Guwahati, July 20: Tensions flared in Assam’s Udalguri district just ahead of the BTR elections, as a youth was shot in a violent altercation involving an illegal firearm. The incident occurred late Saturday night in Poskia-Hatibandha village under Kalaigaon Police Station and has sparked renewed concern over the unchecked spread of illegal arms in the region.
The victim, identified as Rebo Boro, was reportedly sitting with a group of five others near a pond when the accused, Golap Kachari from Barakhat, arrived in a four-wheeler and confronted him. According to sources, the two had a history of personal enmity, which quickly escalated into a heated argument.
Witnesses say Kachari suddenly pulled a pistol from his vehicle, fired two rounds into the air, and then shot Rebo Boro in the thigh at close range. Amid the chaos, another individual, Kulen Boro, also sustained injuries, though not from gunfire.
Critically injured, Rebo Boro was rushed to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors have confirmed he is out of danger.
Locals, alarmed by the sound of gunfire, rushed to the scene and managed to overpower the shooter. Kachari was restrained by residents and handed over to police. Officers from Kalaigaon Police Station have confirmed that an illegal firearm was recovered from the scene.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the region, with community members expressing outrage and demanding immediate action. “This is not an isolated case,” a local resident said. “Illegal weapons are making their way into our villages, and it’s only a matter of time before more lives are lost.”
With the BTR polls round the corner, the shooting has triggered calls for a focused crackdown on unlicensed firearms and heightened security across sensitive zones. Police investigations are ongoing.
