Cop attacked; friend ‘missing’
on Saturday. (ST)
TURA: Less than twenty-four hours after suspected GNLA militants triggered a powerful IED blast at Tebronggre, another police constable is battling for his life after being shot on the neck by gunmen on the Tura-Dalu road on Saturday afternoon, even as death toll in Friday’s incident has risen to three.
Police constable Avijeet Mazumdar (27) belonging to 5th Battalion, Samgong (Williamnagar) was going on leave to his home town Dalu when the incident took place near 7th Mile (Kherapara).
The victim was travelling with a friend on a two-wheeler (ML-08 D 1495) and had just crossed 7th Mile when four armed men in a car intercepted them after overtaking their two-wheeler. They bundled Avijeet and his friend Saumendu Chakraborty (25) into their car and were taking them towards a jungle road when the policeman put up a fight to break free.
He was shot in the neck and back but managed to run despite the injuries. He reached the main road and was helped by some passerby who alerted police in Tura.
Since he had lost a lot of blood and his condition is serious the authorities have decided to shift him to GNRC hospital in Guwahati for specialised treatment.
He happened to be the personal security officer of the lady second-in-command of the 2ndMLP Battalion in Goeragre. He hailed from Durgabari locality of Barengapara.
The whereabouts of his friend Saumendru, who is a student of the government B.Ed College in Rongkhon, remains unknown. He hailed from Chaipani area of Dalu.
Death toll 3: Meanwhile, the death toll in the IED blast has risen to three with one more policeman succumbing to his injuries on Saturday.
Constable Rahul Marak died in GNRC hospital, a police officer said.
Battalion constable Rahul Marak was taken to Guwahati GNRC hospital on Friday night itself but he lost the battle and breathed his last early Saturday morning.
Earlier, constable Alphaios Khymdeit died while being brought to Tura from the site of the ambush. Alphaios hailed from Nongpoh, Lembadme was from Jowai and Rahul belonged to Aradonga village.
The militants had planted the IED on the side of the road and ignited the bomb just as the police gypsy with five occupants, including the Rongram in-charge (IC) P Rechil was travelling towards Dadenggre on patrol duty late Friday afternoon.
Ex gratia: Meanwhile, Meghalaya police has released Rs 1 lakh each from the Meghalaya Police Social Security Scheme to the bereaved family members of three policemen.
Informing this in Shillong on Saturday, the State police chief PJP Hanaman said that all the families of the martyrs will be given ex-gratia payment of Rs 7.5 lakh each by the government and the next of the kin of the deceased policemen will also be entitled to the last pay drawn till the notional date of retirement. (With inputs from our Reporter)