Karbi student body suspects domestic servant was raped & murdered; demands 'justice' from CM

DIPHU: Karbi Students' Association (KSA), a prominent student body primarily active in Karbi Anglong, has cried foul play in the death of a 12-year-old girl who was working as a domestic servant for a family in Nagaon's Raha town.

Sumila Ronghangpi, who was working as domestic help for the past five years, was found charred to death on April 22, following which suspicion immediately landed on her employer, a certain Prakash Borthakur. A case was registered in Nagaon and Prakash and his son, Nayanmoni Borthakur, have been arrested.

Meanwhile, talking to InsideNE, KSA president Simeon Rongphar, claims that the organization suspects "rape and murder" based on neighbours' accusations.

"Yesterday, members of the KSA from West Karbi Anglong went to Raha to investigate the death of the girl. They talked to the neighbours of the Borthakur family. The neighbours said that the Borthakur family did not treat her very well and never saw her going to school. The girl's parents were led to believe that she was going to school," he told us, adding, "During the time of the incident, only Borthakur and his son were present at the house. Therefore, we suspect that it is a rape and murder case."

Meanwhile, the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), has also claimed that the victim could have sexually assaulted by the accused before she was killed which could have resulted in her pregnancy.

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Rongphar further added that the Karbi community was initially upset as very few media outlets had run the news, but are not upset now "as many state media have run the news."

However, the KSA is planning to hold some condolence programmes to mourn the departed, Rongphar further asserted.

The organization had yesterday forwarded a memorandum to chief minister Sarbanda Sonowal making three demands as "remedial steps" to ensure justice.

"Firstly, we have urged him to immediately conduct a high-level investigation into the suspected murder of Sumila. Secondly, we have called for speedy justice and that this case be brought under Fast Track Court. Lastly, we want the state government to release Rupees twenty lakh ex gratia for the kin of the deceased," Simeon told us.

"Sir, you will be surely aware of the fact that a minor girl Sumila Ronghangpi which is highly suspected to be a murder by Prokash Borthakur, his wife Rani Thakur and son at the accused's residence on April 22 in Nagaon, Assam," the memorandum read. "That Sir, the slogan of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has remained to be futile as atrocities against women are mushrooming day by day. But trusting in your able leadership, we on behalf of the KSA in particular and the Karbi community as a whole would like to urge you to fulfil our demand as mentioned above to serve Justice at the earliest."

Meanwhile, the police SP of Nagaon has assured the stakeholders that the charge sheet will be prepared on a fast track mode and justice shall be delivered.

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