Nagaon: Assam Police on Thursday said a man, who was an accused in a case of snatching, was shot at after he allegedly tried to escape from police custody in Hojai district.
Hojai police station officer-in-charge Tapan Medhi said the man was nabbed at Netaji Point on Wednesday evening while he was fleeing after snatching Rs 75,000 from an elderly person, .
He was being taken to Nagaon for further investigation when he tried to flee from police custody at Jabroka area, the officer said. The police then opened fire and shot him in the leg.
Police said he has been admitted to Nagaon Civil Hospital for treatment. The police have recovered Rs 56,000 from him, while a search is on for another person involved in the snatching incident.
The duo is suspected members of ‘Irani Gang’, involved in several criminal activities, the police said.
Since May 10, at least 26 people have been killed in police shootings across the state and 43 have been injured. The police claim that they were shot after they “tried to flee” from custody.
The spate of police shootings have come after BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma took over as chief minister of the state and gave “full operational liberty” to the forces to fight against criminals “within the ambit of law”.
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