Man accused of raping daughter slits wife’s throat outside Assam court

A man accused of raping his teenage daughter killed his wife outside a sessions court at Dibrugarh in Assam on Friday, police said.

Purna Nahar Deka, 35, attacked his wife Ritu, in her late 20s, outside the district sessions judge’s court, with a sharp knife, moments prior to the latter’s deposition against her husband, police said.

“The accused, who was out on bail, slit his wife’s throat with the knife. A severely bleeding Ritu was rushed to the Assam Medical College hospital, but she died before reaching there,” said Sidheshwar Borah, in-charge of Dibrugarh police station.

According to police, nearly 11 months ago Deka’s wife registered a case against her husband, accusing him of raping the couple’s 13-year-old daughter.

A carpenter by profession, Deka was arrested in August last year, following complaints from residents of his village and his wife. His wife had allegedly told villagers that he was abusing their daughter for some time, the police said.

The couple has two other children, a daughter and a son, both younger to the ‘rape victim’.

Based on the complaint and subsequent investigation, Deka, a resident of Joypore in Naharkatiya, was convicted and jailed for nine months. He managed to secure bail on June 6.

But instead of going back to his home, Deka stayed at a hotel in Dibrugarh fearing opposition from fellow villagers.

“On Friday, Deka’s wife was to depose before the judge against her husband in the same case. Both reached the court separately. But before the proceedings could begin, Deka attacked his wife,” Borah said.

Police have arrested the accused and are conducting further investigation.

Talking to local media outlets after his arrest on Friday, Deka denied raping his daughter and blamed his wife for registering a false case against him as he was opposing her ‘immoral activities’.

“I never did any wrong to my daughter. But my wife was always away visiting hotels in different towns in Assam and also in Nagaland and spending time with other men,” he said.

“I had brought a small knife along while coming to court but had no intention of hurting anyone. But I lost control of my senses when I saw her (wife) and attacked her,” Deka added.