Four Criminal Gang Members Shot Dead in Meghalaya Police Encounter

Four alleged members of an interstate criminal gang involved in abduction, extortion and robbery were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district early Sunday, police said.

The encounter took place around 4 am on the Dagal-Songsak road, where a joint team of the Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) and district police had set up a checkpoint following intelligence inputs about the movement of armed men towards Songsak.

According to East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Pawar S Vasantrao, the security team intercepted a multi-utility vehicle for checking. The occupants allegedly opened fire at the police, prompting the personnel to retaliate in self-defence. The police vehicle also sustained bullet damage during the exchange.

Four men were injured in the firing and initially taken to Songsak Primary Health Centre. They were later referred to Williamnagar Civil Hospital, where doctors declared them dead on arrival, the SP said.

The deceased were identified as Allason Marak of North Garo Hills, and Sustom Rabha, Kalam Ali and Bobidul Islam, all from Assam’s Goalpara district.

Police recovered two factory-made pistols, including one bearing the marking “Beretta”, along with live and used ammunition from the vehicle.

Marak was allegedly a key accused in the recent Damra firing incident, in which a businessperson was killed. Rabha was also facing several criminal cases in Assam and Meghalaya, including those related to robbery, abduction, kidnapping and violations of the Arms Act.

Ali was allegedly involved in a case registered at Krishnai police station in Assam concerning abduction, extortion, assault and wrongful restraint.

Police said the gang was allegedly active across Meghalaya and Assam and was planning to abduct officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) for ransom.

Authorities are now investigating the gang’s interstate network, its alleged involvement in other criminal activities and the circumstances surrounding the encounter.