Cachar: Auto-driver rapes 70-year-old widow multiple times, confesses crime after victim lodged complaint

A 23-year-old boy, Sambhu Nath, an auto-rickshaw driver by profession, and a resident of Cachar district’s Bhubandahar area, is an avatar of Mukesh Singh. For those who have forgotten Mukesh Singh, he is one of the rapists who raped Nirbhaya in Delhi in 2012. It wasn’t just the rape, Singh’s interview to BBC where he explains the chain of event and eventually says, “Victim should not have resisted,” made him humankind’s worst form in existence.

Nath was on his way driving his diesel auto on January 25. At around 8:00 pm he saw a lady walking alone on the road. That lady is a 70-year-old widower, who was walking back to her home after attending a wedding in Darmikhal area. Nath stopped his vehicle and awakened the Mukesh Singh within him. He dragged the lady to the road-side gorge and raped her. After that, he again forced her into the auto and took her to a different location where he assaulted her again.

“She was crying for help but I did not stop. I removed her clothes, slapped her multiple times, bit her lips and then raped her aggressively. As she continued screaming after that, I took her to a different location and raped her again. I confess that I have molested her, raped her and assaulted her. When she started screaming, I shoved a few things inside her mouth to keep her quiet,” this is what 23-year-old Shambu Nath said on camera to a magistrate.

The matter came to light after the victim lodged a complaint on January 26, 2023, at the local Police station. Immediately after the complaint was lodged, Sub-inspector Dhaneshwar Das who is currently the in-charge of Palonghat Police Outpost along with his team started the investigation. The accused was identified and detained. Police interrogated Sambhu Nath for hours and then he confessed his crime.

The team of Police officials, along with Executive Magistrate, Hiramoni Mili, escorted Nath to the spot, where he again confessed his actions and took the investigating team through the chain of events as they unfolded. The confession resembles Mukesh Singh’s interview to BBC after Nirbhaya rape case. After his confession on Saturday, Sambhu Nath has been arrested under section 341/376/366/509/379 IPC.