Tripura Jawan Held for Poisoning Daughter

A Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan, Rathindra Debbarma, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly poisoning his one-year-old daughter, Suhani Debbarma, in Behalabari village, Khowai district, reportedly due to his preference for a son. The incident, which occurred on Friday night, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns about gender-based violence in the region.

According to the child’s mother, Mitali Debbarma, Rathindra, a member of the 10th Battalion TSR posted at ADC Khumulwng headquarters, took Suhani to a shop under the pretext of buying biscuits during a visit to her sister’s house. Soon after, Suhani began vomiting and showed signs of dysentery, with a strong medicinal smell emanating from her mouth. Mitali confronted Rathindra, who denied administering poison, but the child was rushed to Khowai District Hospital and later referred to GB Pant Hospital in Agartala, where she was declared dead on arrival. The body awaits a post-mortem to confirm the cause of death.

Mitali alleged that Rathindra, resentful of having two daughters and no son, subjected her to ongoing physical and mental abuse. “He always said a girl child is useless,” she told reporters, demanding the death penalty for her husband. She recounted an altercation where Rathindra slapped her after she tore her hair in distress.

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Police detained Rathindra on Saturday after family members raised allegations, and a court remanded him to three days of custody. Sub-Inspector Raju Baidya of GB Police Outpost confirmed a murder case was registered at Champahour Police Station, with investigations ongoing to verify the poisoning claims.

The incident follows another tragedy in Tripura, where a mother in Sonamura allegedly suffocated her five-month-old daughter, highlighting a disturbing trend of gender-driven violence. Social media posts on X condemned the act, with users like @AkHossain9704 calling it a “curse on society” and demanding justice. Public anger at GB Hospital led to police intervention to prevent mob violence against Rathindra.

Tripura Police, under Khowai SP Dr. Ramesh Ch. Yadav, are collecting evidence, including witness statements, to establish the motive and circumstances. The case has intensified calls for awareness campaigns to combat gender bias, with local leaders urging stricter enforcement of laws like the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act to address son preference.

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