In a dramatic turn of events, Ranjit Pal Chowdhury (55), the primary accused in the alleged rape of a minor girl, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on Tuesday. 

His body was discovered hanging in a jungle area under Chandrapur No. 2 Ward, Dharmanagar.

According to the complaint, Chowdhury stands accused of raping a Class VI student in the underground section of a shop on December 17. He had been absconding since the day of the alleged incident.

The deceased was a resident of Purba Huruya village (near Paramananda School). Public outrage had been brewing in the area, with local residents staging a road blockade on Monday. They had given police a two-day ultimatum to arrest the fugitive.

The discovery was made on Tuesday afternoon. Family members and relatives, who were actively searching for Chowdhury after learning he might be in the Chandrapur area, could not pinpoint his exact location. They launched a frantic search, combing through houses and jungles.

Based on local information and inquiries, family members and labourers working in the area eventually spotted his hanging body in the jungle. Upon receiving the information, his wife, son, and other relatives rushed to the spot.

A police team from Dharmanagar Police Station, a forensic team, and Additional SP Kamal Debbarma also arrived at the scene. An investigation has been initiated to determine the exact cause of death and uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident. Tension has gripped the area following the discovery.

Police informed the media that the body has been sent to Dharmanagar District Hospital for post-mortem examination. It will be handed over to the family after the procedure is completed.

Local sources, however, revealed that although Chowdhury was from Purba Huruya, he had reportedly been hiding at the house of an acquaintance in Paschim Chandrapur, a location at least 10-12 kilometres away from his own residence.