A suspected dacoit was killed in police encounter in Darrang district of Assam when he was taken for recovering stolen goods after his arrest, a senior official said on Wednesday.
Guwahati Joint Commissioner Partha Sarathi Mahanta said at a press conference in Guwahati that the accused was nabbed on Tuesday from Guwahati, while his four accomplices were arrsted from South Salmara-Mankachar district for their alleged role in a murder and dacoity case in the capital city. 
After the arrest, he was taken to his residence at Sipajhar in Darrang to carry out some search operations at night, Mahanta said.
“However, during operations at some point of time he brought out a country made pistol from under a bush and suddenly opened fire at the police team,” a police officer in Darrang said.
In self defense, police also opened fire injuring him critically. He was rushed to the local civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead, the official said.
“The deceased has been identified as the mastermind of the recent murder and dacoity incident at Chatribari under Paltan Bazaar police station in Guwahati,” he added.
The police have seized the fire arm and also a cash amount of Rs 60,000 from his possession.
In another operation, the deceased four accomplices were arrested from South Salmara-Mankachar district and recovered a huge amount of jewelleries buried under the ground.
Altogether 44 people have been killed and at least 107 injured in police action while allegedly trying to flee from custody or attacking the personnel since the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, assumed office in May 2021.
The high number of shoot-outs whipped up a political furore with the opposition alleging that the Assam Police has turned “trigger happy” and is indulging in “open killings” under the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led regime.
On March 28, the Assam Government informed the state Assembly that death or injury to the suspected criminals is “not new” if they try to escape from custody or attack the personnel.
Defending police firing on criminals while purportedly trying to flee or attack the police, the state government maintained that police will continue to act “tough” against the accused.
