New Town kill-rape accused being tried for 2021 dowry death of former wife
Times of India | 11 February 2025
12 Kolkata: Probing the murder and rape of the class VIII student in New Town, cops have found that accused Soumitra Roy (22) is an undertrial accused in a four-year-old dowry death case at his hometown in Nadia's Dhantala. He was accused of torturing and killing his former wife for dowry. Cops said in a case dated Aug 2, 2021, Roy was arrested by officers of Dhantala PS.
"He got bail in 2022 and then left Nadia with his family and remarried 13 months ago. He still has to appear in a Nadia court in connection with the case on a regular basis," an officer said.
TOI on Monday quoted his wife Mousumi, who said she knew Roy was arrested in a molestation case in Dhantala. On Monday, she expressed astonishment on learning that he was accused in a dowry death case.
"He used to beat me up and was extremely suspicious and abusive. We are yet to register our marriage. Now, I will try to move on and start life afresh," said the 18-year-old who is still staying at Roy's rented home at Gouranganagar, around a km from the class VIII victim's home.
Cops said they will carry out a reconstruction of the New Town crime scene, either on Tuesday or Wednesday, under the supervision of forensic doctors, who will prepare a report and submit it to cops.
The authorities aim to utilise this report to establish a clear timeline of events on that night.
A police official confirmed they will escort Roy to the crime scene, where he will be instructed to demonstrate the sequence of actions that led to the victim's death and sexual assault.
The class 8 student was found murdered after leaving home following an argument with her family. On Friday, her semi-naked body was discovered in the bushes near NBCC Vibgyor Towers in CE Block with multiple bruises. CCTV footage showed her taking a toto around 11.30 pm on Thursday. Roy, who was arrested on Saturday night near Central Mall, confessed to picking up the girl and promising to drop her home. After dropping off other passengers, he instead took her to a desolate area, strangled her with a rope when she resisted, and sexually assaulted her.
"There are some gaps in the sequence of events which we hope will be cleared after the reconstruction," an officer said. The officer added they are also trying to locate the two passengers who were in the toto when Roy picked up the girl, and are trying to record their statements.