Gauhati High Court has issued notices to five Assam government officials in connection with the custodial death of Tafazul Islam, who was picked up by police in the August 22 Dhing rape case.

Islam, 24, was picked up by the police on August 23 from his home near Dhing town under Nagaon district in connection with the case in which a 14-year-old student was allegedly raped by three youths while returning home from tuition in the evening.

According to the police, Islam drowned the next morning after jumping into a pond near the crime scene while attempting to escape, even though he was handcuffed.

The deceased’s 74-year-old father, Abdul Awal, had filed the writ petition in the court on September 10 seeking compensation for the custodial death of his son and a judicial inquiry leading to his death.

The petitioner, Awal, has claimed his son was tortured in police custody and was a victim of mistaken identity.

He also said he approached the court after his pleas to the Nagaon district administration and the police to hold an inquiry into his son’s death did not evoke any response.

Instead, the petitioner alleged he and other family members have been “facing” continuous threats to not raise their grievances or else they would face dire consequences.

Awal's counsel Zunaid Khalid told The Telegraph that a division bench of the high court issued notices to the state chief secretary, principal secretary (Home) Nagaon DC, Nagaon SP and the OC of the Dhing PS on Monday. They have been asked to file their response by November 4.

The police had on September 6 arrested the two remaining accused — Faridul Islam and Golap Uddin — in the rape case which had seen sustained protests in Dhing town.