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The police of Assam’s Darrang district managed to nab eight members of a notorious highway robbers from different locations in Baksa and Kamrup district over last two days.

Stolen iron bars and tin sheets worth market value of Rs 3.50 lakh were seized from their possession.

Two Alto cars used by the gang have also been seized.

Talking to Northeast Now on Sunday afternoon Amrit Bhuyan, superintendent of police said, “Eight members of a gang of highway robbers involved in few recent cases of robbery along the stretch of the NH-15 in the district have been nabbed in two separate operations in last two nights.”

“The mastermind of the gang Samnul Ali alias Mela has been nabbed from Kauribaha of Tamulpur area on Saturday night by a team of Mangaldai Police led by sub inspector Chandan Das,” he added.

“Two Alto cars and some stolen goods worth market value of around Rs 3.50 lakh have already been seized,” said Bhuyan.

“Our operation under the supervision of ASP, Ujjal Pratim Baruah is still on for the other absconding members of the gang as well as a hijacked vehicle,” Bhuyan added.

All the arrested persons were produced before the court on Sunday praying for further custody of the police.

Meanwhile, the accused during preliminary interrogation by police have stated to have confessed their involvement in all the recent cases of robbery in the district.

Four of the accused belong to the locality under Borbori police station in Baksa district.

Three from the areas under Tamulpur, Borama and Goreswar police stations of the same district while the remaining one hails from Baihata Chariali police station area in Kamrup district.

According to police the gang used to follow goods carrying vehicles from Baihata Chariali area then in some isolated locations in the highway overtake it and intercept it.

Then overpowering the driver they hijack the vehicle through some interior roads to reach bordering areas of Baksa.

They leave the driver midway and moved away with the vehicle and goods.

Later either both the vehicle and goods are sold out or vehicle is left behind after looting the goods.

It may be mentioned that in between January 13 and February 15 last the Mangaldai and Sipajhar police stations has recorded three similar cases of highway robbery in the form of hijacking.

Mayukh Goswami is Northeast Now Correspondent in Mangaldai. He can be reached at: [email protected]