In a grave development, Assam Police took a Muslim cleric into custody on Monday for his alleged involvement in the murder of a 12-year-old student at a madrasa in the Cachar district of the state. The accused, identified as Mouksin Rahman Khan, had been serving as the Imam at Darus Salam Hafizia Aliya Madrassa in Hawaithang, Dholai.

The victim, Rojimul Hussain Laskar, was discovered lifeless in his shared room at the madrasa, his throat brutally slit, during the early hours of Sunday. The incident unfolded in the wee hours, sending shockwaves through the community.

Cachar Superintendent of Police, Nomal Mahatta, addressed the media, revealing that Khan had allegedly perpetrated the murder out of vengeance. Having recently joined the madrasa situated in the small village of Hawaithang near the Mizoram border, Khan was accused of tormenting Rojimul, who had enrolled in the institute a couple of months earlier.

Tragically, Rojimul had absconded from the madrasa, returning to his parents in the nearby village of Frenchnagar. According to Rojimul’s mother, the young boy had complained about the Imam physically abusing him and even accused him of stealing a mobile phone.

Rojimul’s parents escalated the matter to the madrasa authorities, leading to a public meeting where Khan pledged to treat Rojimul with respect. However, this assurance proved false, as Khan’s anger seemed to intensify over time. Seeking to avenge what he perceived as a public humiliation, Khan reportedly murdered Rojimul with a dagger.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, shedding light on the tragic consequences of this act of violence within an educational institution.