Agartala, 28th July 2026 : Dissatisfied with the police investigation and post-mortem findings, the family of a Class 10 student, Zubaida Begum, whose body was recovered under mysterious circumstances earlier this month, has decided to approach the High Court seeking a fresh and impartial investigation into the case.
Zubaida Begum, daughter of Barkat Ali of Ward No. 4 under Irani Gram Panchayat in Unakoti district, had left her home on the morning of July 10, informing her family that she was going to school. When she failed to return by evening, her family searched for her and later lodged a missing person complaint at Irani Police Station.
The next morning, on July 11, police recovered her body hanging from a wooded area inside the Hirachhara Tea Estate.
The family has rejected the possibility of suicide, alleging that Zubaida was murdered and her body was later hanged to make it appear as a suicide. They claimed that while preparing the body for burial, they noticed several injury marks on different parts of her body, including her private parts. The family also dismissed reports suggesting that the teenager had been suffering from any serious illness.
During the investigation, police detained a minor from the Fatikroy Police Station area and subsequently sent him to a juvenile home. However, the victim’s family and local residents have questioned the progress of the investigation, alleging that the role of other possible suspects has not been adequately examined and expressing dissatisfaction with the post-mortem report.
A press conference was held at the family’s residence on Sunday evening in the presence of local social activists, including Ahmad Ali, Sushanta Debnath, and Sumal Bawri. The speakers alleged that the incident has created fear among local residents, with many school-going girls reportedly feeling unsafe about attending classes.
Addressing the media, social activist Ahmad Ali and the victim’s mother demanded a fair, transparent, and time-bound investigation. They announced that the family would move the High Court seeking judicial intervention to ensure that the actual perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.
Police have not yet publicly responded to the family’s latest allegations. The investigation into the case is continuing.
