In Assam, police foil bank heist; 3 suspected robbers killed in encounter

According to director general of police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, police recovered two pistols, several rounds of used bullets, oxygen cylinders, gas cutters and other materials from the scene of the incident.

Published on: Aug 22, 2021, 20:09:17 IST

By Utpal Parashar

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Three suspected robbers were killed in an encounter in the early hours of Sunday after police in Assam’s Kokrajhar district foiled an alleged bank heist.

When police personnel intercepted the robbers around 800 m away from the bank before the robbery was committed, they started firing at the police team. (Image used for representation). (GETTY IMAGES.)

According to Kokrajhar police, the incident took place around 2:30 am at Bhotgaon when a group of alleged bank robbers were on their way to rob a branch of Indian Bank.

“There was a failed attempt at robbing the bank branch three months ago and since then we had activated our information network. On Sunday, we got information that a team of robbers were on their way to rob the Indian Bank branch,” said Thube Prateek Vijay Kumar, superintendent of police, Kokrajhar.

“When our personnel intercepted the robbers around 800 m away from the bank before the robbery was committed, they started firing at us. Our team also fired at them in retaliation in which three of their members were injured. They were taken to RNB CiviL Hospital in Kokrajhar where they later succumbed,” he added.

The deceased robbers have been identified as Sirajudaulah Sheikh from Mankachar district and Aminul Haque and Manowar Hussan from Goalpara district. Police have launched an operation to nab the other robbers who managed to escape from the scene.

According to director general of police (DGP) Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, police recovered two pistols, several rounds of used bullets, oxygen cylinders, gas cutters and other materials from the scene of the incident.

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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