Tura, April 26: South Garo Hills deputy commissioner, Chinmoy Gotmore termed yesterday’s attack as pre-planned and handiwork of militant.
Giving a clear picture of the attack Gotmore said, “The road was blocked by placing the trucks almost horizontally on the road. Nobody challenged us to stop when we were reversing and the vehicle was directly fired upon aiming at us”.
He explained the situation as pre-planned saying, “It was me who was on the spot and I am sure that yesterday’s was an attempt to ambush me. It is intriguing that the so called “dacoits” are so daring to directly shoot at the DC’s vehicle, targeting the DC, when it is conspicuous by the beacon and the name plate on it. That too, when there was not a single vehicle except for my vehicle on which the so called dacoit was attempted”.
Giving a blow by blow account of January’s attack and yesterday’s one, Gotmore said, “Both the instances took place at around 8 pm, so the police now know that it is a prime time for so called dacoits on the national highway, then proper action to stop it from happening should be taking place”.
“Last time it was clear that the dacoits are taking money from the coal trucks and serving demand notes through them. However, it is interesting that this so called dacoity of yesterday took place, when there are almost negligible numbers of coal trucks plying as the after effect of the national green tribunal order banning coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya”, said Gotmore.
On his allotment of security, he said, “I would like to clarify that my allotted strength of PSOs is brought down to 2 (two) from earlier 4 (four) PSOs, due to withdrawal of police forces for election purposes, and I was travelling with 2 PSOs”.
On January 17 this year, Gotmore was attacked at Anugre about 6 km away from Baghmara in South Garo Hills.
Explaining the harrowing experience he said, “We spotted two trucks standing horizontally on the national highway 4 km ahead of Sibbari, blocking the road. I was seating in the front seat due to my back problem. At first, I thought it was an accident. But, then I spotted two persons with weapons and caught the glint of the handgun in the hands of one of the militants. My driver Rith Sangma also spotted them and was reversing the vehicle”.
Giving an account of the incident, Gotmore said, “I saw the militant with the handgun as he stood in the middle of the road taking aim at the vehicle. Seeing this, I ducked so that my head came near the gearstick and the steering wheel. About a split second later, I heard a bullet being fired which broke my vehicle’s windshield, tore my driver’s left hand and ricocheted to wheeze inches away from my ducked head to land in my PSO Aminur Islam’s right upper chest, who was seating in a spot where I generally seat”.
He lauded the courage of his PSO Islam and driver Rith saying, “Despite being injured and profusely bleeding, my driver Rith showed skill, bravery and common sense to reverse the vehicle for long and then turned it so that we can reach to nearest safe place. Islam as well though injured, braved himself to fire back a round but then his weapon jammed”.
On the other PSO not retaliating, Gotmore said, “He thought it was best not to act”.
Seeking advice from South Garo Hills SP, they drove till Sibbari BSF border outpost. He said that call logs says that the attack was engineered around 7:50 pm.
Gotmore said, “Rith Sangma has been referred to GNRC Hospitals, Guwahati for surgery on his hand”.(SP News)
