GUWAHATI, Nov 7: Two dreaded robbers were killed in a fierce gun-battle at Agia in Assam’s Goalpara district on Monday night.
On the other hand, Manoj Kumar Das, the officer-in-charge of Agia police station, was also injured in the shootout with a bullet fired by one of the robbers greasing his lower leg.
The slain robbers have been identified as Amar Thapa of Bakharakhuti, against whom multiple cases of robbery and kidnapping have been registered, and his associate Faridul Islam of Bhalukdubi.
An operation was launched by Goalpara Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), Rituraj Doley, who was assisted by a team from Agia police station at around 9:30 pm on Monday.
The police team saw a speeding vehicle and signaled it to stop. However, the robbers, who were inside the vehicle, fired at the police team forcing the men in uniform to retaliate.
In exchange of bullets that followed, the two robbers were fatally injured and were declared brought dead at Goalpara Civil Hospital.
Two 7.56 mm pistols and several live ammunition were recovered from the possession of the dead robbers.
“An operation was launched under the leadership of the Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime), Golapara, following inputs about the possibility of the movement of robbers in the area. The police team saw a Bolero car coming towards them near Nichinta village and when they signaled the driver to stop, they occupants of the car fired at them forcing our team to retaliate,” Goalpara SP Rakesh Reddy said.
“We brought the two injured robbers to the hospital but they were declared brought dead. We have recovered two pistols from the scene of the shootout,” he said.
Incidentally, Amar Thapa had previously made a daring attempt to escape from police custody when he was arrested by cops two years ago. He was subsequently injured when policemen shot at his leg to prevent him from escaping. The robber was later jailed but he came out of prison on bail recently and took to his old habits, Goalpara SP Rakesh Reddy informed media persons.
Police carried out another operation at the site of the shootout on Tuesday to ascertain whether there could have been other robbers with the slain duo who, in the event of their presence with them, could have made good their escape.
