LAKHIMPUR: A ‘most wanted criminal’ was killed by a mob near the Kilkili river at Dhakuakhana in North Assam’s Lakhimpur district on Thursday morning.
The criminal, who was lynched has been identified as Raju Barua alias Gerjai. He along with two others had escaped from police custody on Tuesday.
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People at Dhakuakhana in Lakhfimpur district of Assam spotted him and brutally assaulted him.
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Gerjai, who was seriously injured, died at the Dhakuakhana primary health centre (PHC).
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One police and one home guard personnel, who tried to save Gerjai from the mob, were also injured.
Gerjai was wanted in a number of cases registered in various police stations in Assam.
Gerjai and two other criminals had escaped from the sub-divisional judicial magistrate’s court on August 16.
Gerzai, history-sheeter with crimes including murder, rape, robbery and violence has wanted in several police stations in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sivasagar districts.
He has been a headache for Lakhimpur police for the last several years. Gerzai was earlier arrested on July 15, 2015 in Ghilamora, Lakhimpur. He escaped police custody soon.
Gerzai was again arrested on the night of September 24 by Dhakuwakhona Police at Na-Kapahuwa village in Sonari Chapori after an armed encounter. An injured Gezai was admitted to Assam Medical College Hospital first and after treatment was shifted to Lakhimpur District Jail at North Lakhimpur under judicial custody.
Gerzai eluded the police again as he escaped on January 22 this year while he was treated for Covid in Lakhimpur Medical College Hospital. However, he was again arrested from his home at Bhati Jalbhari village in Dhakuwakhona on January 24.
His latest escape has made him the most elusive criminal that plays a cat and mouse game with the police.
“I am Gerzai I’m a murderer. Everyone knows me. I’m not afraid of anyone. I and Sonti will run away from the Dhakuakhana court. You have to go too”, was said arrogantly by Gerzai to Jatin Tamuli, his fellow escapee who was arrested by police in Bantowgaon in Dhakuwakhona on the day of the incident.
As confessed by Jatin, Gerzai had reportedly told him “Sonti Das and I will escape from the Dhakuakhana court. Will you go with us? If you go with us, you’ll get money. Don’t tell anyone about this.” Gerzai also reportedly put a sharp piece of iron under Jatin’s cloth to break the window of the lock-up toilet.
The latest escape of Gerzai from police has placed him in the elite club of fugitive criminals that earned a folkloric status of Natwarlal. Like the celebrated Bollywood conman Don, Gerzai is now attributed to the famous dialogue—“Gerzai ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin, na mumkin bhi hain” (It is not only difficult to arrest Gerzai, but impossible too)