Assam Gang-Rape Case: Prime Accused Flees Police Custody, Dies After Jumping into Pond

Guwahati: In the latest developments in the Assam gang rape case, the prime accused, Taffajul Ali, who allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond and died on Saturday morning at Dhing in Assam's Nagaon district, an official said.

According to the police, the accused, who was arrested on Friday, was taken to the location where he allegedly committed the crime for a re-creation of the scene around 3.30 am.

"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 added.

The accused allegedly raped 14-year-old girl along with two other persons who came in a motorcycle and surrounded her while she was returning home from tuition on her bicycle at Dhing on Thursday evening.

Following this incident, after the accused's body was recovered,t he villagers refused for his burial. 

 ''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 said.

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

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma  also on Friday said that stern action will be taken against the culprits.

Sarma, who is currently touring the three districts in Barak Valley, had said on Friday night that there is a difference between Assam and Bengal in dealing with such cases.

''In Bengal, when women are tortured, the criminals are protected and police take suspicious actions. In Assam, a horrific crime was committed against a minor girl, the accused was immediately arrested'', he said.