The seven people who were arrested by Tinsukia Police on charges of being allegedly involved in the shootout incident at Doomdooma's Rupai. UB photos

A special investigating team of Tinsukia Police on Sunday morning arrested seven people on charges of being allegedly involved in the Rupai shoot-out incident in which a grocery employee and a customer at Rupai-Siding market in Doomdooma on May 18 evening last.

Acting swiftly to the assigned mission, the team under the leadership of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) and Deputy ASP (HQ), Tinsukia launched an operation and successfully nabbed seven people for being allegedly involved in the incident.

Also read: Assam: Two shot dead by suspected ULFA (I) militants in Doomdooma

The arrested people have been identified as 21-year-old Montu Moran, son of Pradip Moran of Jokaichuk under  Baghjan PS, Rupantor Moran (25), son of Juneswar Moran of Jokaichuk area of Baghjan, Niranta Baruah (36), son of Someswar Baruah of Kordoiguri village of Baghjan area and Ramesh Mahanta (38), son of Kamal Ch Mahanta of No 1 Kakopathar area under Kakopather PS.

The others who were also arrested by police are Bijoy Verma (41), son of late Prabhu Dayal Verma of Talap area under  Doomdoma PS, Khitish Baruah (36), son of late Thaneswar Baruah of Dayel Gaon under Chapakhowa PS along with female accomplice Dipali Saikia (32), wife of Bipul Saikia of Sadiya 5 Mile under Chapakhowa PS.

According to a top police official, Bijoy Verma, the mastermind behind the crime, provided arms to Rupantor Moran and Montu. The investigating official said, “Verma played an active role in protesting the act of killing just to conceal his involvement in the entire episode.”

Meanwhile, all the accused, involved directly or indirectly in the act of killing Jit Verma and customer Ramakanta Deori, were booked.

Two pistols along with five rounds of ammunition and cell phones have been seized.  All the accused involved directly or indirectly were booked in reference to case No 127/18 U/S 448/397/302/34IPC R/W SEC 25(1)(A)/27ARMS ACT of Doomdoma Pilice Station.

When asked, MugdhaJyoti Mahanta, the Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia denying direct involvement of any militant organisation in the act, however, said that some of the accused might have been serving as ULFA linkmen but the incident was pre-planned and it was designed primarily to extract money from the business establishments.

“Keeping CCTV surveillance active all the round and working in close coordination with the local police might go a long way in curbing such crimes which are growing in the society,” said Mahanta while lauding the special investigating team for cracking the case with a short spell.

Laxman Sharma is Northeast Now Correspondent in Digboi. He can be reached at: [email protected]