Boko, Sept 3: Two Assam Police personnel were allegedly shot dead by a colleague at a Kamrup police outpost along the Assam-Meghalaya border on Thursday morning.
The incident took place around 5 am at the temporary two-storey Gamairimura police outpost under Boko Police Station.
According to sources, police personnel Chiranjib Choudhury allegedly opened fire with an AK-TAR service rifle, killing officer-in-charge Lance Naik Indrajit Bora and Havildar Fazrul Ali. Sources said Bora sustained eight bullet injuries, while Ali was hit by three.
The sound of gunfire in the early hours created panic in the area. Police teams from Boko Police Station, led by Officer-in-Charge Munna Pachani, and Hahim Police Outpost, led by its in-charge Atul Deka, reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The alleged shooter, Chiranjib Choudhury, was taken into custody and an investigation was launched.
DSP Deepak Sharma, Executive Magistrate Roben Deuri and Commandant of the 28th Assam Police Battalion Pankaj Pratim Bairagi also reached the spot to take stock of the situation.
Family members of both deceased personnel later arrived at the scene after receiving information about the incident through local residents and the media. The family of Lance Naik Indrajit Bora expressed suspicion that the killings may have been planned, alleging that they had not received any information from the police or administration regarding the incident.
Sources said Chiranjib Choudhury (28th Assam Police Battalion) is a resident of Dhubri, Havildar Fazrul Ali was from Sarbhog, while Lance Naik Indrajit Bora hailed from Changchari in Kamrup district.
Police are trying to ascertain the motive behind the incident.
Local sources claimed that the three were allegedly playing a game known locally as ‘Tasskhel’ on the first floor of the two-storey building before an argument reportedly broke out between them. However, this claim has not been officially confirmed by the police.
A forensic team was deployed at the scene to conduct a detailed examination and collect evidence. After the necessary forensic procedures and collection of samples, the bodies of the two deceased personnel were sent to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.
Kamrup Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Ponnam Pegu also visited the scene. Speaking on the incident, she said the exact circumstances surrounding the attack and killings would become clear only after completion of the investigation. She also stated that the allegation of a planned killing raised by the family of Lance Naik Indrajit Bora would be examined as part of the investigation.
The incident has shocked the local community, with concerned citizens expressing grief over the deaths. Questions have also been raised over the safety of police personnel themselves, particularly at a time when the force continues to work under the motto of ‘Jonohit Jonxewarthe ‘ (serving and protecting the public).
