Tension spread across parts of Kokrajhar town today after a mentally ill woman was allegedly raped in the Patharghat area. The incident led to strong public anger and protests, with police confirming that the accused has been arrested.
According to police officials, the incident reportedly took place around 10 am on Friday. Preliminary information suggests that the woman was lured to a labour camp located in Patharghat, where she was allegedly sexually assaulted. A case has been registered at Kokrajhar police station, and an investigation has been started.
Soon after news of the incident spread, hundreds of women and local residents gathered outside the Kokrajhar police station to protest. The demonstration was led by the Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh Kokrajhar District Committee, Matri Shakti, along with several local organisations. Protesters surrounded the police station, blocked the road in front of it, and sat on the street while raising slogans, demanding strict punishment for the accused. 
The accused has been identified as Rafiqul Islam, son of Abdul Kasem Sheikh, a resident of Chapar in Dhubri district. Police said he was working as a supervisor at an ongoing road construction project in the area. Several labourers working on the project were staying in temporary camps set up at Patharghat.
As the protest intensified, some demonstrators demanded that the accused be handed over to them, further increasing tension in the area. In response, police and district administration officials were deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident and to maintain law and order.
