West Garo Hills police today stated that they were close to identifying the gang responsible for looting some Assam based businessmen after the crime was repeated at Gaptuli area of the district.
The area in question has been a recurring place of loot by criminal gangs due to the remote nature of the place as well as the poor road conditions that do not allow fast travel.
Yesterday, close to half a dozen businessmen that were travelling in an auto between the villages of Hat Singimari and Lakhipur in Assam through the AMPT road were attacked near Gaptuli, about 12 kms from the town of Phulbari and their valuables and cash looted from them by the criminal gang.
The area falls close to the Dibru Reserve Forest and is secluded.
The notoriety of Gaptuli had even led to CRPF personnel being posted in the area while the district police ran after the criminal gangs that have been making travel dangerous for residents. The area is also frequented by wild elephants making the area even more dangerous.
Superintendent of Police, Dr MGR Kumar said the businessmen from Assam were apparently followed by the gang in a while Alto car and stopped near Gaptuli where the incident took place. The incident took place at about 9:30 am yesterday with the gang members believed to be a group of mixed community persons.
Around six gang members stopped the auto near Gaptuli, followed the auto from Phulbari, stopped them at the place of incident and pulled them out after threatening them with khukris and daos before snatching their valuables, wallets with the money they had along with their mobile phones before escaping back the same way.
Dr Kumar estimated that the gang made away with at least Rs 90,000 from the traders. Immediately after the report of theft, naka checks and road blocks were set up to intercept the gang. However the gang allegedly used the interior roads to make their escape.
“We are close to identifying the members of the gang involved in the incident and an investigation into the matter is currently on. We are hopeful of a breakthrough in the case soon,” stated Dr Kumar.
