SHILLONG, APR 17: Charred bodies of three persons from Assam were recovered inside a forest in East Garo Hills District on Wednesday morning. According to police, it is suspected to be a case of criminal rivalry among car lifters and cattle thief groups.
Two of the three deceased persons have been identified as (L) Zahidul Islam and (L) Jamor Ali.
“Prima facie, it appears to be a case of criminal rivalry among car lifters and Cattle thief groups,” East Garo Hills SP SA Rynjah said in a statement.
He informed that “(L) Zahidul Islam is reported to be involved in car lifting cases in Dudhnoi and Krishnai respectively and one NBWA is pending against him under Krishnai PS. Also, (L) Jamor Ali is reported to be involved in cattle theft cases under Matia PS, Assam.”
On April 16, police received verbal information from the relatives of one of the deceased viz (L) Jamor Ali (35) that he along with his driver viz (L) Noor Ahmed and (L) Zahidul Islam (25) left home on April 15 late evening for Meghalaya as they were hired by some unknown person(s) for some important work in Meghalaya.
At about 6.30 am of April 16, the family members received a call from (L) Jomor Ali that they were having breakfast in a jungle area somewhere in Garo Hills. However, there after the mobile phones were found switched off and the family members were not able to contact them.
The SP said that the missing vehicle was located inside a dense jungle near to village Link Road connecting Rogu Alda village under Rongjeng PS, East Garo Hills District, around 1.5 km from NH-217 connecting Dudhnoi – Damra – Rongjeng – Baghmara.
He said the place of occurrence (PO) was visited by the Police and found the missing vehicle in burnt condition inside the forest.
On searching the surroundings, one freshly dug pit which was filled with fresh soil was found near the vehicle.
Rynjah informed that the Forensic Team (FSL) and Crime Scene Unit (CSU) of the State Police were also present at the site for necessary investigation procedures.
In the presence of an Executive Magistrate at the PO, the loose soil was removed from the pit and 3 (three) charred bodies were recovered.
Inquest and spot Post-Mortem was conducted over the dead bodies which were later handed over to their relatives after completion of all the formalities, the SP said.
A case has been registered with the Rongjeng police station for further investigation.