Rape survivor found dead in Howrah on day of recording court statement

A woman, identified as Shikha Khatun, was found dead at her residence in the Jalan Complex in Howrah's Domjur area on Wednesday. The timing of the death is particularly alarming, as Shikha was scheduled to record her confidential statement before a magistrate on the very same day. This statement was considered the most crucial piece of evidence in a rape case she had recently filed against a local contractor.

The victim had recently lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at the Domjur Police Station, accusing a contractor of sexual assault. Acting swiftly on her complaint, the police had arrested the accused contractor on Tuesday. However, the legal victory was short-lived as Shikha's body was discovered just hours before she was to testify.

The police investigation has currently shifted focus toward the victim's husband, Rahul Sheikh, who has been missing since the body was discovered. Authorities have registered a murder case against him, and multiple teams are conducting raids across the district to track him down. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause and time of death. The incident has sparked significant outrage in the Jalan Complex and surrounding areas, with locals questioning how a survivor under legal protection could be silenced so easily.