GUWAHATI: In a sensational update on the case of the stolen idols of Sri Digambar Jain temple, one of the suspects involved in the theft tried to evade police custody and was subsequently shot at by the police officials. The accused, Ashraf Ali, was shot in his left leg as he tried to escape and was later taken to a hospital.
Speaking to G Plus, Sandip Patni, a board member of the temple, said that the incident happened while recovering two of the idols in the Chirang district. He said that the thief was misleading the police about the location of the stolen idols.
The incident reportedly occurred at around 5-6 PM on Friday. The thief was later taken to the hospital.
Earlier, G Plus had reported that three accused persons were arrested who had been identified as Sahidul Islam, Kanay Singh and Ashraf Ali. Patni mentioned about the involvement of a woman who was also taken in by the police.
When G Plus contacted Prakash Sonowal, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Darrang district, he denied that it was an encounter and stated that as the accused tried to flee, they followed legal procedures and shot him.
“There was no encounter. The injured suspect was treated first at Kharupetia, then Mangaldoi and subsequently referred to the GMC. The investigation is going on,” Sonowal said.
He confirmed the involvement of a woman but refused to divulge her identity. He stated that besides Ali, the other three, Islam, Singh and the woman, are in police custody.
