Shillong: Following the attack on him and his security personnel, DC South Garo Hills Chinmay P Gotmare, chose to make a personal clarification of the second attack on him on Thursday while returning to Baghmara from Tura. Gotmare says, “My official vehicle was shot upon when I was returning from Tura to Baghmara. This is the second incident of this sort, when I and my driver and PSOs have come under fire from the militants. However, from the news reports, it seems that the incident has been watered down by those concerned.”
Gotmare said on the morning of April 24, he had gone to Tura to attend a workshop on NBA. It was scheduled to continue on April 25 as well. However, as his ADC Election was suffering from typhoid and had taken leave for two days, he decided to return to Baghmara to be in the district headquarter. “I left Tura on the evening of April 24 at about 5.30 pm on the completion of the day’s sessions. On reaching a spot, almost 4 kms ahead of Shibbari in SGHs district, we spotted two trucks standing horizontally on the NH, blocking the road ahead. I was seated in the front seat due to my back problem. At first, I thought it was an accident. But, then I spotted two persons with weapons and caught the glint of the handgun in the hands of one of the militants. Meanwhile, my driver Rith spotted them as well and started reversing. Then I saw the militant with the handgun as he stood in the middle of the road taking aim at the vehicle. Seeing this, I ducked so that my head came near the gearstick and the steering wheel. About a split second later, I heard a bullet being fired which broke my vehicle’s windshield, tore my driver’s left hand and ricocheted to wheeze inches away from my ducked head to land in my PSO Islam’s right upper chest, who was seating in the spot where I usually sit. Despite being injured and profusely bleeding, my driver Rith showed skill, bravery and common sense to reverse the vehicle then turned back so that we can reach the nearest safe place. Islam as well though injured, braved himself to fire back a round but then his weapon jammed. The other PSO thought best not to retaliate. Then I called the SP, to ask him where should we go and he told me to go to the Sibbari BOP of the BSF. The incident took place at around 7.50 pm (approximation on the basis of BSF staff telling that we arrived there at 8.05 pm and call logs).” Gotmare said.
Gotmare further informed that the PSO and driver were taken to Shibbari PHC for first aid, and then referred to Tura Civil Hospital where they reached at about 12.45 am of Friday April 25, 2014, where they were treated and are under observation. The driver, Rith Sangma, is referred to GNRC Hospitals, Guwahati for surgery on his hand.
“I am coming out with this statement, because it has been mentioned in media reports that it was a dacoity and I walked into it. A similar incident took place on Jan 17 this year, while I was returning from an official meeting from Shillong. I reached Anugre about 6 kms away from Baghmara and clearly remember the scene then, and what happened. We reached there at about 8.40 pm, saw a huge line of coal trucks lined on both sides. Some militants spotting my vehicle, which was by then reversing, fired in the air while chasing it. My driver, incidentally Rith then as well, managed to take us to safety.” Gotmare said.
The South Garo Hills DC says Thursday’s circumstances were totally different. The road was blocked by trucks that were packed horizontally on the road. Nobody challenged them to stop they were reversing and the vehicle was directly fired upon aiming at them. “Neither of these incidents were dacoity attempts and I am sure the Thursday event wasn’t. It was I who was the target in both these instances and I am sure that yesterday’s was an attempt to ambush me. It is intriguing that the so called “dacoits” are so daring to directly shoot at the DC’s vehicle, targeting the DC, when it is conspicuous by the beacon and the name plate on it. That too, when there was not a single vehicle except for my vehicle on which the so called dacoity was attempted.” Gotmare said.
In his statement the DC said both instances took place at around 8 pm, so the police now know that it is a prime time for the so called dacoits on the national highway so prevent such attempts should have taken place. “Last time it was clear that the dacoits were taking money from coal trucks and serving demand notes through them. However, it is interesting that this so called dacoity of yesterday took place, when there is almost negligible numbers of coal trucks plying following the NGT ban on coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya.” Gotmare asks, “If so many dacoities are taking place in South Garo Hills district, then the absence of reporting about and action against them, raises some very disturbing questions as well.” Gotmare stated that he is now allotted 2 PSOs from earlier 4 PSOs, due to withdrawal of police forces for election purposes. He was travelling with 2 PSOs only.
