Shillong, Aug 11/12: A sixth Bangladeshi who is suspected to have attacked an indigenous tribal in Rongdongai village in South West Khasi Hills recently was arrested by police on Monday.
The arrested individual, identified as Akram from Sherpur in Bangladesh, is one of eight Bangladeshi nationals accused of assaulting Balsrang A Marak (22) in the early hours of Friday. Four were arrested on Saturday and one other on Sunday. Akram’s arrest brings the total in detention to six, with two on the run.
However, it was revealed by police on Tuesday that Akram died of wounds he reportedly received from angry local residents who caught him.
According to information received on Monday night, Akram was taken to Maheshkhola Primary Health Centre for treatment after sustaining serious injuries. On Tuesday, police said that he was declared dead on arrival at Khunjoy PHC.
South West Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Banraplang Jyrwa on Monday said that police are still hunting for the remaining two suspects.
Residents pointed out that since these intruders are not well versed with the terrain they are avoiding unfamiliar landscapes like forests and straying into roads looking to get back to Bangladesh.
The assault on Marak occurred at Rongdongai on August 8. The Bangladeshi robbers stole cash and valuables from the shop in which Marak was sleeping overnight in and kidnapped him. They physically assaulted him and threatened to kill him as well.
Meanwhile, three of those previously arrested have been remanded in custody for three days by a local district court in Mawkyrwat. Those in hospital have yet to be produced before a judge.
Jyrwa said that police will try and ascertain the motive behind their crime during their custody. “We might seek extension of this custody if necessary,” he informed.
Apart from Akram, the other five Bangladeshis nabbed so far are Mubarak Hussain, Marufur Rahman, Mefus Rahman, Jangir Alam and Saem Hussain. One is believed to be a Bangladeshi police officer, according to ID tags recovered by police.
