Shillong: Four armed men were killed in an exchange of fire with police at Songsak Reserve in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district early Sunday morning, police said.
According to a statement issued by the East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, police had received information about the movement of armed men towards Songsak, allegedly with plans to abduct officials of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for ransom.
A joint team of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), East Garo Hills District Police and Songsak Police Station was deployed to intercept them.
The police team set up a naka at Songsak Reserve along the Dagal-Songsak road during the early hours of August 30. At around 4 am, a Bolero bearing registration number AS-01-FD-2889 was spotted approaching the area.
Police said the vehicle was signalled to stop for checking, but its occupants opened fire after noticing the police personnel. The police team returned fire in self-defence, leading to a brief exchange of fire. The police vehicle also sustained bullet damage.
After the firing stopped, four seriously injured men were found inside the Bolero. They were taken to Songsak PHC and later referred to Williamnagar Civil Hospital, where all four were declared brought dead.
The deceased were identified as Allason Marak of Mendima in North Garo Hills, Sustom Rabha of Goalpara in Assam, Kalam Ali of Goalpara and Bobidul Islam, also of Goalpara.
Police said Marak was a key accused in the recent Dama firing incident in which a businessperson was killed.
Rabha, according to police, had criminal cases registered against him in Assam and Meghalaya, including at Dudhnoi, Mendipathar and Dadenggre police stations, relating to robbery, abduction, kidnapping and offences under the Arms Act.
Kalam Ali was allegedly linked to a Krishnai police station case involving abduction, extortion, assault and wrongful restraint.
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Two factory-made pistols were recovered from the deceased, along with live and used ammunition. Police said one of the pistols bears the marking “Beretta”, while the markings on the other were illegible.
Further investigation and legal proceedings are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the exchange of fire and examine the recovered firearms, ammunition and other evidence.
Police have also appealed to the public not to spread rumours or rely on unverified information.
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