DC survives militant fire
TURA: The Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills District had a providential escape when militants opened fire on his official vehicle narrowly missing him even as one of his personal security officers and the driver sustained bullet injuries on Thursday night.
The attack took place when South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, C P Gothmare, was heading towards Baghmara from Tura.
Shortly after 8:30 pm on Thursday night, as the official vehicle carrying the district chief was passing through Sibbari border region they came across a group of armed men engaged in looting coal trucks along the main road.
On seeing the government vehicle approaching, the armed men reportedly opened fire from small arms (pistols) in which the driver and one of the PSOs sustained a bullet injury.
The gun men fled after the firing incident.
South Garo Hills district police chief Lakador Syiem said that the prime suspects appear to be petty criminals and dacoits who may have been caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of the DC’s vehicle while they were engaged in an extortion drive.
The injured driver of the vehicle managed to direct the vehicle towards the BSF outpost at Sibbari and later sought medical aid with the Sibbari Primary Health Centre before they were taken to Tura Civil Hospital for further treatment under armed escort.
