Guwahati, June 17: Farijul Rahman, one of the accused in the gruesome rape and murder of the two minors in Kokrajhar district of western Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region, was shot at on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday when he attempted to escape, according to police.
Additional DGP of law and order, GP Singh on Friday morning informed, “One of the accused tried to escape during search operation near Bedlangmari, Salbari and police had to fire to prevent him from escaping. He’s grievously injured and hospitalised.”
22-year-old Farijul has been rushed to the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital at Barpeta, about 50 km from the place of incident.
Farijul is the prime accused among the seven arrested in connection with the rape and murder of the two minor girls from the same family in Abhayakuti, about 20 km from Kokrajhar town, the district headquarters, who were found hanging side by side from a branch of a tree near their residence on June 11. The seven accused were arrested on June 15.
Kokrajhar SP, Prateek Vijay Kumar informed that Farizul, during interrogation at Kokrajhar Sadar Police Station where a case (440/21) has been registered, had said that he had hid mobile phone of one of the accused inside a jungle area at Bedlangmari and lured the police there.
“In reality, he had hid a sharp weapon on the spot and attacked the police there. He attempted to cut the rope he was tied with and escape when police fired two rounds. One hit on his right leg,” the SP said.
He, however, assured that there is no life risk to Faizul.
The case had come into major attention after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, visited the spot and asked police to fast track the investigation.
