Robbery Accused Injured in Rangia Police Encounter

way2barak, October 18: Police shot a suspected dacoity gang mastermind in the leg at Rangia in Kamrup district after he allegedly snatched a policeman’s pistol and tried to escape from custody while being taken to recover stolen property and weapons, officers said.

The accused, Jan Mehmood alias Mela, suffered a bullet injury to his left leg and was admitted to AIIMS Guwahati. He and an associate were arrested on Friday.

The gang is suspected to have around seven members, five of whom have been arrested. Police have also seized a vehicle allegedly linked to the gang.

Investigations revealed that the gang had allegedly been involved in dacoities, chain-snatching targeting women and mobile phone thefts across Rangia in Kamrup district and the neighbouring areas in Nalbari and Tamulpur districts in lower Assam.

Police said Mela disclosed the locations where the gang had allegedly hidden stolen property and weapons and agreed to lead a team there. “When we took him along with a police team to trace the items, he tried to escape by snatching a police officer’s pistol. We managed to apprehend him, but had to open fire, leaving him injured in the left leg,” the officer said.