BSF soldier arrested for rape and murder of mother of two in Assam

The 30-year-old soldier, who met Diksha Rajkumari through social media, has confessed to the crime and said she had been blackmailing him and demanding money from him.

Updated on: Oct 13, 2017, 12:54:32 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Police in Assam have arrested a serving soldier of the Border Security Force (BSF) on the charges of rape and murder of a mother of two in Sibsagar town of upper Assam two months ago.

The police were able to zero in on the accused after they found a mobile number, which was shown by records as present near the crime scene, was switched off since the day of the murder. (AFP File Photo)

Pranjal Pratim Saikia was arrested on Thursday for his role in the murder of Diksha Rajkumari, an employee of Airtel, whose decomposed body was found at her rented accommodation in August.

The police arrested the victim’s husband, Rajib Borgohain, and another person in August in connection with the crime, which grabbed headlines and raised questions about the safety of women living alone.

Rajkumari, who had problems with her husband, was living in a rented house in the middle of the historic temple town. Her body was found several days after the murder.

Saikia, a native of Sibsagar posted in Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajkumari got to know each other through a social media platform and their friendship soon developed into an affair.

“According to the statement given by the accused, things turned sour when Diksha started blackmailing Pranjal and kept demanding money. It was then he decided to get rid of her,” Sibsagar superintendent of police Subodh Sonowal told the Hindustan Times.

Police were able to zero in on the accused after they found a mobile number, which records pointed out was active near the crime scene, was switched off since the day of the murder.

“Our investigations revealed that the phone belonged to the accused. Following his arrest, Pranjal has confessed his involvement with the victim and his role in the murder,” Sonowal said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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