In a dramatic turn of events, a key accused in the rape case of a minor girl in Assam's Nagaon district died after attempting to escape police custody early this morning. The accused, Tafujal Islam, was being transported to the location of the alleged crime for a re-creation of the crime scene when the incident occurred, police said.
Around 4 a.m., Islam was escorted by police to Dhing, the site where the alleged assault took place. During the process, he managed to slip from the grip of a constable and fled, diving into a nearby pond in an apparent attempt to evade capture. A search operation was immediately launched, and with the assistance of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), his body was recovered from the pond after about two hours.
A senior police official provided details of the incident, saying, "After his interrogation, he was taken for crime scene re-creation. When he was taken there, he suddenly tried to pull the handcuff from a constable's grip and flee. He then fell in a nearby pond." The official added that a constable sustained injuries during the scuffle, and an investigation is underway to determine how Islam managed to escape.
Islam had been arrested on Friday in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old girl, which occurred on Thursday evening. The horrific crime reportedly took place while the girl was returning from a coaching class. Local residents found her in a semi-conscious state near a pond with her bicycle beside her. She had been lying on the roadside for nearly an hour before being rescued.
Police sources indicated that Islam was also expected to lead them to another suspect's residence as part of the investigation. Two other suspects in the case remain at large, and the police are actively pursuing them.
The case has sparked widespread outrage across Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma condemning the incident in the strongest terms. Describing the assault as a "crime against humanity," Sarma vowed that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. "We will NOT SPARE anyone and BRING the perpetrators to JUSTICE. I've directed the Assam Police chief to visit the site and ensure swift action against such monsters," the Chief Minister said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
As the investigation continues, the tragic death of Tafujal Islam during his attempted escape raises questions about the circumstances of his custody and the ongoing efforts to bring the remaining suspects to justice. The case remains a deeply troubling reminder of the violence faced by women and girls and the urgent need for effective measures to prevent such crimes.
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