Dibrugarh, Assam — The serene landscape of a small tea garden in Dibrugarh district was shattered by a heinous crime, leading to the arrest of a man with a grim past.
Assam Police have apprehended an individual in connection with the alleged rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the community of Kachari Pathar.
The horrific crime unfolded on August 9 when the young girl, who had ventured out to collect firewood, went missing. Police sources reveal that the accused, who was fishing nearby, allegedly saw the girl alone and committed the heinous act.
A police official, speaking on the matter, said the girl was likely smothered to death after being raped.
Following the brutal act, the accused attempted to conceal his crime by hiding the victim’s body in a drain and covering it with hay and grass. As darkness fell and the girl failed to return home, her worried parents, along with concerned neighbours, initiated a frantic search. They also alerted the local police. The search culminated in a grim discovery around 8:40 PM, when the child’s body was found.
The community, already on edge, acted swiftly when the accused attempted to flee the scene. They managed to catch him and handed him over to the police, ensuring he could not escape justice.
The investigation has also brought to light the accused’s disturbing history. It was revealed that he had previously served a 14-year prison sentence for the murder of his own mother and was released just three years ago.
The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Prasenjit Das of Namrup, confirmed the arrest. “He is in our custody,” Das stated, adding that a case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
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