Assam teen allegedly raped, murdered; five arrested as police probe motive

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered inside her home in Assam’s Hailakandi district, triggering widespread outrage and protests across the Barak Valley. Five people, including a minor, have been arrested in connection with the case, with police investigating whether an alleged love triangle was the motive behind the crime.

The victim was found dead at her residence in Aloicherra under Katlichera Police Station on Saturday night after her family returned from a nearby gathering. A post-mortem examination confirmed that she was sexually assaulted before being killed, police said.

On Wednesday, Hailakandi Police arrested two more accused—Monoj Das alias Rajdeep Das (23) and Siraj Das (18)—taking the total number of arrests to five. Three teenagers, including a 17-year-old, had been arrested earlier and remanded to police custody.

Senior Superintendent of Police Amitab Sinha said the investigation suggests the victim was allegedly in contact with two of the accused, and a possible romantic rivalry is being examined as one of the motives.

According to investigators, the accused were familiar with the victim and allegedly knew that she would be alone at home after her family left for a nearby feast. Police are analysing mobile phone records and other digital evidence to establish the sequence of events and determine the role of each accused.

The victim’s family said she had returned home earlier than them after attending the same gathering. When they reached home later that night, they found her dead inside the house.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), has been constituted to investigate the case. Forensic experts examined the crime scene, while the post-mortem was conducted at Silchar Medical College and Hospital under videography.

All five accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to rape 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 may be added as the investigation progresses.

The incident has sparked protests across Hailakandi and other parts of the Barak Valley, with residents blocking National Highway-6 and organising candlelight marches to demand swift justice. The victim’s family has called for capital punishment for those found guilty and urged authorities to ensure a speedy trial in a fast-track court.

Police have appealed to the public to refrain from circulating sensitive or unverified information related to the case, saying it could affect the ongoing investigation.