In a sensational incident, a shopkeeper and a customer were killed on Friday evening when suspected ULFA (I) militants opened fire at a grocery shop at Rupai-Siding market under Doomdooma Police Station in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district.
The slain shopkeeper has been identified as Jit Verma, a resident of Talap bazar, who was a salesman of the grocery shop. The identity of the customer is yet to be ascertained.
Police sources said unidentified motorcycle-borne armed miscreants opened fired at the shop from a very close range killing the duo on the spot.
The police with the help of locals managed to nab one of the miscreants while other members of the group escaped on the bike under the cover of darkness.
He has been identified as Rupantor Moran, who revealed before the police that ULFA (I) leader Udoy Axom instructed him to join the group to carry out subversive activities in the area. Udoy Axom was allegedly involved in the killing of police official Bhaskar Kalita.
“Preliminary investigation is being carried out by local police while another group of security personnel has been assigned to launch operation to nab the culprits,” Tinsukia SP Mugdhajyoti Mahanta said.
“Though the nature of the crime apparently appeared to be of robbery in intention yet the involvement of ULFA (I) militants in the act cannot be ruled out,” added Mahanta.
