GUWAHATI: Guwahati is swarming with miscreants who have fitted sirens along with fake number plates, and fake assembly car passes to their vehicles - either to jump signals without being challaned or to flaunt their 'VIP' cars in social media.
Basistha Police Station made significant strides in solving the case, leading to the arrest of a suspect identified as Arin Kataki, a 20-year-old student pursuing BA/LLB from USTM, Meghalaya.
Kataki, residing at Rupkonwor Path, VIP road, Six Mile, Dispur, confessed to his involvement in the hit-and-run incident. The police successfully recovered a black SUV, which, to their surprise, bore markings stating "Govt. Of Assam" and was equipped with unauthorized red/green warning lights and a siren.
As the investigation progressed, additional charges of destruction of evidence (Sec 201) and culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Sec 304 IPC) were added to the case. Both private vehicles owned by the accused displayed the inscription "Govt Of Assam," leading to the initiation of legal proceedings against the accused driver.
Following this incident, it prompted a city-wide crackdown, with several vehicles seized from different areas of Guwahati.
Talking to GPlus, a source in Basistha Police Station said, "The search operation started on February 9, 2024, included the seizure of a car from MLA hostel and two others from Lokhra."
Till February 10, ten cars have been seized.
Notably, these vehicles, adorned with fake number plates, have been spotted going in and out of the MLA hostel and Assembly areas, exploiting forged assembly car passes.
Speaking to the media, DCP (Traffic) revealed the details of the investigation following the hit-and-run incident and confirmed the seizures of nine similar cars. Most of them belonged to government officials. The DCP confirmed that there might be more such cars and that investigation into the fake assembly passes is ongoing.
