Assam Gang-Rape Case: Prime Accused Escapes Police Custody, Dies After Jumping Into Pond

Assam: In a tragic turn of events, one of the three men accused in the gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Assam's Dhing has died after allegedly escaping police custody. The accused, Tafazul Islam, reportedly fled during a police-led scene re-creation early Saturday morning and jumped into a nearby pond while still handcuffed.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening when the young girl was returning home from her tuition on a bicycle in Assam's Nagaon district. She was allegedly assaulted and raped by three men around 8 PM. The attackers left her injured and unconscious near a pond, where locals later found her and alerted the authorities. The horrific crime sparked widespread outrage, leading to protests in the area.

Following his arrest on Friday, Tafazul Islam was taken by police to the crime scene around 3:30 AM on Saturday for a re-enactment. However, during this process, he managed to escape and jumped into a pond. A search operation was immediately launched, and his body was recovered after nearly two hours.

So far, police have arrested one suspect and detained another, while the search for the third accused continues. Assam's Director General of Police, GP Singh, reviewed the investigation on Friday and visited the crime scene, where he also met with the victim's family.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized the need for prompt action in cases of violence against women, stressing that the government must demonstrate strict measures to prevent public outrage. He assured that the perpetrators of this heinous crime would face severe punishment.