Authorities have made a third arrest in the harrowing rape and murder of a 16-year-old student in Chandanmura village. On Tuesday, police apprehended the victim’s paternal uncle, Babul Das, following a brief period in which he had gone into hiding.
The investigation into the teenager’s death has taken a grim turn as evidence increasingly points toward a coordinated family effort. Babul Das’s arrest follows the earlier detention of the victim’s grandfather, Pranaballav Das, and grandmother, Jyotsna Rani Das.
Police sources revealed that significant evidence linking the uncle to the crime scene has been recovered. Prior to his arrest, Das had reportedly threatened local residents who voiced suspicions regarding his involvement.
The victim’s grandmother was formally taken into custody on Sunday after interrogation of the grandfather suggested her complicity. Investigators now believe that while the primary assault may have been committed by the grandfather, the uncle and grandmother played critical roles in facilitating the crime or attempting to cover it up.
Specifically, officials are investigating whether the family members worked together to hang the minor’s body to simulate a suicide and mislead investigators.
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As the community reels from the brutality of the case, the Sonamura police have emphasized that the investigation remains active. With three family members now behind bars, authorities are working to finalize the forensic timeline and ensure all parties involved in the heinous act face the full extent of the law.
