The Sonai region of Cachar district was rocked by a second tragic event on Monday morning when the body of a centenarian was recovered from a pond in the village of Bidruhipar. The discovery occurred just hours after a separate, more sinister incident involving the alleged rape and murder of a housewife in the neighbouring village of Sonai Sundari.
Disappearance and Recovery
The deceased has been identified as Abdul Majid Barbhuiya, a resident of Bidruhipar, Sonai, whose age was reported to be approximately 105 years old.
Mr. Barbhuiya had been missing since Sunday evening. His family and local residents had conducted a search overnight but failed to locate him. The body was discovered around 10:30 AM on Monday floating in a pond belonging to a private residence, located roughly 500 meters away from his home. The owners of the house alerted the authorities immediately.
Police Response and Family’s Statement
The recovery came at a sensitive time, as a large contingent of the Kachudaram Police, including DSP Bhaskarsikha Saikia and OC Apurba Borah, were already deployed nearby, investigating the murder case in Sonai Sundari. The officers swiftly moved to the second location to manage the situation.
The family of Abdul Majid Barbhuiya confirmed that the elderly man was suffering from various age-related ailments and was frail. They stated to the police that they had no suspicion of foul play and believed his death was an accident.
“He was unwell and suffering from old-age diseases,” a family member stated. “He would sometimes use the pond water for ablutions while walking around. We believe he may have fallen into the water due to sudden sickness or a lapse in mobility.”
Investigation Protocol Followed
Despite the family’s plea to bury the body without a post-mortem, the Kachudaram Police did not grant permission, adhering to standard legal protocol given the circumstances of an unnatural death.
Under the supervision of Magistrate Chandan Kalita, police conducted a preliminary investigation at the site. The body was subsequently recovered and sent to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital for a comprehensive post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.
While the death appears to be an accidental drowning, the police stated that the post-mortem report is crucial for officially closing the case and ruling out any element of criminal activity. The local community remains shaken by the back-to-back tragedies that have afflicted the Sonai area.
