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Two ‘dacoits’ gunned down in Assam encounter: Cops

According to officials, the incident took place around 10:30 pm on Saturday during the curfew, imposed as part of Covid-19 restrictions, and search is on for two more persons who escaped.

Updated on: Aug 30, 2021, 06:45:25 IST
By , Guwahati
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Two alleged dacoits were killed and one was injured in a gunfight with the Assam police after a high-speed car chase in Goalpara district, officials said on Sunday.

With Saturday’s incident, the number of those killed in such encounters rose to 22. At least 34 others have been injured in such incidents across the state.
With Saturday’s incident, the number of those killed in such encounters rose to 22. At least 34 others have been injured in such incidents across the state.

According to officials, the incident took place around 10:30 pm on Saturday during the curfew, imposed as part of Covid-19 restrictions, and search is on for two more persons who escaped.

“Sometimes criminals think they can outgun, outrun and outsmart Assam Police. That happened at Goalpara yesterday. Goalpara police had to chase criminals across the area of four police stations while being shot at. But finally, police got better of them,” director general of police, Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta tweeted.

“Two of the dacoits, Rafajuddin and Basit Ali, died in the shootout while one Rashidul Islam has been injured. All of them have prior cases of dacoity against them. We recovered one gun and the car they were travelling,” he added.

With Saturday’s incident, the number of those killed in such encounters rose to 22. At least 34 others have been injured in such incidents across the state.

While opposition parties have accused the police of being ‘trigger-happy’, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who handles the home portfolio, has urged police not to shy away from firing back at criminals while remaining within the ambit of the law.

  • Utpal Parashar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Utpal Parashar

    A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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