Shutdown in Kokrajhar over rape of mentally-challenged woman, govt appeals for calm

way2barak Jan 12: Amid tensions in Assam’s Kokrajhar over the alleged rape of a mentally challenged woman, police shot at and injured the accused on Sunday evening, saying that he attempted to escape police custody.

Kokrajhar in Western Assam has been gripped by tensions after the alleged rape on Saturday in the Pathargat area of the district. The accused, Rafikul Islam, was apprehended by police, and DC Pankaj Chakravarty said an SIT was constituted to investigate the incident.

The incident led to a flare-up of communal tensions in the district, with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s district committee calling for a 12-hour shutdown in protest.

Citing “heightened public tension and apprehension of disturbance to public peace and tranquillity”, the Kokrajhar district administration imposed prohibitory orders against the assembly of more than four people and demonstrations throughout the district.