Tripura State Rifles (TSR) trooper posted at the 10th Battalion headquarters in Khumulwng has been detained for allegedly poisoning his six-month-old daughter to death.
The accused, identified as Rathindra Debbarma, reportedly committed the act late on Friday night. According to preliminary accounts, Rathindra allegedly took the child outside their home and fed her a liquid laced with poison. Moments later, the infant began vomiting severely. Family members rushed her to a nearby healthcare facility before transferring her to GB Pant Hospital in Agartala, where she was declared dead shortly after arrival.
Mother Alleges Long-Standing Abuse
The victim’s mother has made harrowing allegations against her husband, claiming that Rathindra never wanted a girl child and subjected her to continuous mental and physical abuse since the baby’s birth.
Speaking to reporters through tears, she recounted how her sister witnessed the poisoning. “My sister saw him give something to the baby. She immediately called me, but by the time I reached Agartala, my daughter was gone,” she said.
She further alleged that Rathindra had repeatedly expressed his preference for a male child and often taunted her over the birth of a girl.
Locals Confront Accused at Hospital
The news of the baby’s death quickly spread at GB Pant Hospital, drawing enraged locals and attendants who managed to catch hold of the accused. Eyewitnesses say an angry crowd began to physically confront Rathindra before police personnel intervened to prevent an assault.
Officers from Champahour Police Station arrived promptly at the scene and took the accused into custody for questioning.
Police Investigation Underway
Police sources confirmed that interrogation is ongoing and that a formal case will be registered once the initial investigation is complete. “We are recording statements of the mother, eyewitnesses, and medical staff. Forensic samples will be sent for examination. Once we have sufficient evidence, the accused will be arrested,” a senior officer said.
Authorities are also exploring the possibility of charging Rathindra under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to murder, cruelty towards women, and acts linked to gender-based violence.
Public Outrage Over Alleged Female Infanticide
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with women’s rights groups and child welfare activists condemning what they describe as a heinous case of female infanticide. Social media platforms have been flooded with messages demanding the strictest possible punishment for the accused.
Local organizations have urged the state government to expedite the investigation and ensure that the case is tried in a fast-track court to deliver swift justice.
The state’s Child Rights Commission is also expected to take suo motu cognizance of the case.
