The case of Arlish Teronpi, a Community Resource Person under National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), whose body was recovered recently in a jungle on her way home in Long-epi village, a few kilometre from Dongkamukam in West Karbi Anglong district, has turned out to be a case of rape and murder.
As per information, one 27-year-old Honsing Rongphar, who has been arrested for being involved in the case, has confessed to have murdered Arlish after raping her on July 13, 2018.
Also read: Assam: Woman’s body recovered in West Karbi Anglong
The accused was apprehended by the villagers of Long-epi on Monday morning and was handed over to the police.
Rongphar, a resident of a nearby village, came into the picture when the news of the disappearance and subsequent finding of Teronpi’s body on Sunday morning spread.
“On the fateful day, a villager going in the opposite direction recalled first crossing Teronpi and then meeting the rapist-murderer Rongphar in the jungle path. He recalled that on that day, Rongphar was carrying a machete (dao) along with him,” said sources.
On suspicion, the villagers searched and found Rongphar in a nearby village – Rongpi – at around 1 am in the morning on Monday.
On questioning, Rongphar confessed to have committed the crime.
According to the statement made to the villagers, Rongphar said that he had dragged the victim into the bushes and raped her below a bamboo grove and left her there. As he was on his way, he turned back and found Teronpi tidying herself at the same spot where he had raped her and attacked her there with the dao in which she died.
The villagers informed the police at Dongkamukam Police Outpost under Baithalangso PS and the police picked him up from the village. It may be mentioned that the villagers have not taken the law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA) condemned the rape and murder and criticised the BJP-led Government for its alleged failure to protect girls and women in the State. KNCA also condemned the rape and murders in running trains that recently took place in the State.