Tura: Over a dozen dacoits reportedly crossed the international border from Bangladesh in the dead of night on Sunday and attacked the home of a local politician in Mahendraganj town stripping the inmates of their valuables including cash and gold.
On the night of the attack, local leader Ranjit Modok had organised a special puja at his home in Ravidaspur locality of Mahendraganj town and several priests had stayed back for the night.
The gang of criminals, numbering between 15-20, allegedly crossed over from the nearby border and broke through the fencing surrounding the house.
They forced their way in and attacked the male members with sticks and daggers snatching mobile phones, watches, money and jewellery.
Among the valuables snatched away were 35 tolas of gold in bracelets, rings and lockets as well as over five lakh rupees.
The attackers also took away a licensed pistol with ten live rounds of ammunition that belonged to Modok. They did not spare the visiting holy men who had come to perform puja and took away their cell phones too. According to the victims, the operation was over in less than 30 minutes as the gang disappeared with the valuables.
The border belt in South West Garo Hills has been infamous for crimes for a long time. Lately criminal activities have been on the rise with law enforcement agencies failing to contain the situation.
The role of the BSF in its vigil on the border has also come to question.
