A hardcore criminal has died in police encounter at 1.30 am today morning at Lakhinagar area of Hailakandi district in South Assam’s Barak Valley. Hailakandi police super Gaurav Upadhyay told that the deceased Abdul Ahad Choudhury was arrested by police from Suterkandi area of Karimganj district on Saturday early morning under Lala Police Station Case no 110/22 under section 279/379/411/420/120B IPC r/w Sec 3 of PDPP Act.
On April 29 night, Police arrested Ahad in connection with the illegal coal trade. Later on Saturday, he was taken into Lala hospital for a routine medical checkup and he managed to escape and taking the advantage of road traffic, he vanished from the spot.
The incident occured at around 11.30 am. Police immediately started search operations in all the places of Barak Valley and informed it to the other police stations of Northeast. Even the day’s toil, police failed to trace him. Informing this, Upadhyay said that they got the information that he is trying to escape to Karimganj and installed check gates in Lakhinagar, about 10 kms from Lala.
At around, 1.30 am, Ahad tried to cross the police check gate with a motorcycle with another unidentified person and started to fire over police immediately after seeing the police. Police retaliated and Ahad sustained bullet injuries.
Ahad also fired over the vehicle of police. Injured Ahad was immediately taken into the SK Roy Civil Hospital in Hailakandi town where he was declared brought dead, SP said. Another person who was with him in motorcycle escaped from the spot. ‘we have launched operation to find out the person and motorcycle’s, SP said.
SP said that Abdul Ahad Choudhury is one of the most notorious criminals and more than fifty cases related to land scam, illegal trades, fake currency, forgery etc. are pending against him. Even Abdul Ahad Choudhury brought out forged death certificate of his own from Mizoram and a case of forgery was also registered, Upadhyay added. He further said that he was mastermind of all illegal coal syndicate and landport scam of Barak Valley and CBI inquiry is also going on against him.
Upadhyay informed that the Lala police detained a coal loaded vehicle on April 10 last and arrested two persons namely, Manoj Roy and Nirupam Das. During investigation, police found that the illegal trade of coal syndicate is running by Ahad and arrested him on Saturday.
SP confirmed that Police officials did not sustain any bullet injuries. A 9 mm pistol has alao been recovered from him. He was earlier arrested in Karimganj two years back in connection with landport scam and released on bail. Former deputy commissioner and additional deputy commissioner were also arrested for the landport scam.
Investigation is on, SP Upadhyay informed.
