The prime accused in the sensational Gangapur attack case in Assam’s Nalbari district was killed in a police encounter on Monday, a day after a brutal assault left a young man dead and a teenage girl critically injured.
The accused, identified as Roz Ali, was reportedly shot during a police operation at a riverine sandbar near Mukalmua after he allegedly refused to surrender and attempted to snatch a service weapon from a police officer.
According to Nalbari Police, officers had tracked down Roz Ali following an intensive manhunt launched after Sunday night’s attack. During the operation, police asked the accused to surrender, but he allegedly attempted to flee. In the ensuing confrontation, he reportedly tried to seize a weapon from one of the officers, prompting another policeman to open fire.
Roz Ali was immediately taken to Nalbari Medical College and Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.
The incident stems from a shocking attack that occurred near Gangapur under Mukalmua on May 30. The victims, 17-year-old Class XII student Mridumudra Deka and her relative, 20-year-old Madhurjya Barman, were returning home when they were allegedly intercepted by Roz Ali and another accused, identified as Hitesh (Ashik) Ali.
Police said the attackers allegedly assaulted the duo with a machete. Madhurjya Barman, Assistant General Secretary of the West Nalbari Regional Students’ Union and a resident of Balipathar in Chamata, sustained grievous injuries and later died. Mridumudra Deka remains in critical condition at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where she is undergoing intensive treatment.
Family members of the teenage girl have alleged that Roz Ali had been harassing her for a considerable period after she rejected his marriage proposal. According to her mother, the accused repeatedly threatened both her and her daughter when his proposal was turned down.
The case has generated widespread outrage across Assam, with several organizations demanding swift justice. While some groups have described the incident as a case of “love jihad,” police have not officially confirmed any specific motive and have urged the public not to draw conclusions until the investigation is completed.
Authorities continue to investigate the involvement of other accused persons and are working to establish the full sequence of events leading to the attack. Police have assured that all those responsible will be brought to justice.
The tragic incident has shocked the state and intensified calls for stronger measures to protect women and curb violent crimes.
