Tura, April 11: The body of an unidentified criminal has been recovered and weapons seized from the spot of a gun battle between an armed group and West Garo Hills police late Sunday night.
The firing incident occurred when police were conducting search operations to catch a group of kidnappers who were planning to abduct businessmen coming towards Dadenggre for trade.
“A credible source information was received on 10th April 2022 @ 07:30 PM to the effect that some armed miscreants are planning to kidnap businessmen who are frequently coming from plain belt area towards Dadenggre area to purchase betel nut etc. Accordingly, all field units were directed to remain on high alert and conduct checking of all vehicles whole night,” said SP V S Rathore.
According to the police chief, a mobile patrolling team started conducting area domination and surprise mobile patrolling from Tura to Phulbari via Selsella and back to Tura via Dadenggre – Rongram. While the patrolling team was proceeding from Chibinang towards Dadenggre, at around 1:15 AM, a group of 3-5 armed miscreants ambushed the patrolling team at a place in Magalpara village near the newly built RCC Bridge.
Some bullets hit one of the Maruti Gypsy vehicles of the patrolling team and caused damage to the left side head light and left side tyre got punctured. Accordingly, the patrolling team retaliated in self-defense promptly and exchange of fire started which lasted for around 5 minutes.
When the firing stopped, the PO was secured and information was immediately passed to the District Magistrate, West Garo Hills, Tura and other higher officials.
Later, on arrival of the executive magistrate, PO was thoroughly searched and one unidentified male dead body with bullet wounds was found lying. Further, following items were also recovered from the PO and duly seized in the presence of independent witness and executive magistrate as per procedure.
A number of weapons and explosives were seized from the encounter site, namely, an AK Series rifle, 3 number of non-electric detonators, an AK rifle Magazine, 4 nos. Gelatine Sticks, 34 live rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, Approx. 2 m long safety fuse for explosives, 45 nos. 7.62 mm empty cartridge cases, a bag, 22 nos. of 9 mm empty cartridge cases and one scissor.
The dead body was later removed to Tura Civil Hospital morgue for Post-Mortem Examination after completion of all legal formalities. Inquest and other formalities as per NHRC guidelines were completed diligently. A case vide Dadenggre PS Case No. 02(04)2022 U/s 120B/121/121A/307/353 IPC r/w 25 (1A)/27 of Arms Act has been registered in this regard and investigation is on. The dead body so far remains unidentified.
