Nalbari (Assam), 01 June (HS): The prime accused in the sensational Gangapur attack case in Assam's Nalbari district, Roz Ali alias Asif Khan, was killed in a police encounter on Monday after allegedly attempting to escape from custody and opening fire on police personnel.

According to Nalbari Superintendent of Police Vivekananda Das, the accused snatched a firearm from police custody and fired four to five rounds at the police team during an attempt to flee. In retaliatory action, police opened fire, and a bullet struck Roz Ali in the chest. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The incident comes amid widespread public outrage over the Gangapur attack, in which a youth, Madhurya Barman, was killed and his sister sustained serious injuries. Family members had alleged that Roz Ali had been pressuring the young woman for marriage for a long period and had repeatedly threatened the family.

Earlier in the day, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) strongly condemned the killing of its worker Madhurya Barman and demanded the harshest punishment for the accused. AASU president Utpal Sharma stated that the brutal murder would not be taken lightly and called for strict legal action against those responsible.

Following reports of the accused's death in the encounter, many local residents expressed satisfaction over the police action and thanked Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking a tough stand against crime. The case had triggered massive protests across Nalbari, with demonstrators demanding justice for the victim and swift action against the accused.

The incident has drawn statewide attention, with authorities continuing their investigation into all aspects of the case.--------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash