Guwahati, March 16: A key accused in a gangrape case, Biki Ali, was shot dead in an encounter on Tuesday night when he allegedly tried to attack a police team that accompanied him to the crime site at Garigaon here.
Police sources said that Ali, who sustained multiple bullet wounds, was first taken to the Dhirenpara FRU for treatment and subsequently shifted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) where the doctors declared him dead.
Sources said that the accused had snatched a service revolver of a member of the police team and shot at the members, following which the police personnel fired at him.
Reportedly, the officer-in-charge of the Panbazar women police station has been injured in the leg during the encounter and undergoing treatment.
It may be mentioned that Ali, who was in his early 20s, was arrested from Dampur hill in Kamrup district on Tuesday where he was reportedly hiding to avoid arrest.
The four other accused in last month’s gangrape of a teenage girl, are still on the run.
A case has been registered under Sections 376 (D) of the IPC, Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and 67(B) of the IT Act against the five accused.
A search operation is on to arrest the other accused in the case and police sources claim to have acquired valuable leads.
Meanwhile, eight persons have been detained so far for harbouring and sheltering the accused in the case.
Taking to Twitter, special DGP (law and order) G.P Singh reacted by saying, “Rape represents regressive mindset of controlling, scarring and destroying a girl/woman’s mind and body. Assam Police will use all instruments of law to fight this evil.”