Uncle held in suspected rape and murder of tribal girl at Phansidewa tea garden

Photo Source & courtesy : Siliguri Times

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, AUGUST 28, 2024 : A man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly killing his own niece, who had been missing for the past nine days from the Gayaganga Tea Garden area under Phansidewa police station. Tension mounted in the area on Tuesday evening after tea garden workers noticed a bad smell and later saw a decomposed body lying inside a drain. Later, a large police contingent, the Rapid Action Force, a forensic team, Superintendent of Police Praween Prakasand, and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad Sabhadhipati Arun Ghosh reached the spot.

The 17-year-old tribal student of Class IX had been missing since August 18. A missing complaint was lodged at Ghoshpukur police outpost on the same night. On Tuesday evening, the body was found partly covered with mud and boulders in an attempt to hide it. Family members suspected rape and murder of the girl. Following an investigation conducted jointly by the police and the team of experts, the uncle of the girl was arrested. He confessed before the police that he had killed his niece by strangling her and had covered the body with boulders.

The Darjeeling SP said that investigations were going on to find out the actual cause of the incident and if there was any incident of rape. “We have arrested the deceased's uncle, who has also confessed to killing his niece, but it's unclear why he killed her.” According to the uncle, he had killed his niece after warning her not to be involved in social media, which she had denied. Then he decided to end her life to prevent any social stigma.

A forensic team has started working at the spot to find out the cause of death. According to police sources, the dog squad could be engaged in the investigations.