"No sympathy for him but death in police custody raises questions": Congress MLA on death of prime accused in Assam gang-rape case

Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 24 (ANI): After police recovered the body of the prime accused in a minor girl gang rape case in Nagaon district, Congress MLA Abdur Rashid Mandal said on Saturday that he has no sympathy for the accused and people like him should die but the question arises that how he died in police custody.
Speaking to ANI, Abdur Rashid said that he was not supporting the accused but his death raises questions for police.
"There is no sympathy for such a man. He must die. It is not right for them to live in society. This is a disgrace to the whole community. But the question arises of how does this death happen in police custody. Legally he should have been punished. I am not supporting him but this raises questions on the performance of the police," he said.
The prime accused in the case, Tafazul Islam, allegedly escaped from police custody, jumped into a pond and died, according to police.
Swapnaneel Deka, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district told ANI over the phone that on Friday police arrested Tafazul Islam in connection with the case.
"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. Our police personnel engaged in a search operation and with the help of the SDRF team we recovered his body from the pond today morning," he said.
The senior police official said that operations are underway to nab the other two accused persons.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Manab Deka slammed Congress and said that it always speaks in favour of such people.
"Maybe that girl has got justice. The problem is that Congress leaders speak in favour of such people. These 'Miya' people consider Congress as their guardian. The Congress should understand its responsibility. These Miya people do not trust us," Deka said.
A 14-year-old minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in the Dhing area on August 22 evening while she was returning to home from tuition classes.
According to reports, locals found the girl in a semi-conscious state by the side of a road and immediately admitted her to a hospital. (ANI)