Police have arrested five persons, including a juvenile, in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old Class IX student in Aloichhara village under Katlicherra Police Station in Assam’s Hailakandi district.
The victim’s body was recovered from her residence on the night of August 1, triggering widespread outrage across Hailakandi district and the Barak Valley.
Following the incident, Katlicherra Police launched an immediate investigation, with senior police officers visiting the crime scene to supervise the probe. A forensic team was also deployed to collect evidence from the spot.
According to police, the preliminary post-mortem examination indicated that the minor had been sexually assaulted before being murdered, prompting investigators to intensify the probe.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), was constituted to investigate the case. The team initially detained three suspects before arresting two more based on fresh leads, taking the total number of accused to five, including four adults and one juvenile.
Investigators said the probe has yielded several important leads. Preliminary findings suggest that some of the accused were known to the victim. Police are examining personal relationships, possible prior disputes and other potential motives behind the crime. However, officials have refrained from drawing any final conclusions, stating that the investigation remains in progress.
The four adult accused were produced before a court and remanded to police custody for further interrogation, while the juvenile was sent to an observation home in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Police said forensic examination and interrogation of the accused are continuing as part of the ongoing investigation to establish the complete sequence of events.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation across Hailakandi district and the Barak Valley, with various organisations and members of the public demanding a speedy trial and the strictest possible punishment for those found guilty.
Police have assured that the investigation will be carried out impartially and that all those responsible for the crime will be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
