By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: A suspected militant allegedly linked to drug trafficking activities died after sustaining injuries during a police operation in the Jirighat area of Cachar district late Wednesday night, officials said.
The deceased was identified as Sailun Daungel, alias Lulun, a resident of neighbouring Manipur.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Cachar SSP Sanjib Saikia said the operation was launched in connection with a firing incident reported on May 5, in which an Assam Police havildar sustained bullet injuries after unidentified assailants allegedly opened fire on a vehicle.
During the investigation, police identified two suspects and carried out raids in the Jirighat region on Wednesday night.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a police team reached the Boma Punji area and detained Daungel, one of the prime accused, from his residence.
According to the SSP, the accused later claimed that the weapon used in the earlier firing incident had been hidden nearby and offered to lead the police team to the location.
However, while guiding the police team in the dark, the accused allegedly attacked security personnel and attempted to open fire again.
Police said a bullet struck an officer and pierced his bulletproof jacket, prompting security personnel to retaliate with controlled firing in self-defence.
Daungel sustained injuries during the exchange and was taken to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital under police escort, where he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Police claimed that preliminary inputs received from Manipur Police suggested the accused had links with militant activities and was allegedly associated with a banned outfit in the neighbouring state.
He was also suspected to be involved in drug peddling operations, officials said.
Further investigation is underway to verify his background and identify others allegedly connected to the case.
Security has been tightened in the Jirighat belt, while search operations are continuing to trace the remaining accused.