Man shot at in Garo Hills

TURA: South Garo Hills police are investigating a shooting case in which a man from neighbouring Assam landed up in hospital with a gunshot wound on his leg in the coal belt region of Nangalbibra on Thursday.
Kamrul Islam, 19, hailing from Bilasipara village in New Bongaigaon, came to the Patalgittim government health centre at Nangalbibra seeking treatment for the bullet injury. Islam told the police that he had come looking for work in an area known as Komila Bagan when five unidentified men accosted him.
According to the injured man, the group comprised locals and was led by a non-tribal, apparently from the Muslim community, who brandished a pistol. The group demanded money from him but when he failed to meet their demands, shot him in the leg and fled.
He has been shifted to Goalpara hospital for further medical treatment and police are scouting for clues about presence of any armed gang of criminals in the area.
Of late, ever since the NGT ban on coal mining took effect, business in the Nangalbibra-Jadigittim area has gone down drastically. On the other hand, crimes have plummeted as many criminal elements have abandoned the area in search of greener pastures.
The ban has also impacted militant groups as their main source of funds has been affected, compelling dozens of rebels, including top leaders, to give up their armed struggle and surrender to authorities.