A rape accused was injured in police firing in Assam’s Chirang district on Monday after he allegedly attacked a police constable and attempted to flee while being taken to recreate the crime scene, police said.
The accused, 20-year-old Nasirul Sheikh, a resident of Bartalowa village under Kajalgaon police station, sustained a gunshot injury to his right leg. He is undergoing treatment under tight security at JSB Civil Hospital in Kajalgaon, the district headquarters.
Chirang Superintendent of Police Dhruba Bora said three persons have been arrested in connection with the case, with Sheikh identified as the primary accused.
“During the investigation, we took him to the location to recreate the crime scene. He attacked one of our constables and tried to flee. In response, the investigating officer fired one round at his leg and he was successfully recaptured,” Bora said.
A doctor at the hospital said Sheikh was in stable condition. The bullet reportedly passed through his right leg, causing bleeding from the wound. He has been administered treatment and will undergo further medical examinations to assess the extent of his injuries.
The police firing occurred in connection with the alleged gang rape of a Class 10 tribal girl in Kajalgaon. According to police, the incident took place on July 24.
Police said Sheikh, who was reportedly known to the minor, allegedly lured her to Kajalgaon and took her to a rented house in Chatipur. He and two other accused—25-year-old Pir Mohammad and 19-year-old Harunul Hassen—allegedly sexually assaulted the girl there.
The accused allegedly recorded the incident and threatened to circulate the video if the victim informed her family or approached the police. The video was subsequently allegedly uploaded and circulated on social media.
After the video surfaced, the girl informed her family, following which a complaint was lodged at Bengtol Police Outpost under Runikhata Police Station. Chirang Police subsequently arrested all three accused.
The accused were later sent to three-day judicial custody as police continued their investigation into the case.
The alleged sexual assault of the minor and the circulation of the video have triggered strong reactions in the district.
Meanwhile, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has demanded stringent punishment for the accused. A representative of the organisation also called for an encounter, urging the government to ensure what he described as exemplary punishment for those accused.
The police investigation into the case is continuing, while the injured accused remains under treatment and security at the Kajalgaon hospital.
