Sarupeta, Bajali: In a deeply disturbing incident reported from Sarupeta in Assam's Bajali district, a 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped and murdered by her former partner, Arif Ahmed. Police say the accused attempted to disguise the crime as a suicide in an effort to mislead investigators.
According to initial reports from the Bajali Police, the victim and the accused had been in a previous relationship which had since ended. Sources suggest that Ahmed was unable to cope with the fact that the young woman had moved on and was involved in a new relationship. This emotional turmoil, police believe, may have triggered the chain of events leading to the alleged crime.
Investigators stated that the accused had reportedly been using personal and intimate images from their prior relationship to blackmail the victim, causing her severe emotional distress. Her family, who have been residents of the same locality as the accused for over 15 years, confirmed that she had shown signs of extreme psychological stress in recent days.
In the early hours of Friday, around 4 a.m., Arif Ahmed allegedly lured the victim out of her home through coercion and threats. A confrontation is believed to have followed, during which he allegedly sexually assaulted and subsequently strangled her.
Police reports indicate that Ahmed then transported her body to a nearby room and attempted to simulate a suicide by hanging the body from a ceiling fan. However, forensic evidence and a detailed examination of the crime scene raised immediate suspicions. Subsequent forensic findings confirmed that the victim had died before being hanged, establishing that the suicide scene had been staged post-mortem.
Arif Ahmed has been taken into custody and is being held by Bajali Police. Authorities confirmed that he will be charged under sections relating to rape, murder, and criminal conspiracy. Law enforcement officials have assured that a comprehensive and impartial investigation is underway and have pledged that justice will be served.
The case has sparked outrage in the community, prompting renewed calls for greater protections for women and stricter action against crimes involving intimate partner violence.