Assam: Bokakhat Police Detain Man Suspected in NH-37 Vehicle Attacks

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAKHAT: Bokakhat Police are continuing their investigation into a group suspected of attacking moving vehicles at Latabari under Bokakhat Police Station. According to reports, at around 10:30pm Saturday night, police detained a man named Horen Sawtal on suspicion. Bokakhat Police were lying in wait at the location when they caught Horen, who was found holding a catapult and stones in his hands. However, it has since been learnt that Horen Sawtal is mentally unstable. His father and other members of his family are also reportedly suffering from mental illness. Horen is a resident of Barjuri Basti in Bokakhat.

It is worth noting that National Highway 37, which connects Upper and Lower Assam as well as the rest of Northeast India, passes through Latabari in the heart of Bokakhat town. This highway witnesses heavy vehicular traffic every day. However, a sense of fear has gripped Latabari at night. A group of drug-addicted miscreants have been attacking vehicles travelling through Latabari by throwing bricks and stones at them.

In recent weeks, several vehicles have been attacked along this route, causing broken windshields and other damages. In one incident, a teenage girl was injured when a stone shattered a car window. In another, a shard of glass from a broken windshield hit the eye of the driver of an 1109 model bus, nearly causing a major accident.

Locals believe that a group of intoxicated miscreants are behind these night-time assaults. Residents of Bokakhat who travel through Latabari, along with other passengers, are now living in fear of such incidents. On May 11, the day of the Panchayat election results, several night buses were reportedly attacked and damaged.

A gang of four to five individuals addicted to marijuana, drugs, and alcohol is believed to be involved in these criminal activities. Locals and conscious citizens of Bokakhat suspect that these attacks are carried out to cause accidents so that the miscreants can rob passengers and fund their drug use. To counter these incidents, local youths have started patrolling the area at night for safety. If the gang behind the terror in Latabari is not apprehended soon, the crucial transportation route between Upper and Lower Assam will remain unsafe for travel.

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