Assam gangrape accused escapes police custody; body found in pond
Tafazul Islam, a 24-year-old man accused in the alleged gangrape of a minor in Assam's Nagaon district, died while in police custody. The incident occurred on the night between Friday and Saturday when Islam reportedly "tried to escape by jumping into a pond." He was one of three suspects involved in the case, and the only one arrested so far.
Accused attempted escape during crime scene visit
Islam was taken to the crime scene late at night for investigation purposes. "When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where the incident took place, the prime accused tried to flee and jumped into a pond located nearby the site," SP Nagaon Swapnaneel Deka said. The police immediately cordoned off the area and called in the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). After a search, SDRF personnel recovered Islam's body from the lake.
Details of the assault incident emerge
Islam was one of three men who allegedly raped and assaulted the girl when she was returning home from tuition on Thursday evening. Locals found the girl on the roadside near a pond with her bicycle beside her. They alerted the police, who have subsequently opened an inquiry. The search for the two remaining suspects is underway.
Body recovered from a pond
Public outrage and protests follow assault incident
The incident sparked widespread outrage, leading to large-scale protests in Dhing. Hundreds of locals, including women and members of local organizations, took to the streets demanding justice for the victim. A video released by ANI showed a large group of men and women marching through the Dhing area of Nagaon, chanting "We want justice." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has declaring that the government would "not spare anyone" involved in the case.
