Police Encounter in Meghalaya Leads to Death of Suspected Dacoits
Police Operation Results in Fatal Encounter
Meghalaya Police and the ATS set up a naka checkpoint and began checking vehicles in the area.
Goalpara, Aug 30: In a significant police operation, four individuals suspected of being dacoits, including the main suspect in the recent shooting of a businessman in Assam's Goalpara district, were killed during an encounter in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills on Sunday, according to police reports.
The deceased have been identified as Alason Marak from North Garo Hills, Babadul Islam from Paikan Second Block, Kalam Sheikh from Agia Balbala, and Sustam Rabha, also known as Kaltu, from Chotomatia in Dhudhnoi.
Authorities stated that this group was allegedly involved in various criminal activities, including dacoities along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
As per East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Swapnil Pawar Vasantrao, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received intelligence indicating that the suspects were traveling through the Chongsak area.
Following this tip-off, Meghalaya Police and the ATS established a checkpoint and began inspecting vehicles in the vicinity.
“When the suspects' Bolero reached the checkpoint, we instructed the vehicle to halt. However, the suspects disregarded our commands and opened fire on the ATS personnel,” Vasantrao explained.
In response, police returned fire, resulting in the deaths of all four suspects.
This encounter concluded the search for Marak, who was allegedly involved in the shooting of businessman Abu Syed on August 23.
“We received information from Meghalaya Police in the morning. Upon inquiring about the suspects, we learned that Alason Marak, who was implicated in the shooting of businessman Abu Syed on August 23, was deceased, along with three others,” stated an official from the Dudhnoi police station.
Previously, four individuals had been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Those detained include Syed's brother, a companion who was with him in an e-rickshaw, and two business partners identified as Azad Ali and Mofidul Islam.
The two business partners were apprehended on August 26 and reportedly informed investigators that they had approached Alason and solicited him to shoot Syed.
“They met with Alason and offered him Rs 2 lakh to kill Abu Syed. They paid Rs 1.20 lakh upfront, with Rs 80,000 still owed. This indicates a contract was placed. Based on our investigation thus far, we believe the incident in Damra is related to business disputes,” the police official noted.
Syed sustained serious injuries on August 23 when unidentified assailants shot at him outside his business in Goalpara's Damra area before fleeing the scene.
He was later admitted to Solace Hospital in Goalpara town in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities treating the incident as a potential contract killing linked to a business conflict.