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Tafujal Islam is accused in the Assam rape case. He is brought to the crime scene, escapes the police and dies in a pond

The accused, identified as Tafujal Islam, was arrested on Friday

New Delhi:

A key accused in the rape case of a minor girl died this morning while trying to escape from police custody, police said. The accused, identified as Tafujal Islam, was brought to the spot where the crime allegedly took place around 4 am to recreate the crime scene. He then escaped from police custody and jumped into the pond at Dhing in Assam's Nagaon district.

A search operation was launched and his body was recovered after about two hours with the help of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police said.

The body of the accused was recovered after about two hours

“After his interrogation, he was taken to a crime scene reenactment. While he was being taken there, he suddenly tried to snatch the handcuffs of a policeman and escape. He then fell into a nearby pond,” said a senior police officer.

Our policeman was also injured, he said.

“We are investigating how he was able to escape,” he added.

Tafujal Islam also wanted to lead the police to the residence of another accused, police sources said.

He was arrested on Friday after a 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped by three men in Assam's Nagaon district on Thursday evening. Two other suspects in the case are on the run.

The alleged assault occurred when the girl was returning from a tutoring session.

She was found semi-conscious near a pond with her bicycle lying next to her, residents said. She lay on the side of the road for about an hour before residents rescued her.

Himanta Biswa Sarma on the rape case in Assam

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the act as a “crime against humanity” and said it had “struck our collective conscience”.

“We will not spare anyone and will bring the perpetrators to justice. I have instructed the Assam Police Chief to visit the spot and ensure swift action against such monsters,” he said in a post on X on Friday.

The girl is recovering in hospital and is awaiting the medical examination report confirming sexual abuse.

In protest, shops, markets and educational institutions remained closed on Friday. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed to increase security during this period.

View of a deserted street in Dhing Bazar during a "strike" called by local organizations

View of a deserted street in Dhing Bazar during a “punishment breakout” declared by local organizations.
Photo credit: PTI

The incident came amid widespread protests against sexual violence following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in a Kolkata hospital on August 9.

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