Woman, cousin held for Cachar man’s murder

Silchar: A murder case has rocked Kalain in Assam’s Cachar district, with police arresting a woman and her cousin for allegedly murdering her husband. The crime, reportedly fueled by years of domestic abuse and suspicions of an extramarital affair, has left the community in disbelief.The victim, 55-year-old factory worker Shibu Das, was discovered dead on Saturday morning at the veranda of Hilara Block Headquarters High School. His body, drenched in blood and bearing severe head injuries, was found by locals who immediately notified the authorities.Shibu, who had returned home for the Puja holidays, went missing on Friday evening. The police, alerted by the gruesome discovery, arrived at the scene with a sniffer dog squad and recovered the body in the presence of a magistrate. It was subsequently sent to Silchar Medical College and Hospital for an autopsy.The investigation quickly led to Shibu’s wife, Sumita Das, who was taken into custody for questioning. During interrogation, she allegedly confessed to conspiring with her cousin, Monoranjan Nath, to murder her husband. According to police sources, Monoranjan traveled to Kalain on the night of the crime, and after consuming alcohol with Shibu, fatally struck him with a brick.Sumita reportedly admitted to orchestrating the murder due to enduring years of physical abuse. However, investigators are also exploring the possibility of an extramarital affair as a potential motive.The case unraveled after Shibu’s son, Shivam Das, filed a complaint suspecting foul play. Following Sumita’s confession, police apprehended Monoranjan in Borkhola on Tuesday night.Cachar SP Numal Mahatta confirmed that the investigation is examining multiple angles, including domestic violence and a possible affair. "The motive appears complex, and we are verifying all statements," he stated.Residents of Hilara, who described Shibu as a “quiet man,” are reeling from the incident, acknowledging that frequent disputes between the couple were well-known. As police continue to piece together the chilling sequence of events, the community remains in shock over the brutal killing.