The main suspect in the alleged gang rape of a minor girl in Assam’s Dhing area, who was in police custody, died after jumping into a pond on Saturday, August 24. His body has been recovered by police. Tafazul Islam reportedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond when he was being taken to reenact the crime and died in the process, police said on Saturday morning.

“The accused escaped from police custody and jumped into the pond. A search operation was immediately launched and his body was recovered after nearly two hours,” police added.

A 14-year-old girl was allegedly raped on Thursday evening, August 22, by three men on a motorcycle who surrounded her as she was riding her bike home from school classes. She was injured and left unconscious near the pond. The girl was later rescued by locals who alerted the police.

The minor girl was initially taken to a health centre in Dhing but was later shifted to a hospital in Nagaon for treatment and medical examination. One suspect was arrested, another detained and a third was being sought.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced strict action against those accused in the gang rape of the 14-year-old. “The criminals who dared to commit such a heinous crime on a minor Hindu girl in Dhing will not be spared by the law. I have directed the DGP and Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika to rush to Dhing and take strictest action,” Himanta Boswa Sarma told reporters.

The Assam Chief Minister also claimed that after the Lok Sabha elections, “a section of members of a particular community have become very active and have been encouraged to commit such crimes. However, we will take tough action against the perpetrators and no one will be spared.”