Sonai: Body of Missing Woman Found in Paddy Field Sparks Murder Suspicion

A shocking incident has created intense tension in Sonai under Cachar district after the severely injured dead body of a woman was recovered from a paddy field on Monday morning (November 24). The family and locals have alleged that she was raped and brutally murdered.

The victim has been identified as 50-year-old Monowara Begum, a resident of Sonai Sundari Part 1. According to family members, she went missing on Sunday afternoon after she went to collect grass for cattle from a nearby field. When she did not return home even after evening, family members, along with local residents, began searching for her. They searched throughout the night in nearby fields and along the banks of the Sonai River but could not trace her.

On Monday morning, locals again started searching and discovered the body about 300 metres away from her house, inside the paddy field. The police of Kochudoram Outpost were informed immediately, and they reached the location and started an initial investigation. At first, family members thought it might be a case of natural death due to a heart attack. However, the condition of the body raised suspicion of murder.

Two probationary DSPs of Cachar Police, Bhaskar Sikha Saikia and Dilraj Pathak, along with Officer in Charge of Kochudoram Outpost Apurba Bora, reached the site. A search operation was carried out with a sniffer dog team, but no major clue was found. Magistrate Chandan Kalita also arrived and supervised the preliminary investigation. A forensic team was seen collecting evidence from the spot.

Speaking to the media, the victim’s younger brother alleged that Monowara was brutally murdered. He said that the body had polythene stuffed inside her mouth, her hands were tied, and there were injury marks on many parts of her body. He said she was found half-naked, which increased suspicion of rape before murder. He demanded a proper investigation and strict punishment for those responsible.

He further informed, “We searched for her till midnight, and even our relatives searched far and wide. We came to this same field last night, and there was nothing. But today her body was here, and the surrounding crop was destroyed. It looks like she was dragged here.”

A woman witness who first saw the body said, “At first we saw the body and did not know what happened. After the authorities moved the body, it became clear that it was a murder. The mouth was filled with polythene, and the clothes were in an indecent condition. I cannot describe it fully. Investigation should be done, and we want justice.” She also claimed that it appeared the body had been dragged and might have been killed somewhere else before being brought to the field.

Local representatives, including Bhaurikandi GP Panchayat member Saddam Hussain, Zila Parishad member Sahin Laskar of Nagadigram and local women’s group member Joli Laskar, strongly condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest and strict punishment for the culprits.

Police investigation is ongoing, and authorities have assured that necessary action will be taken after the post-mortem report.