Agartala, 30th August 2026 : Tension prevailed in the West Sabroom area under Sabroom Police Station after local residents prevented the cremation of a 65-year-old woman, alleging that her death was unnatural. The deceased has been identified as Laxmi Debnath, wife of Manik Debnath.
According to local residents, a family dispute between Laxmi Debnath and her daughter-in-law had been continuing since Saturday morning. The matter reportedly reached the village panchayat pradhan in the afternoon, but no settlement could be reached.
At around 5 pm, Laxmi allegedly locked herself inside a room and consumed acid reportedly stored for use on a rubber plantation. After family members noticed that she had fallen ill, she was rushed to Sabroom Sub-Divisional Hospital. Following preliminary treatment, doctors declared her dead.
Later at night, when the family brought the body home, local residents objected to the cremation, claiming that the death was suspicious. The family had wanted to perform the cremation near their home according to traditional customs. However, residents insisted that the body be sent for post-mortem examination, following which the family took the body to the hospital morgue.
The incident reportedly created tension in the locality during the night.
The deceased woman’s son said he was unaware of what had transpired at home throughout the day. He said that an empty bottle believed to have contained acid was subsequently found, and his mother was taken to hospital after she fell ill.
Speaking outside the Sabroom hospital morgue, Sabroom Police Station ASI Panna Lal Banik said that the exact cause of death would be known after the post-mortem examination.
Police have initiated the necessary procedures, and further details are awaited.
