4 killed in violence over timber smuggling at Assam-Meghalaya border
Guwahati (PTI): Four people, including a forest guard, were killed in violence at the Assam-Meghalaya border after the police intercepted a truck transporting illegal timber in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said.
The truck was intercepted at the Meghalaya border by an Assam Forest Department team around 3 am, West Karbi Anglong's Superintendent of Police Imdad Ali told PTI.
As the truck tried to flee, the forest guards fired at it and punctured a tyre. The driver, handyman and another person were apprehended, while others managed to escape, he said.
The forest guards informed the Zirikending police station about the incident, and asked for reinforcements, he added.
As police reached, a huge number of people from Meghalaya armed with 'dao' (dagger) and other weapons gathered at the spot around 5 am, the officer said.
As the mob gheraoed the forest guards and the police demanding the immediate release of those arrested, the officers fired at them to bring the situation under control, he said.
"A forest home guard and three persons of the Khasi community were killed in the incident. The situation is under control now," the officer said.
However, it was not immediately clear how the forest guard, identified as Bidyasing Lekhte, was killed.
Ali said top officers of the district were on the way to the remote area.
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Mandya foeticide case: Three more arrested, total arrests reach 18
Mandya: The police have arrested three more individuals in connection with the female foeticide case registered across Pandavapur, Bellur, and Melukote police stations in the district. The latest arrests bring the total number of accused in custody to 18.
The newly arrested individuals include Shankara GN of Ashwini Diagnostic Center in KR Nagar of Hunsur, Mysuru, Naveen HK of Hiremarali village in Pandavapur taluk, and Jabbar of Haralahalli village in Pandavapur taluk.
The arrests were made on Sunday, and a vehicle was seized from the accused. The police investigation team has confirmed that the suspects have been remanded in judicial custody. The search for the remaining accused is ongoing.
Earlier, 15 accused were arrested and sent to judicial custody. The authorities also seized four scanning machines and four vehicles from the suspects. The discovery and murder of female fetuses have surfaced in Hadya village in Mandya taluk, at the residence of a Health Department employee in Pandavapur taluk, and in Bellur in Nagamangala taluk, with several accused still at large.
