In another shocking incident in Assam, reports have emerged of a Maulvi in Assam who raped a 19-year old from Biswanath Chariali which resulted in the girl getting pregnant. She was forbidden from telling anyone about it. However, the matter came to light when the victim felt an acute pain in her stomach as she was 5-months pregnant and her mother had to take her to the hospital. The name of the accused is Abdul Shahid.

Speaking to TIME8, the victim’s mother said, “I am a daily wage earner, so I leave my daughter alone and go to work every day. My daughter has always considered the Maulavi as her brother. I believed him, and he did such an evil thing to her five months back.” She added, “She was being given a bottle of medicine because she was unwell, which was actually meant for the abortion. After she consumed the medicine, her entire body started swelling. Thinking that she might be suffering from jaundice, I took her to the hospital. I didn’t know about it until I was informed in the hospital about it.”

The victim told the same media outlet, “The Maulavi did a wrong thing with me five months back. On asking what would happen to me now, he gave me some medicine, and I got sick after consuming it. So, I had to tell the truth to my mother. He had asked me not to tell anyone and that he will marry me. And I was five months pregnant.”

Amidst the growing rate of crimes against women, various groups have demanded the harshest possible punishment for the accused. The state has also witnessed various protests over the recent spate of rapes in the state.