Nongpoh, June 18: Ri Bhoi Police on Tuesday busted a highway robbers gang and nabbed as many as four gang members involved in extortion and the kidnapping of a driver after they attempted to flee from a highway checkpoint set up by the police. Police had to open fire at the vehicle as the kidnappers were trying to flee with the victim.
The four apprehended robbers have been identified as Pradip Gogoi from Dibrugarh, Tulan Phukan from Lakhimpur, Pranjal Gogoi from Tinsukia, and Dip Das from Bugaghat, Assam.
According to the Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa, “At Around 4:30 PM information was received to the effect from a Truck driver that a Gang Highway robbers were stopping and beating truck drivers and extorting Money from them, at Umtrew.”
The SP said that the information was relayed to senior officers as well as OC Umiam PS and Umsning PS.
“It was further learnt telephonically from Umsning PS team that one White Colour Scorpio without number plate was seen kidnapping one driver of truck bearing registration number JH02AK9061 and were fleeing towards Guwahati. Immediately Naka was put up near Nongpoh PS and at around 6:15Pm the above mentioned Scorpio was seen and was given signal to stop. However the above vehicle tried to run over the staff on Naka duty with intention to kill,” Dhanoa said.
Police then chased the fleeing vehicle as four suspected persons Pradip Gogoi from Dibrugarh, Tulan Phukan from Lakhimpur, Pranjal Gogoi from Tinsukia, and Dip Das from Bugaghat, Assam started running out in the jungle area near District Court Complex.
Eventually all suspects were caught and brought to Nongpoh PS.
“ On preliminary interrogation all 4 confessed to the extortion as well as kidnapping attempt of one driver namely Shri Prem Chand Kumar Mali, S/O: Meghan Mali, R/O: Jarmune Bagodar Giridh JHA/P- Bishnugarh Hazaribagh JH Bishnugarh 826322 of vehicle no JK02AK9061 whom they threw down from the Scorpio on seeing Police team.” the police official said.
The kidnapped driver has been rescued in the light of above facts and circumstances.
According to Ri Bhoi Additional Superintendent of Police Banrap Jyrwa, All four highway robbers are now in police custody, and an investigation is underway to uncover their involvement in this and other highway robbery and extortion cases.