After nine years, two BSF men get 20 years in jail in Mizoram rape attack case

Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos

A district court in Mizoram nine years ago sentenced two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to 20 years rigorous imprisonment in a case involving rape, murder and acid attack.

Nilanjan Das and Dinesh Kumar were charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to gang-rape, rape causing grievous bodily harm and acid attack. Although the decomposed body of one of the victims was found 11 days after the incident on 16 July 2017, they were acquitted of murder under Section 302 of the IPC.

The other woman survived, but the acid attack disfigured her face and caused her to partially lose her sight.

The judgment and order issued by Sylvie Zomuanpuii Ralte, Additional District and Sessions Judge of Aizawl District Court on June 12, was published on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).

According to the judgement, the pair were sentenced to 20 years, 12 years and 10 years of rigorous imprisonment on three counts and two months of simple imprisonment for failure to pay a fine of ₹20,000 for each offence.

“All substantive sentences will run concurrently,” the order said, adding that the pair served 144 days in custody during the trial and that those convicted had the right to appeal the sentence.

The court found Das and Kumar guilty in the 2017 case, which occurred when they were posted to Silsuri West in Mamit district along the India-Bangladesh border. The court examined the testimony of 18 witnesses and reviewed all the evidence presented during the trial.

Fatal foraging

The incident came to light after the brother of one of the victims filed a first information report (FIR) at the Marpara police station on July 18, 2017, stating that his sister and her friend had gone to the Gaskata River between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm two days before to collect crabs and wild vegetables.

According to the FIR, two unknown persons gang-raped his sister and assaulted her with caustic, causing severe injuries on her face. Purno Nath, president of the Village Defense Party, later told the police that she had been raped in the jungle and her boyfriend had disappeared.

After a medical examination at the Phuldungsei Primary Health Center in Mamit District, a doctor said the injuries indicated an attempt to mutilate or blind the victim and that the findings were consistent with recent forcible intercourse.

During the investigation, the investigating officer obtained the service details of the BSF personnel. The two convicted employees were identified from the duty roster as having been assigned the duty to carry food on the day and time close to the incident.

The statements of the two BSF men were recorded, although “BSF authorities” initially “resisted attempts to arrest them and take their biological samples”, prompting further administrative action.

After an extensive search, the police found the body of the victim’s missing friend. The body was in a decomposed state, but the surrounding circumstances and forensic evidence indicated that her death was not accidental, but homicidal and related to the same incident.

On 5 September 2017, the Aizawl Judicial Magistrate conducted a trial identification search during which the victim identified the two accused as the perpetrators. Their arrest followed.

Published – 16 Jun 2026 22:43 IST