Prime accused dies in police custody; villagers refuse burial

GUWAHATI: The prime accused in the alleged gang-rape of a 14-year-old girl in Dhing, Assam, has died after falling into a pond while attempting to escape from police custody, authorities said.

Tafiqul Islam, also known as Tafazzul Islam, was taken by police to the crime scene in the early hours of Saturday.

The villagers of Borbheti, the family home of the accused, have taken a decision not to participate in his funeral prayers and not allow his burial in the village graveyard.

Swapnanil Deka, Superintendent of Police for Nagaon district, stated that during the investigation at the scene, Islam attempted to flee and jumped into a nearby pond. The area was dark, and police, assisted by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), retrieved his body after a search operation.

“After interrogation, the accused was taken to the scene of the crime. But he attempted to flee and fell into a pond which was full of water. The area was cordoned off and the SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) was informed. The SDRF retrieved the body after a search,” the SP said.

“A constable holding the rope tied to the accused’s handcuff sustained injuries in his hand. We will investigate the incident,” the SP further said.

The senior police official said that operations are underway to nab the other two accused persons.

The villagers of Borbheti held a meeting on Saturday morning and took three decisions regarding the crime committed by the youth.

‘We have decided not to allow his burial in the village graveyard, not participate in his ‘janaza’ (burial prayers) and social boycott of his family’, a village elder Md Shahjahan Ali Choudhury told PTI.

‘The village youth’s crime has shamed us and we cannot allow his burial in the community graveyard’, he added.

Meanwhile, a march was also taken out from the village mosque to protest against the incident.