First case under new criminal law registered in Sikkim after grandmother's murder

The Sikkim Police resolved a murder case within four hours of its occurrence on July 19, marking the first case registered under India's new criminal laws in the state. A 72-year-old grandmother, Chandra Maya Mukhiya was brutally murdered by her grandson in Andheri near Singtam.

In a press conference, SP Gangtok IPS Tenzing Loden Lepcha provided details about the Singtam murder case. The victim, Chandra Maya Mukhiya, was discovered by Sabita Mukhiya, who found her body upon returning home for lunch. The incident occurred between 11 AM and 12 noon.

"Upon receiving the information at 12:20 PM, we registered the case under Section 103, Subsection 1, of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)," said IPS Tenzing Loden Lepcha. "Singtam police immediately formed three teams: one to secure the crime scene, another to review CCTV footage with locals, and a third on standby."

CCTV footage revealed that the victim's grandson, Arpan Pradhan, was seen leaving the scene at 11:40 AM. The police traced his movements via Instagram and apprehended him after a brief chase. Pradhan, 24, confessed to the crime during interrogation, citing family feuds as the motive. He was found with Rs 25,000, out of which he had invested Rs 4,000, leaving Rs 21,000 in his possession.

"This is the first case registered under the new criminal laws in Sikkim," stated IPS Lepcha. "The investigation followed the procedures defined by the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), ensuring meticulous attention to crime scene analysis, forensic evidence, and fingerprinting."