Meghalaya Police Rescues Two Kidnapped Persons, Kills Two In Encounter

SHILLONG: In an incident in the West Garo Hills district on Thursday, Meghalaya police killed two accused kidnappers in an encounter and freed two kidnapped persons, which included a young boy.

According to West Garo Hills district superintendent of police Vivekanand Singh Rathore, the police successfully freed a little boy who had been kidnapped from Goalpara in Assam and Bikas Chetia, a cab driver, who had been taken from Tikrikilla in Meghalaya on November 4 and 9 respectively.

From the scene of the encounter, police also found one AK-series rifle, one pistol, one camouflage bag filled with 23 rounds of 7.62 mm and 9 rounds of 9 mm ammunition, as well as other potentially incriminating items.

33 empty cartridge casings in all were discovered at the encounter location, the SP told the media. These include empty cartridge boxes for 9 mm 19 and 7.62 mm 14.

"A case was filed at the Tikrikilla police station under Case No. 24(11) 22 u/s 364A/506 IPC regarding the suspected kidnapping of Bikas Chetia, a cab driver from Guwahati, Assam, on November 4. Goalpara Police in Assam then reported on November 9 that a second youngster had been abducted and was being held in West Garo Hills. In this regard, a case was filed at the Lakhipur police station under Case No. 418/22 u/s 365/387/34 IPC. Investigative work was done as a result, and it was discovered that the same gang of criminals had kidnapped both people from Assam and Meghalaya. A counter-insurgency operation was subsequently initiated on November 9 based on probe results " Vivekanand Singh Rathore said.

The SP added that the victims and gang members were discovered at a location in the Dibru Hills Forest Reserve close to Bamandanga/Gaptuli by the operation team, which was led by SP(T) and included Additional SP(T), SDPO(D), SDPO(R), CI(S), and OC Phulbari.

"The armed criminals, however, also saw the police group. They started firing right away at the police squad, who returned fire in self-defense. For around two to three minutes, shots were being traded. After the shooting ceased, the scene was cordoned off and extensively inspected, during which two unidentified dead corpses were discovered. Both of the kidnapped victims were freed "According to the West Garo Hills district's SP.

Also read: Border Security Force jawan held for kidnap bid in Guwahati

Also watch: