Shillong: Four armed men were killed after they allegedly opened fire on a joint police team during a vehicle-checking operation in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district early on Sunday, officials said.
The encounter occurred at around 4 am on the road connecting Songsak and Kagal, where personnel of the Meghalaya Police and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had established a checkpoint after receiving intelligence inputs, East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Pawar S Vasantrao said.
According to the SP, the security personnel signalled a vehicle to stop during the checking exercise. However, the occupants allegedly opened fire at the team, following which the police personnel returned fire, as reported by The New Indian Express.
“In the ensuing counterfire, the four men who were in the vehicle sustained serious injuries. They were immediately shifted to the hospital, where they were declared brought dead,” he said.
The identities of the deceased were not immediately known. Police were also examining their criminal backgrounds as part of the investigation, Vasantrao said.
“Their possible involvement in the recent kidnapping and killing of a businessman near the inter-state border in Damra is also being examined,” he said.
The officer said investigators were taking steps to establish the identities of the four men and determine their possible links to the incident near Damra.
“Due verification of their identity will also be done properly, and all the forensic teams are still on the job,” he said.
The bodies were sent for necessary formalities, while the investigation into the exchange of fire and the men’s possible involvement in other criminal activities was underway, the SP said.
