: An army jawan who allegedly raped a minor girl in Karbi Anglong district of Assam has allegedly committed suicide, District Commissioner Mukul Gogoi said on Monday.
“We have received information that a jawan has committed suicide. Investigation is going on to ascertain which personnel were involved [in the minor’s rape],” Mr. Gogoi told The Hindu over telephone.
The jawan, identified as Satyabir Dara of the 8 Jat Regiment, shot himself with his rifle. He was rushed to Diphu Civil Hospital where he was declared “brought dead,” Karbi Anglong Superintendent of Police M.J. Mahanta said.
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Dara, hailing from Haryana, was identified as the prime accused and was likely to have been arrested on Monday, he said. The body has been sent for post-mortem.
Locals claimed that a 13-year-old girl was raped and her mother (38) and her grandmother (55) were molested by a group of Army jawans on April 6.
'Not satisfactory'
A meeting with Army officials and members of the civil society took place during the day. Expressing dissatisfaction with the meeting, member of the Karbi Human Rights Watch Pankaj Teron raised suspicions about the suicide.
“Our meeting with Army officials lasted only 10-15 minutes and this shows how serious they are about the matter,” Mr. Teron said.
(With inputs from PTI)