Purulia murder: Youth held for slitting 19-year-old woman's throat over infidelity suspicion
Synopsis
A 21-year-old man in Purulia, West Bengal was caught at a late-night police checkpoint with a 19-year-old woman's body stuffed in a bag on his motorcycle — arrested on the spot and later confessing to slitting her throat over suspected infidelity. The victim's father alleges others were involved and is demanding a full investigation.
Key Takeaways
Amit Kumar Mahato , 21 , was arrested in Purulia, West Bengal on 13 September 2026 for the alleged murder of a 19-year-old woman .
The accused allegedly killed the woman by slitting her throat at his mess in the Tamna police station area , reportedly over suspicion of infidelity.
He was caught at the Balarampur naka checkpoint at around 1:30 am while attempting to dispose of the body in a bag tied to his motorcycle.
A rape complaint has been filed by a relative of the deceased; police have not yet commented on it.
The Purulia court granted nine days of police custody; the crime scene has been sealed and the body sent for autopsy.
The deceased's father has alleged multiple persons were involved and demanded an impartial investigation.
A 21-year-old man has been arrested in West Bengal's Purulia district for allegedly killing a 19-year-old woman by slitting her throat on the night of 13 September 2026, reportedly driven by suspicion that she was in contact with another man. The accused, identified as Amit Kumar Mahato, was caught by police at a naka checkpoint in the early hours of Sunday while attempting to dispose of the body.
How the Crime Unfolded
According to police, both the deceased and the accused lived in separate rented accommodations — known locally as messes — in the Tamna police station area on the outskirts of Purulia city, where they had relocated for their education. Investigators say their relationship had been strained for some time, with Mahato allegedly harbouring suspicions about the woman's contact with another person.
On Saturday night, Mahato reportedly called the woman to his mess under the pretext of meeting her. A heated argument allegedly ensued, after which, according to police, he killed her with a sharp weapon, slitting her throat. He then allegedly stuffed her body into a bag, secured it to the back of his motorcycle, and set off in the dark towards Balarampur to dump it.
Arrest and Recovery of the Body
At around 1:30 am on Sunday, officers at the Balarampur police station naka checkpoint stopped Mahato's motorcycle after noticing suspicious movements. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of the blood-soaked body inside the bag. The woman was rushed to Banshgarh hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Mahato was subsequently questioned and, according to police, confessed to the crime. He was produced before the Purulia court on Sunday. The Balarampur police station sought 10 days of custody; the court granted nine days.
What the Police Said
A district police officer stated, 'A case of spontaneous murder has been registered. The accused youth will be taken into custody and questioned in detail.' The crime scene — Mahato's mess under Tamna police station — has been sealed. The body has been sent for autopsy. Police have not made a statement on a rape complaint separately filed by a relative of the deceased.
Family Demands Full Investigation
The deceased woman's father alleged that more than one person was involved in his daughter's killing, and demanded a thorough and impartial investigation with the strictest punishment for all those responsible. He said his daughter had gone out for nursing coaching on Saturday afternoon and her phone was switched off for a prolonged period, prompting the family to rush to Purulia, where they received the tragic news from police. 'We want the accused involved in this incident to be hanged,' he said.
The case underscores a recurring pattern of violence rooted in controlling behaviour within intimate relationships — a concern that women's rights advocates have repeatedly flagged across West Bengal and nationally. Investigations are ongoing and further developments are expected as police custody proceedings progress.
Point of View
Well-documented pattern: a young woman killed by an intimate partner or acquaintance who believed he had a claim over her choices. The father's allegation of multiple accused — if substantiated — would widen the scope of culpability beyond a single perpetrator and raise harder questions about complicity. The rape complaint, on which police have so far stayed silent, deserves prompt and transparent handling; its absence from official statements is a gap investigators must address. Cases of this nature in West Bengal have repeatedly exposed delays in registering FIRs and inconsistencies in custody applications — the nine-day grant versus the requested ten is minor, but procedural rigour from here will be watched.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Purulia murder case on 13 September 2026?
A 21-year-old man, Amit Kumar Mahato, allegedly killed a 19-year-old woman by slitting her throat at his rented accommodation in the Tamna police station area of Purulia, West Bengal, reportedly over suspicion that she was in contact with another man. He was arrested at a police checkpoint in the early hours of Sunday while attempting to dispose of her body in a bag on his motorcycle.
How was the accused caught?
Police stopped Mahato's motorcycle at the Balarampur naka checkpoint at around 1:30 am on Sunday after noticing suspicious activity. A search of the vehicle revealed a blood-soaked body stuffed inside a bag. He was detained on the spot and later confessed to the killing, according to police.
What charges has Amit Kumar Mahato been booked under?
A case of murder has been registered against Mahato at the Balarampur police station. A relative of the deceased has also filed a rape complaint, though police have not yet made a formal statement on that aspect of the case.
What did the Purulia court decide on Mahato's custody?
The Purulia court produced Mahato on Sunday. The Balarampur police station applied for 10 days of custody; the court granted nine days, during which investigators plan to question him in detail.
What has the victim's family demanded?
The deceased woman's father has alleged that multiple persons were involved in his daughter's murder and has demanded a complete, impartial investigation with the strictest punishment for all those found guilty. He said his daughter had been pursuing nursing coaching in Purulia city at the time of the incident.
