A shocking incident in Sonamura’s Rampada Para village saw a mother allegedly kill her five-month-old daughter, believing her to be the result of an illicit affair. Police have detained the accused, who has confessed to the crime, sparking outrage and grief in the community.
In a deeply disturbing incident that has shocked the residents of Rampada Para ADC village in Sonamura subdivision, a five-month-old baby girl was allegedly killed by her own mother after she believed the child to be the result of an illicit affair. The accused, identified as Suchitrabala Debbarma, has been taken into custody by police and has reportedly confessed to the crime.
According to family sources, Suchitrabala was involved in an extra-marital relationship with the cousin brother of her father-in-law, Nirmal Debbarma. The affair, which had been a source of tension within the family, allegedly led to the birth of the infant. When Suchitrabala became convinced that the baby was not her husband’s biological child, she allegedly decided to take the child’s life.
Her husband, Amit Kumar Debbarma, had reportedly accepted the child despite knowing about the circumstances surrounding her birth. However, this did not put an end to family disputes. On the contrary, quarrels over the baby’s legitimacy became frequent, and Suchitrabala often faced verbal abuse and character assassination from her in-laws.
The situation escalated in the early hours of Sunday when Suchitrabala, allegedly overwhelmed by humiliation, frustration, and ongoing taunts, smothered her infant daughter with a pillow. The act resulted in the baby’s death.
Neighbors and relatives were stunned by the crime. “We knew there were disputes in the family, but no one thought it would come to this,” a local resident told reporters.
As the news spread through the village, local police from Sonamura Police Station were informed. Officers arrived at the scene and recovered the infant’s body, which was subsequently sent to Sonamura Hospital for post-mortem examination.
However, the autopsy could not be carried out on the same day due to the unavailability of sufficient medical officers at the hospital. “We have been told that enough doctors are not in station at Sonamura Hospital, which is why the post-mortem will be conducted on Monday,” said the baby’s grandfather.
Police sources confirmed that the accused has admitted to the killing during preliminary questioning. She remains in police custody as legal proceedings are set in motion.
This incident marks the second case of a parent killing their own child in Tripura in just a few days. Earlier, a Tripura State Rifles (TSR) official from Behalabari in Khowai district was arrested for allegedly killing his infant daughter. Both cases have drawn public outrage and raised concerns over mental health, family disputes, and domestic abuse in rural areas.
Community leaders have expressed deep concern over the recurring pattern of infanticide and urged authorities to strengthen counseling and mediation mechanisms for families in distress. “This is not just a matter of law enforcement. It’s about creating support systems so that conflicts and emotional distress don’t end in irreversible tragedies,” one local leader said.
A pall of gloom now hangs over Rampada Para ADC village. Villagers, still reeling from the shock, have been gathering outside the family’s home, struggling to comprehend how a personal dispute spiraled into such a horrific crime.
Authorities are expected to press serious charges against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder and other offenses. The police investigation will also examine whether prolonged domestic harassment and emotional abuse contributed to the mother’s mental state at the time of the crime.
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As the case unfolds, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of unresolved domestic conflicts, societal stigma, and emotional breakdowns — issues that continue to claim innocent lives in silence.
