Tura, Aug 30: Four armed men said to be a kidnappers gang were killed in a pre-dawn exchange of fire with police during a naka-checking operation at Songsak in East Garo Hills on Sunday.
The encounter took place at around 4 am when police personnel were conducting naka-checking on the Songsak to Dagal road which is currently under construction.
Police had signalled an approaching Assam registered white Bolero vehicle to stop for checking when the four men allegedly opened fire at the police team as they approached the checkpoint.
In the retaliatory fire by police all four men sustained gunshot injuries and later succumbed to their injuries.
Police were yet to formally identify the deceased. The Superintendent of Police said establishing their identities was the immediate priority, after which their backgrounds and possible criminal antecedents would be verified.
The encounter has assumed added significance with police confirming that the four men could potentially be linked to an incident reported at Tapra, in Goalpara district of Assam,on August 25, when a trader was shot dead.
Investigators are examining the possible connection as part of the probe.
Investigators are also examining the circumstances surrounding the encounter, including the events leading up to the alleged opening of fire by the four men. Further details are expected as police establish the identities of the deceased and piece together their movements and possible links to earlier incidents.
