15 years-old girl of Karbi tribe raped and murdered, accused held

The accused, a 25-year-old man identified as a neighbour to the victim’s family, has been taken into custody. The police have revealed that the young girl was not only raped but also murdered by the very person entrusted with ensuring her safe journey.

The victim, a member of the Karbi tribe, had returned home for a break from school. Due to the lack of educational facilities in her remote village, her family had entrusted the accused with the responsibility of safely transporting her back to the town where she was enrolled in a boarding school, approximately 30 kilometres away.

Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police, Sanjib Kumar Saikia, shed light on the challenges faced by the victim in reaching her school.

The shocking turn of events unfolded when the accused, having taken custody of the girl on January 26, reported her missing at a police station on January 29. According to his account, his motorcycle broke down during the journey, leading to a stop, and subsequently, the girl went missing. Suspicion arose when the officer in charge reported the incident to Superintendent Saikia, prompting a careful examination of the accused.

The grim reality surfaced on Tuesday when the lifeless body of the young girl was recovered from a forested area, and the accused confessed to the heinous crime the same day.

Expressing solidarity with the grieving family, members of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council visited them and extended financial support. A sum of Rs 1 lakh was handed over from the Chief Executive Member’s Relief Fund to assist the family during this difficult time.