From Our Correspondent
RESUBELPARA, Dec 17: In a major development, the kingpin in the murder of a resident of Rongjeng in the month of January this year was finally arrested by Meghalaya Police in an early morning raid in the village of Bolmedam under Kharkutta in North Garo Hills district.
As per sources, the arrest was made at 4 am by a police team from Kharkutta based on information from sources.
As per an FIR lodged by the family with the police, on January 13, Udoy Sangma, who used to drive his own car (AS01EQ7779), was hired by four persons who asked him to drop them from Shallang to Dudhnoi.
However, when he failed to return on the same day, even after sending his location to his wife at 10:50 pm, a search was conducted by the family. His body was discovered by villagers of Mendima on January 15 at 7:30 am.
A case was subsequently registered under Kharkutta PS C/No. 3(1)24 U/s 364/396/302/201/34 IPC and four persons were identified. Those involved have been identified as Saljush N. Sangma (22) and Didit M. Sangma (25), Terry M. Sangma@Daria and one other.
“Initially, we closed down on four people who were identified through local sources. Two of them were arrested following an investigation. However, two others, who were involved, which included the mastermind, absconded,” said NGH Superintendent of Police, Swapnil Pawar.
Accordingly, an absconding charge-sheet was filed for the duo that did not fall in the police net.
The case was in limbo for a while after the two arrests after which search for the two began in earnest once again.
Luck favoured the police once again on Monday when information was received that the mastermind, who had escaped fortuitously for a while, was somewhere in Bolmedam under Kharkutta Police Station limits.
On Tuesday morning, Kharkutta Police Station staff, along with force from police reserve, conducted a raid at the village of Bolmedang and apprehended Terry Sangma alias Daria, who is wanted in connection with the case.
As per sources, Terry Sangma is a habitual offender and has several cases pending against him. “We are on the lookout for the fourth accused in the case who is still absconding. We have arrested Daria, who, we believe, is the main accused and we are looking for the last one. We are hopeful of a breakthrough soon,” informed Swapnil.
It may be mentioned that the murder of Udoy had created a huge furore with various organisations from the region seeking immediate action as well as compensation for the family of the deceased.