Silchar: The investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old Class IX student in Assam’s Hailakandi district gathered pace on Tuesday, with a local court remanding the two adult accused to six days’ police custody and district police constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a scientific and time-bound probe.In a statement issued on Tuesday, the office of the Hailakandi superintendent of police said the SIT, headed by the additional superintendent of police (Crime), had been formed to supervise the investigation.The police also said preliminary findings from the post-mortem examination confirmed evidence of sexual assault on the victim.The investigating officer had sought 10 days’ police custody of the two adult accused, Prasenjit (Apu) Malakar, 18, and Joydeep Ree, 19, but the court granted six days to facilitate custodial interrogation.The three accused were initially produced before the court on Monday night.As no legal counsel appeared on their behalf, the court remanded them to judicial custody.During Tuesday’s hearing, however, the two adult accused were handed over to the police after investigators argued that sustained interrogation was necessary to reconstruct the sequence of events and establish the circumstances leading to the crime.The third accused, a juvenile, was dealt with under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act and has been lodged in the observation home in Silchar.During the hearing, police also produced before the court more than 20 seized exhibits linked to the investigation.These included blood samples, bloodstained clothes, a sharp-edged weapon and other materials recovered from the crime scene.The articles were subsequently returned to the investigating agency for forensic examination.Police said investigators are examining every aspect of the case and hope the custodial interrogation of the accused will help determine whether anyone else was involved, establish the motive and uncover the planning behind the crime.Officials declined to reveal further details, citing the ongoing investigation.According to police, the victim’s body was found at her residence during the early hours of August 1 while she was alone at home.Based on a complaint lodged by her mother, the local police registered Case No. 83/2026 under Sections 65(1) and 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.Investigators said a police team reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the incident.A Crime Scene Officer from the District Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) collected crucial samples and seized evidence from the scene.An inquest was conducted in the presence of an executive magistrate, followed by a post-mortem examination by a panel of doctors, with the entire procedure videographed.The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) also visited the scene and collected additional samples.Police said the investigation is being driven primarily by scientific and forensic evidence.The incident has sparked widespread outrage across south Hailakandi, with social, cultural and women’s organisations organising candlelight marches, demonstrations and public meetings demanding justice for the victim.Several organisations have submitted memoranda to the district administration seeking a speedy investigation, a fast-track trial and exemplary punishment for those found guilty.The 15-year-old Class IX student was found dead in her house after her mother returned from attending a neighbour’s post-funeral ritual.She discovered her daughter lying in a pool of blood and alerted neighbours, who informed the police.Three persons were arrested after police questioned five suspects, while two others were later released.
