The prime accused in the Assam minor gang-rape case drowned in a pond while trying to escape police custody during the early hours of Saturday. According to police, the accused was taken there to recreate the crime scene.
A 14-year-old girl was from Dhing in Assam's Nagaon district was raped by three motorcycle-borne on Thursday evening while she was returning home after tuition classes. Tafazul Islam was the prime accused the case and Assam police arrested him on Friday.
Islam was taken by the police to the crime scene on Saturday morning to recreate the crime scene. While he was taken there around 3.30am, Islam, with cuffed hands, jumped into the pond to escape custody, police said.
#WATCH | The body of the prime accused of the Dhing gang rape incident in Assam's Nagaon district, Tafazul Islam recovered from a pond. The police had earlier arrested him in connection with the case.
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2024
"When a police team took him last night to the spot for investigation where… pic.twitter.com/ow29EJ37j7
"The accused escaped from police custody and jumped into the pond. A search operation was launched immediately and his body was recovered after nearly two hours," police told PTI.
Swapnaneel Deka, Nagaon SP told ANI, “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.”
According to police, police have arrested one more person and are on the look out for another accused who is at large. The victim was left injured and unconscious on the roadside near a pond, before being rescued by locals who informed police, PTI reported.
