Grandfather Held for Alleged Rape and Murder of Minor in Sonamura

By  Firstdespatch Desk   May 01, 2026

Agartala, May 1 (FD) In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across the region, a 62-year-old man has been arrested for the alleged rape and murder of his minor granddaughter in Chandanmura area under Sonamura police station. The case has triggered widespread outrage, with local residents demanding the strictest punishment for the accused.

According to sources, the victim, a Class X student whose identity is being withheld for legal reasons, had been living with her grandparents after losing her mother at a young age. Her father is currently employed in Chennai. Police said the accused, identified as Pran Ballav Das, allegedly took advantage of the girl’s vulnerable situation and subjected her to repeated sexual abuse over a period of time.

The matter reportedly surfaced on April 29 when the minor confided in a school friend after being questioned about noticeable changes in her behaviour and physical condition.

Investigators suspect that, fearing exposure, the accused murdered the girl later that night. He allegedly strangled her inside her room and attempted to stage the incident as a suicide by hanging the body from a ceiling. FD JK