BSF soldier arrested for rape and murder in Assam

Police in Assam have arrested a serving soldier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on the charges of rape and murder of a mother of two in Sibsagar town two months ago.

Pranjal Pratim Saikia was arrested on Thursday for his role in the murder of Diksha Rajkumari, an employee of Airtel, whose decomposed body was found in her home in August.

The police arrested the victim’s husband, Rajib Borgohain, and another person in August in connection with the crime, which grabbed headlines and raised questions about the safety of women living alone.

Rajkumari, who had problems with her husband, was living in a rented house. Her body was found several days after the murder.

Saikia, a native of Sibsagar posted in J&K, and Rajkumari got to know each other through a social media platform and their friendship soon developed into an affair. “According to the statement given by the accused,

GUWAHATI:

things turned sour when Diksha started blackmailing Pranjal and kept demanding money...” Sibsagar superintendent of police Subodh Sonowal told HT.

Police were able to zero in on the accused after they found a mobile number, which records pointed out was active near the

crime scene, was switched off since the day of the murder.

“Our investigations revealed that the phone belonged to the accused. Following his arrest, Pranjal has confessed his involvement with the victim and his role in the murder,” Sonowal said