Who Killed Bhante Indra Bansa? Margherita’s Hilltop Monastery Shaken by Brutal Murder

A chilling murder at the Inthem Mungong Buddha Vihara has sent a wave of fear and disbelief across Margherita in Assam's Tinsukia district on Sunday. 

The peaceful hilltop monastery—known for its quiet rituals and serene surroundings—turned into a crime scene on November 23 when Buddhist monk Bhante Indra Bansa, a respected spiritual figure, was found brutally hacked to death with an axe.

Police sources say the nature of the wounds suggests the crime was committed with “unusual rage,” raising disturbing questions about whether the monk had enemies—or if a deeper conflict was brewing within the otherwise tranquil monastic circle.

The Gruesome Discovery

According to initial suspicion, unidentified assailants may have killed the monk two to three days earlier, leaving the axe beside his body before fleeing. The crime came to light late Saturday night when a visitor arrived to deliver his night meal and discovered the shocking scene.

The murder occurred inside the Buddha Vihara located at Inthem Naga Pathar, a remote area under the Digboi subdivision.

Assam Police were informed immediately, and a team, accompanied by the district magistrate, reached the spot. Instead of removing the body, officers sealed the monk’s room for forensic analysis.

Locals Block Police, Demand Transparency

When Margherita police attempted to take the body for post-mortem, tensions escalated. Shocked and angry locals blocked the police vehicle, demanding an on-spot investigation.

“We won’t let the police take the body like this. Call the forensic team here. Let the investigation happen in front of everyone,” residents shouted, insisting on complete transparency.

Another local, reacting out of anger, said,

“We want the culprits to be arrested within 24 hours. During his entire tenure at the monastery, we never saw him involved in any conflict or enmity. We urge the Assam government and the police to take this matter seriously.”

Police Statement

A senior police official, Himangshu Gohain, confirmed the seizure of the suspected murder weapon.

“We have seized an axe from the crime scene and also collected the fingerprints. We cannot comment much as the investigation is ongoing. A forensic team has also reached here who will help us in the investigation,” Gohain said.

A Twist the Next Day

On November 24, the investigation took a surprising turn when police detained five individuals in connection with the case. After intense questioning, three were released, while one woman and one man remained in custody.

The woman is being held at the Margherita Police Station, and the man at Pengeri Police Station. Police have refused to reveal their identities or disclose the grounds for suspicion.

Their silence—and the police’s tight-lipped approach—has only deepened the mystery.

Rumours and Rising Suspicion

Speculation in the area is rampant. Some locals believe the monk may have been targeted because he knew something sensitive. Others suspect rising tensions related to land, money, or internal disputes within the community.

Rumours also suggest the potential involvement of outsiders who may have exploited the monastery’s isolation.

Security around the Vihara has now been tightened, and investigators are exploring every possible angle, including personal vendetta, financial dispute, or a crime disguised as a religious attack.

A Haunting Puzzle

As of now, no clear motive has emerged, and police have refrained from making any definitive statements. The murder of Bhante Indra Bansa remains a disturbing and unresolved mystery—one that has shattered the peace traditionally associated with the Inthem Mungong Buddha Vihara.

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