Five people, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl in Assam’s Hailakandi district, police said, as the brutal crime triggered protests across the Barak Valley, India.
The teenager was found dead inside her home in the Aloicherra area under Katlichera Police Station on Saturday night after her family returned from a nearby feast.
A post-mortem examination confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted before being murdered, according to police.
On Wednesday, investigators arrested Monoj Das alias Rajdeep Das (23) and Siraj Das (18), taking the total number of arrests to five. The two were produced before a district court later in the day. Three other accused, including a 17-year-old, had been arrested on Monday and remanded to six days of police custody.
Senior Superintendent of Police Amitab Sinha said the investigation is in its initial stages and officers are examining all possible motives. Preliminary findings suggest the victim knew some of the accused, and investigators are probing whether personal relationships may have contributed to the crime.
Police said the victim’s family had gone to attend a feast at a relative’s house on the night of the incident. The girl reportedly returned home around 10.30 p.m. after an argument with a cousin. When the family arrived home about an hour later, they found her dead inside the house.
The victim’s family has alleged that she was subjected to extreme violence and has demanded the maximum punishment for those found guilty. They have also urged the authorities to ensure a speedy trial in a fast-track court.
According to investigators, the prime accused was familiar with the victim and allegedly knew when her family would be away from home. Police are examining mobile phone records, digital evidence and witness statements to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine the role of each accused.
A district forensic team, along with experts from the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, examined the crime scene under the supervision of an executive magistrate. The post-mortem examination was conducted by a team of doctors at Silchar Medical College and Hospital and was videographed as part of the investigation.
Police have constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), to oversee the probe.
All five accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to the alleged rape of a minor and murder, along with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which deals with aggravated penetrative sexual assault. Police said additional charges could be added as the investigation progresses.
Sinha said forensic evidence, mobile phone records and witness testimonies are being analysed. He added that while investigators suspect the involvement of multiple accused, charges relating to gang rape have not yet been invoked as the probe remains at a preliminary stage.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in Hailakandi and other parts of Assam’s Barak Valley. Protesters blocked National Highway-6, organised candlelight marches and launched social media campaigns demanding justice for the victim and stringent action against those responsible.
Police have appealed to the public to refrain from sharing sensitive or unverified information about the case on social media, warning that such material could hamper the ongoing investigation.
