Assam: 45 Year-Old Man Arrested for Rape and Murder of Minor Girl in Dhekiajuli

GUWAHATI:  A 45-year-old male was detained on Wednesday in connection with the suspected rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl in Assam's Dhekiajuli on Tuesday, according to the police.

The incident happened on Tuesday morning when the victim's father was away for 'namaz' at a neighboring mosque, according to the police source.

The girl, whose mother had passed away a few years ago, was sleeping alone at home at that time. The report said that Ali broke into the home and tried to rape her. When the girl tried to raise a hue and cry, he strangulated her and killed her.

The suspect, named Hazarat Ali, was the victim's neighbor and had four previous marriages.

He is currently being held by the police and will be presented before the court on Thursday.

Raja Sarkar, OC of the Dhekiajuli Police Station, said: "Her father discovered his daughter unconscious on the bed and called the police.

She was taken to the neighboring hospital where she was declared dead."

The fingerprints and other evidence were gathered at the scene of the incident by a CID team the meantime.

OC continued, "Ali's involvement was thought to be included during the initial probe. So, on Tuesday, we picked him up".

Ali admitted during questioning that he had silently fled the house after strangling the young girl to death. On Wednesday, he was taken into custody on rape and murder charges.

According to a report, Assam recorded the highest rate of crime against women for the fourth consecutive year till 2021. In the state as a whole, 1,326 rape cases were reported in the first seven months of 2021. (from January 1 to July 31).

According to Assam Police authorities, 641 of these cases involved girls under the age of 18, while 685 included women over the age of 18.

18,693 total rape cases were reported in the state over the past six years, from 2016 to July 31, 2021. Of those, 7,607 incidents included girls under the age of 18, while 11,086 cases involved women above the age of 18.

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