Guwahati, Aug 3 (IANS) Assam Police in the Hailakandi district have arrested five people in connection with the brutal murder of a 15-year-old girl at her residence in the Aloichora area under Katlichera police station, officials said on Monday.

Police said that the suspects are scheduled to be produced before a local court on Monday as authorities widen their investigation to explore all possible angles in the horrific crime.

A senior police official said the incident occurred late Saturday night around 11:00 p.m. when the victim was alone at home.

According to local sources, the girl had initially gone to a nearby relative’s house with her family to attend a feast. However, following a minor disagreement with a cousin, she returned home early.

When the family returned later that night, they discovered her body lying on the floor. The assault was carried out with extreme brutality — her face and head were heavily disfigured, rendering her body almost unrecognisable to her family.

The victim’s relatives have alleged that she was sexually assaulted before being murdered, citing severe injuries found on the body.

The discovery of the crime sparked intense public outrage in the region.

Angry local residents took to the streets and blocked National Highway 6, demanding immediate action, the swift arrest of those responsible, and stringent punishment for the culprits.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in the Hailakandi district, Amitabh Sinha, confirmed that a formal case has been registered and that law enforcement moved quickly to pick up five individuals for questioning.

While the family continues to maintain that sexual violence took place, police officials stated that they are awaiting the final post-mortem report to medically confirm the allegations of sexual assault and establish the precise cause of death.

Reiterating its commitment to justice, the district administration assured that strict legal action will follow against anyone found involved in the crime.

Forensic teams have collected evidence from the crime scene, and police are currently cross-examining the detained individuals to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the murder.

–IANS

tdr/dpb