Decomposed body of missing girl found in Rampurhat; teacher arrested in Birbhum case

Rampurhat, Birbhum, West Bengal — September 18, 2025 A tragic discovery has shaken the Rampurhat area in Birbhum district: the decomposed body parts of a missing Class VIII tribal girl were found in a ditch in Kalidanga, after she had disappeared on August 28 while going to tuition classes. Authorities arrested a teacher in connection with the incident, which has sparked both grief and strong outrage in the local community. According to police reports, the girl had left home to attend her regular tuition on August 28 and failed to return. Her family had lodged a missing persons complaint after prolonged search efforts yielded no sign of her. On Tuesday night, locals spotted suspicious activity near the ditch in Kalidanga, leading to an investigation which turned up the gruesome remains. The arrested teacher is alleged to have had inappropriate behaviour toward the girl earlier; family sources say she had complained to her mother that the teacher often misbehaved with her. Whether this misconduct led to the fatal incident is under probe. A senior police officer stated that the teacher has confessed—after interrogation—to kidnapping and killing the girl, and has revealed the location where the mutilated body was disposed in a sack. Investigators are also examining whether sexual assault occurred before death; a post-mortem examination and other forensic tests are being conducted to determine the cause of death and extent of injury. The police are not ruling out the possibility that more people may have been involved or had knowledge of the crime, and are expanding the scope of the investigation accordingly. Local reaction has been one of horror mixed with anger. Parents and community leaders are demanding fast and transparent justice. Human rights groups have called for a full public disclosure of the investigation’s findings and increased safety measures for girls, especially in rural areas where oversight is weak. There is also a demand for counselling for the family and the community, and for stricter accountability in educational institutions and among tutors. The case amplifies long-standing concerns in West Bengal and elsewhere about the safety of minors, potential abuse in informal educational settings, and the oversight of tutors and private tuition centres. It is reopening debates around regulation of such institutions, background checks on teachers, and legal protections for minors. The district administration has promised to deploy additional investigative resources, including forensic teams, to ensure the case is fast-tracked. Meanwhile, the state government has expressed condolences and assured action. The community is closely watching for swift justice and preventive measures so that similar tragedies do not recur.