Unidentified No More: Youth Found Dead in Borkhola's Durbinatilla Identified as Utpal Das, Murder Alleged

The unidentified youth whose body was found near Debinala canal in the scenic Durbinatilla area of Borkhola, Cachar, on Sunday has now been identified as Utpal Das, a resident of New Kanchanpur, Silchar. What was initially thought to be a tragic accident has now taken a darker turn, with allegations of murder filed by the victim’s family.

The body was first discovered by locals near the canal, a popular weekend spot known for its temple and peaceful surroundings. Police and emergency services arrived at the scene following the alert and recovered the body, which was then taken to Borkhola Hospital. He was declared brought dead and later sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.

At the time, the deceased had no form of identification on him—no mobile phone, Aadhaar, or any other personal documents—prompting the police to seek public assistance in identifying him. On Monday morning, while speaking to Barak Bulletin, Officer-in-Charge of Borkhola Police Station, Nilkamal Baruah, said, “The body is yet to be identified. It is a well-known place and people from across the location visit it. Post recovery, we brought the body to Borkhola Hospital first, where he was declared brought dead.”

Later that day, the victim’s identity was confirmed as 22-year-old Utpal Das, and a chilling narrative began to unfold. His father, Bimal Das, filed a case at Borkhola Police Station, alleging that his son was murdered in a pre-planned manner by three of his friends: Pritam Das, Jadav Das, and Madhab Das—all residents of Silchar.

According to the complaint, Utpal left home on Sunday morning after receiving a phone call from Pritam Das. He informed his family that he was going to Rajbari with Pritam. However, when Utpal did not return home and his phone remained switched off, his father tried contacting Pritam. “He told us he is going towards Rajbari. I asked him not to, but he informed me he is going with Pritam, and afterwards, when we contacted him, he was unreachable. When Pritam picked up my call, he said he came back and that my son had dropped him off and that he didn’t go to Rajbari,” said Bimal Das.

As suspicions grew, Bimal Das filed a missing person report at a police watch post along the National Highway in Silchar. Hours later, the family received news of a body found at Durbinatilla, which they later identified as Utpal’s.

While the police initially considered the possibility that Utpal may have slipped and fallen to his death, the fresh allegations have shifted the direction of the investigation. OC Baruah, while speaking to Barak Bulletin on Monday morning, stated, “Our initial theory is that it is an accidental death, but we are open to all possibilities and the investigation is ongoing.”

With a formal case now lodged and murder alleged, police are continuing to probe the matter from multiple angles. The truth behind Utpal Das’s tragic end is still unfolding.