Shillong, Aug 30: Four armed gangsters were shot dead in a shootout with police today near Songsak in East Garo Hills District.
According to a statement by East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Swapnil Vasantrao Pawar, a credible source information was received about the movement of four armed crimimals towards Songsak with the intention to kidnap officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) for ransom.
Following the information, a joint police team comprising of Anti-Terror Squad, East Garo Hills District Police and Songsak Police Station established a checkpoint at Songsak Forest Reserve along the Dagal-Songsak road.
At around 4 AM, a Bolero bearing registration number AS01-FD-2889 was noticed approaching Songsak. The vehicle was signalled to stop for checking but the occupants opened fire on the police team. The police team, in self defence, fired back resulting in a brief shootout. In the process, a police vehicle also sustained bullet damage.
After the firing ceased, the vehicle was checked and four seriously injured persons were found inside. The injured persons were immediately rushed to Songsak Primary Health Centre for medical attention and later were referred to Williamnagar Civil Hospital. On arrival at Williamnagar Civil Hospital, all four persons were pronounced brought dead by the attending Medical Officer.
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The deceased have been identified as Allason Marak of Mendima village under North Garo Hills, Sustom Rabha Kalam Ali and Bobidul Islam (all residents of Goalpara, Assam).
Marak is a key accused in the recent Damra firing incident in which a businessman was killed. Rabha has various cases registered against him across Assam and Meghalaya (particularly at Dudhnoi, Mendipathar and Dadenggre police stations) for robbery, kidnapping and offences under the Arms Act.
Ali was connected with a case registered in Krishnai Police Station fir abduction, extortion, assault and wrongful restraining.
Two factory-made pistols were recovered from the possession of the deceased criminals, along with live ammunition as well as used rounds of bullets used during the firing on the police team.
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Stating that further investigation and necessary legal proceedings are being undertaken in accordance with law, East Garo Hills district police urged the public “to refrain from spreading rumours and misinformation and not to believe unverified sources of information”.
