Assam police shot Jan Mehmood alias Mela in the left leg at Rangia in Kamrup district after he allegedly snatched a policeman’s pistol and tried to escape while being taken to recover stolen property and weapons, officers said. Mehmood, described by police as the suspected mastermind of a dacoity gang, was admitted to AIIMS Guwahati after the incident.
Mehmood and another associate were arrested on Friday, according to police. The gang is believed to have around seven members, five of whom have been arrested so far. Police have also seized a vehicle allegedly linked to the group.
Investigators have linked the alleged gang to dacoities, chain-snatching targeting women and mobile phone thefts in Rangia and neighbouring areas of Nalbari and Tamulpur districts in lower Assam. A police officer said several criminal cases were registered against Mehmood at different police stations, including Rangia, Kamalpur, Tamulpur, Goreswar, Baihata and Ghagrapar.
The officer said the cases included alleged robbery incidents in Ghagrapar and Tamulpur. Police are examining the full extent of the gang’s activities and whether the cases across the districts are connected to the same network.
According to the police account, Mehmood had disclosed locations where the gang had allegedly hidden stolen property and weapons and agreed to lead a police team to those places. During the recovery operation, he allegedly snatched a police officer’s pistol and attempted to flee.
Police said they managed to apprehend him but opened fire after the escape attempt, leaving him injured in the left leg. The weapon allegedly taken from the officer and the status of the recovery operation were not detailed in the report.
The investigation has also raised a potential security concern ahead of Durga Puja. Police said their inquiry indicated that the gang was allegedly planning a major operation around the festival and was making arrangements, including organising vehicles, to transport arms and ammunition. The allegation remains part of the ongoing investigation.
Durga Puja typically brings increased movement of people, vehicles and cash across towns and urban areas in Assam, making the police inquiry relevant to public safety in Rangia and nearby districts. However, the supplied report does not establish the nature of the alleged plan or identify any confirmed target.
Police are continuing efforts to trace the remaining suspected gang members, recover the alleged stolen property and weapons, and determine whether the group’s activities extended to other parts of the Guwahati region. The investigation will also establish the charges applicable to the accused in the cases registered across the districts.
