Assam court awards death penalty for rape, murder of 4-year-old in Chapar
Synopsis
Nearly three years after a four-year-old girl was raped and murdered inside a tea estate in Assam's Chapar, a Bilasipara court has sentenced the convict Utpal Roy to death. The verdict — built on forensic evidence and a sniffer-dog recovery — now heads to mandatory High Court confirmation, marking a rare but significant closure in a case that shocked the region.
Key Takeaways
The Additional District and Sessions Court, Bilasipara , sentenced Utpal Roy to death for the rape and murder of a four-year-old girl.
The crime took place at Krishnakali Tea Estate , Chapar , Goalpara district , Assam , in September 2023 .
The child's body was recovered three days after she went missing, with the help of a sniffer dog , in the presence of a magistrate and forensic team.
The case was registered under IPC Sections 363(A), 376, 302, 201 and Section 6 of the POCSO Act .
The death sentence must now be confirmed by the Gauhati High Court under mandatory Indian law.
A court in Bilasipara, Goalpara district, Assam, has sentenced Utpal Roy to death after convicting him of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl at the Krishnakali Tea Estate in Chapar in 2023, officials said on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. The verdict, delivered by the Additional District and Sessions Court, Bilasipara, brings closure to a case that had stretched nearly three years since the child's death.
How the Crime Came to Light
According to the prosecution, the child went missing from her home in September 2023, prompting an extensive search by police and local authorities. Her body was recovered three days later from inside the tea garden with the assistance of a sniffer dog, in the presence of a magistrate and a forensic team.
Prosecutors alleged that Roy had lured the child into the tea estate, where he sexually assaulted and subsequently killed her, then abandoned her body inside the garden in an attempt to conceal the crime.
Case Registered and Investigated
Following a complaint by the victim's family, Chapar Police registered case number 179/23. The case was filed under Sections 363(A), 376, 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The investigation was initially handled by police officer Arpana Talukdar before being taken over by Ranjit Kakati. Investigating officer Deepjyoti Ingti subsequently filed the chargesheet before the court. Government advocate Tapan Bhatt represented the prosecution throughout the proceedings.
Verdict and Sentencing
After examining evidence and hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the court convicted Roy and awarded him the death penalty under the POCSO Act. The sentence reflects the judiciary's classification of this case as falling within the 'rarest of rare' category — the legal standard in India for capital punishment.
This comes amid sustained public and legal debate in India over the adequacy of deterrence in crimes against children. Notably, POCSO cases involving the death penalty have increased in frequency across several states over the past few years as courts have applied the 'rarest of rare' doctrine more consistently to child rape-murder cases.
Significance of the Verdict
The conclusion of the case, nearly three years after the crime, also highlights the prolonged timelines that continue to characterise the Indian criminal justice process, even in cases involving the gravest offences against children. Legal experts and child rights advocates have repeatedly called for dedicated fast-track courts to expedite POCSO proceedings.
With the trial court verdict now delivered, the case may proceed to a confirmation hearing before the Gauhati High Court, as is mandatory under Indian law before a death sentence can be executed.
Point of View
Yet delays persist even in cases with forensic evidence and a clear chain of custody. The mandatory High Court confirmation process adds further time, meaning the sentence will not be executed soon. The deeper question for child rights advocates is whether this outcome, however just, does enough to deter — or whether the deterrence effect is dulled by the very delays that surround it.
NationPress
15 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was sentenced to death in the Assam child rape-murder case?
Utpal Roy was sentenced to death by the Additional District and Sessions Court in Bilasipara, Goalpara district, Assam, after being convicted of raping and murdering a four-year-old girl at Krishnakali Tea Estate in Chapar in September 2023.
What laws were invoked in the Bilasipara POCSO case?
The case was registered under IPC Sections 363(A) (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 302 (murder), and 201 (destruction of evidence), along with Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, which covers aggravated penetrative sexual assault on a child.
How was the victim's body recovered?
The four-year-old's body was recovered three days after she went missing from her home, from inside the Krishnakali Tea Estate with the help of a sniffer dog, in the presence of a magistrate and a forensic team.
What happens next after the death sentence?
Under Indian law, every death sentence awarded by a sessions court must be confirmed by the respective High Court before it can be executed. The case will therefore proceed to the Gauhati High Court for mandatory confirmation hearings.
How long did the legal process take in this case?
The case took nearly three years from the time of the crime in September 2023 to the delivery of the verdict in September 2026, highlighting the prolonged timelines that continue to affect criminal proceedings in India, even in serious POCSO cases.
