Silchar Youth Detained Over Alleged Acid Attack Threat On College Student; Mother Denies Charges

A youth from Saratpally, Sonai Road, Silchar, identified as Subhankar Deb, was detained by Cachar Police on Tuesday (August 12) after allegedly threatening a student of Radha Madhab College with an acid attack. Deb’s mother, on the other hand, said Subhankar was innocent and the student was trying to frame him with baseless charges.

According to sources, Deb was reportedly in a relationship with the student Sharmila Dutta (name changed) of Saratpally, but following their breakup, he began issuing threats. Allegedly, during a recent phone altercation, he threatened to burn her face with acid. In response, the girl allegedly challenged him to come to the college if he was “brave enough.”

On Tuesday afternoon, Deb appeared near the college gate where a large group of students had gathered. Witnesses claim that upon seeing the crowd, he entered the college premises and went straight to the principal’s office. The college administration immediately informed Rangirkhari Outpost, following which a team from Cachar Police reached the spot and took him into custody. The girl has since lodged an FIR against him.

A local resident told Barak Bulletin, “This youth has been advancing romantic prospects towards this girl who has been rejecting him. That is why he was threatening her and even blackmailed her, saying he would kill her family and attack her and her friends with acid. Today, when her friends approached him, he threw a bottle of something into a drain before rushing to the principal’s room.”

Deb is not a student of Radha Madhab College but is allegedly linked with a certain association claiming to be an NGO. “Some woman claiming to be from an NGO or association came to the college to defend him, and on their way out, they assaulted female students and even tore their clothes,” another local alleged.

Subhankar Deb’s mother, on the other hand, alleged, “She (Sharmila Dutta) called my son to the college and wanted to have him beaten up by students and goons she had brought there. Seeing that, my son, in an attempt to save his life, rushed inside the college and entered the Principal’s room. Both of them had been in a relationship for over six years. I am not at home during the day, and she would come to my house, where they would make videos together.”

Deb’s mother further said, “A person who makes videos or vlogs named Anup has called me a ‘Jihadi’. I am a Hindu woman — how can he call me a jihadi?”

When asked about the acid attack allegation, she responded, “My son has done nothing but love her. Both of them were in a relationship for a very long time. I won’t say my son is the best in the world, but he would never do something like that. All these are fake allegations, and she is trying to make my son look like a criminal.”

Police are investigating the incident, including the claims of assault by the alleged NGO members.