Tura,april 25: The personal security officer and driver of South Garo Hills deputy commissioner, Chinmoy Gotmore today spoke about the harrowing experience of yesterday’s attack at Adapgre, near Sibbari in South Garo Hills.
Adapgre is located about 38 km from Baghmara town, the district headquarter of South Garo Hills and about 75 km from Tura.
In yesterday’s attack by armed group, Gotmore was unhurt, while his driver Rith Sangma, aged about 40 years was hit by a bullet on his right hand and PSO Aminur Islam, 24 years, had a bullet injury on his right chest.
The incident took place between 7:45 – 8:00 pm last night, when Gotmore was returning from Tura after attending a programme here without any police escort.
The deputy commissioner was accompanied by his two PSOs and driver. Gotmore was sitting on the front seat. Both injured are out of danger and undergoing treatment. The bullet from Islam’s chest was removed late last midnight.
Narrating yesterday’s attack Islam said, “It was a lucky escape for all of us”. He told that around 15 minutes they were in the midst of the danger at the highway.
“We stopped the vehicle after seeing three trucks parked on the highway. There was a sudden attack from the armed groups. Our driver made an attempt to turn the vehicle and was hit by a bullet; I got injured on my chest. I came out of the vehicle and fired upon but don’t know if any one got hit”, said Islam. The gun men fled after the firing incident.
Gotmore’s injured driver, Rith Sangma said, “I managed to drive the vehicle towards the BSF outpost at Sibbari, which is about 4 km from the incident site. At Sibbari PHC we were given first aid and brought here (Tura civil hospital) in an ambulance with BSF escort”.
South Garo Hills SP, Lakador Syiem said, “The prime suspects appear to be criminals and dacoits, who may have been caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of the deputy commissioner’s vehicle, while they were engaged in an extortion drive”.
This was the second attack on Gotmore in less than four months. In January, a group of suspected militants, reportedly fired a few rounds in the air and allegedly chased his vehicle.(SP News)
