A 23-year-old tea garden worker has been arrested in Assam’s Dibrugarh district after a 22-year-old woman was allegedly sexually assaulted and strangled to death, with police suspecting a dispute linked to their relationship.

The woman had been reported missing on Friday morning from the Chabua area of Dibrugarh. Her body was recovered from an abandoned pit in the locality on Saturday afternoon following a search operation launched by police after her family filed a missing-person complaint.

According to the preliminary police investigation, the woman was allegedly raped and strangled before her body was disposed of in the abandoned pit. Police subsequently detained a man identified as Sumit Kalandi, 23, who was known to the woman and had allegedly been in contact with her for several months.

Woman had separated from husband

The deceased woman was a mother to a two-year-old boy and had been living separately from her husband for nearly a year, according to police. She was staying in the Chabua area and was reportedly raising her young child after the separation.

Her family told police that Kalandi had been in contact with her for several months and allegedly wanted her to stay with him. The family claimed that the two had disagreements over the issue and that their relationship had become strained.

When the woman went missing on Friday morning, her relatives approached Chabua police and reported her disappearance. Police subsequently began searching the area.

The search ended on Saturday when officers located her body in an abandoned pit. Following the recovery, investigators detained Kalandi and questioned him about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.

Police allege relationship dispute behind killing

Investigators said their preliminary findings indicate that the accused and the woman were in a relationship. Police alleged that Kalandi told them during questioning that he suspected the woman of maintaining contact with other people.

According to the police account, the accused allegedly cited this as the reason behind the killing. Officers said he later confessed during questioning, although the allegations and confession will be subject to further investigation and legal proceedings.

Police have registered a case against the accused under charges related to rape, murder, kidnapping and other offences. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the woman’s death.

Authorities are also working to establish a detailed timeline of events, including when the woman was last seen, how she reached the location where her body was found and what happened before her death.

Postmortem report awaited

The woman’s body was sent to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh for a postmortem examination on Saturday. Police are awaiting the medical report, which is expected to provide further evidence regarding the cause and circumstances of her death.

The postmortem findings could also assist investigators in corroborating or disproving details that have emerged during the preliminary investigation.

Police have indicated that the investigation remains underway and that further action will follow based on the evidence collected.

The case has brought renewed attention to the safety of women living separately from their spouses and the need for timely police intervention when missing-person complaints are reported. Investigators are now examining all available evidence as they proceed with the case.