A man accused in the alleged gangrape of a 14-year-old girl in Assam’s Nagaon district died in police custody late Friday night, reportedly while trying to escape. The accused, identified as Tafazul Islam (24), was one of three suspects in the case, and the only one arrested so far.
According to the police, Islam was taken to the crime scene in the Dhing area during the night as part of the investigation when he attempted to flee by jumping into a nearby pond. “After questioning, he was escorted to the scene. It was then that he tried to escape and jumped into the lake. We immediately cordoned off the area and called the SDRF for assistance. They later recovered the body,” said the Superintendent of Police in Nagaon. The officer also mentioned that a constable, who was holding Islam’s handcuffs, sustained injuries and was sent for treatment.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage in the region, leading to large-scale protests in Dhing. Hundreds of locals, including women and members of local organizations, took to the streets demanding strict action against those involved in the crime. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured that the government will take firm action and “not spare anyone” implicated in the case.
The case has drawn significant public attention, and questions have been raised regarding the circumstances of the accused’s death while in police custody.
