Sivasagar train rape and murder : Kolkata based sketch artist to help solve mystery

Kolkata-based sketch artist Debashish Banerjee has been roped in to help solve the Sivasagar train rape and murder mystery of 21-year old Assam Agriculture University student Radha, which rocked the state on Tuesday.

Banerjee reached Sivasagar today and is preparing a sketch of the man who was in the same compartment with Radha, based on the description provided by her mother.

Radha’s mother had earlier expressed her suspicions that the same person might be involved in the murder of her daughter. Speaking to media, she had stated that there was a man on board the coach and he was trying to help her daughter get on when she had gone to the Sivasagar railway Station to drop her on Saturday morning. She had also revealed that the coach was almost empty and there seemed to be no one else in that particular coach.

In the absence of CCTV present in the railway station, the sketch provided by Banerjee might prove to be a vital turning point in solving the mystery.

Meanwhile, a day after the Sivasagar incident, the dead body of a 48-year old lady was recovered from the Awadh Assam Express, who was also strangulated like the Sivasagar victim, giving rise to concerns that a serial killer might be on the loose who is committing such heinous acts.

Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia said that a special investigation team has been formed to look into the case. The special DGP, Railways, said that a response team has also been deployed across the state for inputs on the case and to curb such crimes.

The Assam Police has, on several earlier instances, availed the service of Debashish Banerjee like the 2008 Guwahati serial blasts and the murder of minority student leader Lafiqul Islam Ahmed.

The unfortunate incidents have received state-wide condemnation and several organizations have demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the gruesome act.