AIUDF MP accuses police of killing main accused in custody to hide non-Muslim suspects

Guwahati: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader and Dhing MP Aminul Islam alleged here on Monday that the police murdered rape accused Dhing and that the accused died by drowning in a pond while trying to escape from police custody.

Mr Islam told reporters that the police staged the incident to cover up the fact that the other accused and the deceased belong to a different religion and are not Muslims.

The AIUDF MP said the police may have staged the escape attempt to murder the accused and prevent him from revealing information about the involvement of other people, allegedly from another community, in the case.

Significantly, the police claim that two of those accused of gang rape are still at large.

Mr Islam also came down heavily on Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of politicising the case by highlighting the accused's religious identity.

Mr Islam argued that since the Dhing gang rape case, 29 similar cases have been reported. Four of them are Muslim suspects while the rest are Hindus, he pointed out.

One of the main accused, Tafajul Islam, in the gang rape of a minor girl of class 10, has died due to drowning. Police claimed that he tried to escape from custody and fell into a pond. However, he could not be rescued and police later fished out his body from the pond.

Nagaon SP Swapnaneel Deka said, “The accused was being brought to the crime scene when he broke away from the officer and fell into a pond. We immediately cordoned off the area and SDRF was called. However, his body was recovered after some time.”

He said: “The manhunt for the other suspects is also underway and they will be arrested soon.”