Assam Police Shoot Two Suspected Vehicle Thieves Dead
Two suspected members of an inter-state vehicle theft syndicate were fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with Assam Police near Marakdola in the Kamrup Metropolitan district early on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The incident occurred along the highway link bordering Meghalaya following a midnight pursuit that began in Guwahati after the theft of a commercial vehicle from the city's Fancy Bazar area as reported by ANI.
Police Encounter Details
Upon receiving reports of the stolen vehicle, the Panbazar Police Station alerted surrounding jurisdictions, leading to a tactical deployment by a combined team of Assam Police at a checkpoint in Marakdola. When signaled to stop, the suspects crashed the vehicle into a concrete structure. Authorities reported that the suspects subsequently opened fire on the pursuing officers, forcing police to return fire in self-defense. The two individuals were declared dead upon arrival at Sonapur Model Hospital.
Identities and Recovery
The deceased were identified as 40-year-old Soidul Alam Laskar, a resident of Cachar linked to over 30 vehicle thefts and 10 criminal cases, and 54-year-old Babu Singh, a native of Imphal, Manipur, who also faced multiple pending criminal charges. A third occupant of the vehicle managed to escape into the adjacent hilly terrain, prompting an ongoing police manhunt. According to Anurag Sharma, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police for the East Guwahati Police Commissionerate, investigators recovered two pistols—including a country-made weapon and a 7.65mm model—along with live ammunition, mobile phones, and specialized equipment used for vehicle theft.
Broader Syndicate Operations
In related developments on September 3, 2026, state authorities dismantled an broader interstate syndicate, arresting 11 individuals primarily from Manipur. This separate operation resulted in the recovery of 13 motorcycles, including 12 Royal Enfields, and three stolen cars, specifically two Mahindra Thars and a Mahindra Scorpio. Investigations into the wider network revealed that certain bus employees were facilitating the transport of stolen vehicles from Guwahati to Manipur, with officials also confirming the arrest of key linkman Inamul Hussain in Goalpara.