authorities issued a note on Thursday clarifying that the correct native village of the convict, Vilalhoulie Rupreo, 31 years, who was arrested on June 30 in connection with March 29 murder, should be read as “Nachama” instead of “Chiechama”.

“The error made in this regard is deeply regretted,” the police said.

Chiechama Village Council clarifies

The Chiechama Village Council has also clarified that one of the murder accused was not a member of the village as reported by the police earlier. The council issued a press release on Thursday clarifying. 

“We the Village Council of Chiechama would like to clarify the news item under the various captions regarding a murder case which was published on local dailies on 2nd July 2015 that one of the accused called Vilalhoulie Rüpreo is not a bonafide member of the village. Therefore, the public are requested to take note of this clarification,” the note form the council stated.

Recap  

Earlier, police authorities had arrested the three persons, including a former activist of the underground group FGN in connection with the gruesome murder of the youth in Kohima. Kohima police had informed on Wednesday, that all the accused were arrested from the capital town following months of investigations.

Interestingly, the accused people whom the police arrested included persons with 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 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. 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 had said yesterday.

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 had said.

Earlier, 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.

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