Assam Court Sentences Utpal Roy To Death In Four-Year-Old Girl’s Rape-Murder Case

The Additional District and Sessions Court in Bilasipara, Assam’s Goalpara district, has imposed the death penalty on Utpal Roy after convicting him of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl in Chapar in 2023.

The court delivered its verdict in the case concerning the child’s death at Krishnakali Tea Estate in the Chapar area, bringing the investigation and subsequent trial to an end after almost three years.

The prosecution told the court that the child went missing from her home in September 2023, prompting police and local authorities to conduct an extensive search.

Authorities recovered her body three days later from within the tea estate with the help of a sniffer dog.

The prosecution alleged that Roy took the girl into the tea estate, sexually assaulted her and killed her to hide the crime.

Investigators further alleged that he left her body inside the tea plantation after the killing.

The victim’s family subsequently approached the police, following which Chapar Police registered case number 179/23 and commenced a detailed investigation.

Investigators booked the case under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 363(A), 376, 302 and 201, as well as Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Police officer Arpana Talukdar initially led the investigation, while Ranjit Kakati later took over the case.

Investigating officer Deepjyoti Ingti eventually submitted the chargesheet to the court.

After reviewing the evidence and considering arguments from the prosecution and defence, the court convicted Roy and awarded him the death penalty under the POCSO Act.

Investigation and Chargesheet

Government advocate Tapan Bhatt conducted the prosecution during the court proceedings.

The court’s decision brings to a close a legal process that began after the child disappeared in September 2023.

The verdict follows nearly three years of legal proceedings in a case involving the sexual assault and killing of a minor.

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