GUWAHATI: The alleged mastermind of the Batadraba Police Station attack was run over and killed by a police vehicle while trying to escape custody late on Sunday night, Nagaon police have said.
Ashikul Islam, a prime accused in the May 21 Batadraba police station attack, was arrested on Sunday after a prolonged manhunt. He was later taken to his residence in Juria Sonaibari area of Nagaon district for follow-up investigations, where police said they recovered two firearms - a .22 and a .756 calibre pistol - besides several rounds of live ammunition.
He was being brought back to Nagaon town when he allegedly jumped from a moving vehicle and was run over by a police vehicle that was following, Nagaon SP Leena Doley told reporters.
Islam was later declared dead at a government hospital. Video footage captured on the day of the Batadraba incident shows Islam trying to stir up the mob and incite violence and arson, police said.
He was absconding ever since until his arrest on Sunday. On May 21, an angry mob ransacked and later torched the Batadraba police station following the alleged custodial death of a local trader. An Assam Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an Additional SP rank officer is probing the incident.