Assam rape-murder: E boyfriend among 3 held, victim's family seeks death penalty
Assam Police have arrested three teenagers, including a 17-year-old boy, for allegedly raping and murdering a 16-year-old girl in Hailakandi district. According to investigating officers
Assam Police have arrested three teenagers, including a 17-year-old boy, for allegedly raping and murdering a 16-year-old girl in Hailakandi district. According to investigating officers, the victim was allegedly in a relationship with one of the accused. The accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Class 10 student was found dead at her home in the Aloichora area under Katlicherra police station on Saturday night. Her family has alleged that she was raped and subjected to extreme brutality before being killed. Police said they had initially detained five youths for questioning before arresting three suspects aged between 17 and 19. Read Full Story Hailakandi Senior Superintendent of Police Amitab Sinha said one of the accused is 17-and-a-half years old, and police have urged the court to try him as an adult, citing the "brutality" of the crime.
According to investigators, the victim was allegedly in a relationship with one of the arrested youths. However, police said the exact motive behind the murder is still under investigation. The incident occurred around 11 pm on Saturday when the victim's family was attending a feast at a relative's nearby house. The girl had reportedly left the gathering after an argument with a cousin and went home alone. Her family said they found her body about an hour later. Describing the crime as "horrific", the victim's mother demanded capital punishment for the accused. The family has also sought a fast-track trial, saying, "Justice delayed is justice denied." A senior police officer said the girl's body bore multiple injury marks and that her private parts had been mutilated, indicating she was allegedly tortured with different objects. Forensic teams have collected samples from the crime scene and are examining the evidence, including objects suspected to have been used in the assault.
Additional Superintendent of Police Samir Dapar Baruah said the accused have been booked under Sections 65(1) (rape of a girl below 16 years) and 103(1) (murder) of the BNS, along with Section 6 of the POCSO Act for aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Police said additional charges could be invoked as the investigation progresses. They have seized several mobile phones, are analysing communication records and have not ruled out further arrests. "We have found that the accused were familiar with the victim and knew the layout of her house. There had been communication between the girl and the boys, but it is too early to draw conclusions. A thorough investigation is underway," SSP Sinha said. The police also appealed to the public and social media users not to circulate sensitive information that could hamper the investigation or compromise the victim's dignity. The killing has triggered widespread outrage across Assam's Barak Valley.
The BriefWire