Guwahati, Dec 21: A third-semester student of Tangla College has been arrested in connection with the brutal murder of two minor siblings at Sastapara under Tangla police station in Udalguri district on Saturday. The weapon used in the crime has also been recovered by the police.
The victims, Kaushik Sharma and Gaurav Sharma, were brothers studying in Classes VII and VI at Kendriya Jatiya Vidyalaya in Tangla. They went missing on Friday morning while on their way to school.
When the school headmaster contacted their mother regarding their absence from exams, it became evident that something was amiss. A frantic search by the family led to an FIR being lodged with Tangla police. Tragically, on Saturday morning, the bodies of the siblings were recovered in a dense forest a few kilometres from their home, with their throats slit.
The victims’ father, Mahendra Sharma, a rickshaw puller, has two wives. His first wife resides in Punjab, while his second wife lives with him and their two children in Jorpukhuri. The accused, the father’s son from his first marriage, lived in a rented house in Tangla town while pursuing a BA degree.
It is suspected that the stepbrother murdered the siblings due to a family dispute. Injury marks on the victims suggest a deliberate and brutal attack. Assam Director General of Police (DGP) GP Singh confirmed the arrest and seizure of the weapon used in the crime. He assured that evidence is being collected as per protocol to ensure a thorough investigation.
The incident has shocked the local community, prompting protests in Tangla and across Udalguri district. “This is a dark day for Tangla. Such a brutal crime is unprecedented here. It appears to be a planned murder linked to a family feud. We urge the police to expedite the investigation and ensure the culprit receives the strictest punishment,” said a local resident.
A relative of the deceased expressed disbelief: “We never imagined the stepbrother could commit such an act. He lived among us and was enrolled in college.”
The heinous crime has shaken the district, with demands for swift justice growing louder. Police are under pressure to conclude the investigation promptly and bring the accused to justice.
