The charred bodies of three men found today in East Garo Hills district, with police suspecting the deaths to be a criminal rivalry between car lifters and cattle thieves.
The burnt bodies of Jomor Ali, Noor Mohammad and Zahidul Islam of Assam were found inside a pit in the jungle near the village link road connecting Rogu Alda village under Rongjeng police station, around 1.5 km from NH-217 connecting Dudhnoi – Damra – Rongjeng – Baghmara.
“Prima facie, it appears to be a case of criminal rivalry among car lifters and cattle thief groups,” Superintendent of Police, Stephen Aleric Rynjah said.
While Islam is reported to be involved in car lifting cases in Dudhnoi and Krishnai and one non bailable warrant of arrest is pending against him under Krishnai PS, Ali is reported to be involved in cattle theft cases under Matia PS, Assam, he said.
As per verbal information from the relatives of Ali, the three had left home for Meghalaya on April 15 late evening as they were hired by some unknown person (s) for some important work.
The next day at 6:30 am the relatives were informed that they were in a jungle area in Garo Hills having breakfast and thereafter the mobile phones were switched off.
Rynjah said a police team found the missing vehicle in burnt condition inside the forest. The team also found a freshly dug pit filled with fresh soil near the vehicle were the bodies of the three men were removed in the presence of the Executive Magistrate, Forensic Team (FSL) and Crime Scene Unit (CSU) teams.
He said inquest and spot post-mortem was conducted over the bodies which were later handed over to their relatives after completion of all the formalities.
A case under sections 302/201/435/34 IPC has been registered for further investigation at Rongjeng police station.
