Manipur fashion designer's father held for killing wife

IMPHAL: Police on Friday evening picked up Naorem Dijamani Singh, the husband of Naorem Ongbi Rekha Devi, who was brutally murdered in her house on Wednesday afternoon, in connection with the killing.
The body of Rekha Devi, who is the mother of celebrated fashion designer Robert Naorem, was found dead with injury marks on her head in her first floor apartment in Singjamei.
The murder has created shock waves in the area, with a large number of women's organizations and rights bodies seeking fitting punishment for the perpetrators.
On Friday, police picked up Rekha Devi's husband for questioning after they found that Dijamani, who is also the president of the Consumer Dispute Forum, had blood stains on his trousers and shirts. A metal candle stand, that might have been used to commit the crime, has been seized by the police, sources said. A police officer, however, said that it can only be ascertained whether Dijamani is the actual culprit after the investigation is completed.
The cops have already picked up three masons, who were engaged in renovating Rekha Devi's house and Dijamani's driver, in connection with the murder.
Reacting to his loss, an emotional Robert said that whoever the culprits are - be it close relatives or neighbours - they should be immediately booked. Robert, who was in on the fateful day, added that he wants to perform the last rites of his mother only after coming to know who the real culprits are.
On the other hand, a Joint Action Committee (JAC), which was set up by locals in protest against Rekha's killing, has threatened to launch an intense agitation if the state government fails to book the culprits by Wednesday. The JAC said that Rekha Devi's body, which is lying unclaimed at the mortuary of RIMS hospital here, will not be claimed for performing the last rites until the culprits are booked within the set deadline.
On Friday, the local pressure group organized a sit-in at Singjamei Thokchom Leikai to protest against the murder. The group also submitted a memorandum to Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh, who represents the Singjamei assembly, demanding punishment for Rekha Devi's killers.