A 20‑year‑old Bonda tribal dancer was found dead near a crowded railway track in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, on Oct. 7, 2026. The body lay just meters from the platform, a stark reminder of the perils faced by itinerant performers.
She had arrived in Visakhapatnam on Aug. 16 as part of a ten‑member troupe that earned roughly Rs 2,000 per person per day. The group comprised two men and eight women, five of whom returned to Assam while the rest stayed behind.
On Oct. 6 she missed the Silchar Express and lingered at the station, later hopping on the delayed Vivek Express at 11:50 pm after a frantic call to a college friend. At 2:39 am on Oct. 7 she hurried onto an overcrowded coach alone, and her call to a friend about boys misbehaving was abruptly cut off.
Her parents claim she was murdered; the Andhra Pradesh Police Special Investigation Team—alongside forensic, clues, dog and drone units—has sealed the scene. DNA samples will be sent to the National Crime Records Bureau for analysis.
The death has shocked the local dance community; a grief‑filled troupe member gathered at the station, holding a banner reading "Justice for Boro." The police have also started a CCTV review of the platform area. The family is demanding a swift murder inquiry.
On Oct. 20, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote to Andhra Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw urging a prompt, impartial inquiry. The letter calls for state and central agencies to cooperate and share evidence.
The SIT will compile forensic evidence and file a report by mid‑November, after which the case will be forwarded to the district court for a judicial inquiry.