Agartala, November 18, 2022: Tripura police arrested two more accused persons in connection to the shootout incident between two mafia groups at Natunnagar market in the peripheries of Agartala city on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday.

Notably, a shootout incident took place in front of a Dhaba at Natunnagar market area under Airport police station on the evening of October 25 last where a mafia gang shot another gang over tender negotiation issue which led to sustaining injury of two persons. They were- Haripada Das and Sanjay Das, both 37 years old and residents of Dighalia near Natunnagar market.

Accordingly, police registered a case number 169/2022 and arrested two persons namely Santosh Das and Prabhakar Ghosh within six hours of the shocking incident taking place. Two vehicles were also seized.

Speaking to reporters here in the premises of West Agartala police station, SDPO of Sadar sub-division under West Tripura district Ajay Kumar Das said “Soon after the incident on the late evening of October 25 last, we have succeeded in arresting two accused persons- Santosh Das and Prabhakar Ghosh. As the investigation was underway, we received information that one apprehending accused person was found loitering in Natunnagar locality.”

“Based on the tip-off, a police operation was conducted with SDPO Ajay Kumar Das, West Agartala Police Station’s OC Jayanta Kumar Deb and second OC Krishnadhan Jamatia along with police personnel on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday last at a crematorium spot beside Maa Kali Temple at Chinaihani, adjacent locality to Natunnagar market under Airport police station”, he added.

Accordingly, the two apprehending accused persons named Sandeep Dhar alias Akash (27) and Prantosh Das, residents under Airport PS area were arrested. “From Prantosh possession, police seized a sophisticated pistol, magazine and live round. The Prima Facie reveals that the live round has a connection with the same incident”, Das said.

The SDPO of Sadar sub-division also said “During preliminary interrogation, it has been revealed that these two accused persons were also involved in the gang war following internal problems regarding tender negotiation which led to the firing incident on the evening of October 25 last. The victims- Haripada Das, Sanjoy Das and Santosh Das were a gang and had personal rivalry too.”

Later on Friday morning, the two accused persons were forwarded to the court and both were sent to two-day police remand, police station sources said.

The senior police official also said that they will be further interrogated and hope to come out with more information. The case is in its primary stage and one month has not passed off, four accused persons were arrested.