West Garo Hills police gun down two unidentified kidnappers in Tikrikilla following an encounter on Thursday and also rescued two abducted victims including a child.
In a press statement, VS Rathore, SP West Garo Hills said, there was exchange of fire with an armed gang of criminals in Dibru Hills Forest Reserve near Bamandanga/Gaptuli in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
“The ops team led by SP(T) and consisting of Addl SP(T), SDPO(D), SDPO(R), CI(S), OC Phulbari, and other officers and subordinate ranks spotted the gang as well as the victims at a place in Dibru Hills Forest Reserve near Bamandanga/Gaptuli,” Rathore said.
“However, the armed miscreants also saw the Police team. They immediately fired at the Police team which also retaliated in self defence. The exchange of fire continued for approximately 2-3 minutes,” the SP added.
Once the exchange of fire stopped, the place of occurrence was cordoned and thoroughly searched during which two unidentified dead bodies were recovered. “Both the abducted victims were also rescued,” police said.
Police also recovered One AK series rifle and one Pistol was also seen lying near the dead bodies, Police also found one camouflage bag with 23 nos. 7.62 mm and 09 nos. 9 mm ammunition along with other incriminating materials, 19 nos. empty 9 mm and 14 nos. empty 7.62 mm cartridge cases were recovered.
The operation was launched to rescue two abducted persons. Reference to Tikrikilla PS Case No. 24(11) 22 u/s 364A/506 IPC in which one Bikas Chetia of Guwahati, Assam, who is a taxi driver by profession, was abducted on November 4 last from Tikrikilla.
Goalpara Police from Assam yesterday informed that one child had also been kidnapped and kept in West Garo Hills district. In this regard, a case vide Lakhipur PS Case No. 418/22 u/s 365/387/34 IPC was registered.
“Legal formalities being completed,” the SP added.