Hojai: A contract killer, who was arrested in connection with a firing incident, died in a police firing when he tried to flee from police custody by firing upon police personnel in Assam’s Hojai district.

The incident took place at Lumding area on Sunday night, police said.

The deceased contract killer was identified as Mohan Kumar.

Police recovered two handmade pistols, one point 32 pistol and ammunition which were used in the firing incident took place at Lumding on December 9.

Barun Purkayastha, Superintendent of Police (SP) of Hojai district said on Sunday night that when a police team, along with Mohan Kumar, reached the place where the weapons were kept hidden and in order to escape, Mohan fired on police party with the point 32 pistol.

“However the bullets hit the police vehicle. In retaliation, the police personnel further fired upon the accused and he seriously injured. He was rushed to Lumding hospital where doctor declared him brought dead,” Barun Purkayastha said.

The top police official said that, on December 9, two bike-borne miscreants fired at a person named Tarun Chakraborty and fled from the scene.

“In connection with the incident a case was registered at Lumding police station (case no – 196/22) under various IPC sections and Arms Act. During investigation we found that, that incident was a family dispute. Anil Malakar and the victim’s sister-in-law Bulti Chakraborty had made a conspiracy against Tarun Chakraborty and they brought contract killers from Bihar Begusarai area to kill Tarun Chakraborty. So far we have arrested nine persons in connection with the incident. A 3-member contract killer group came to Lumding to kill Tarun Chakraborty and we arrested all three contract killers identified as Sahed Rajak, Mohan Kumar and Pandab Kumar. We arrested Mohan Kumar from Bongaigaon with the help of Government Railway Police,” Barun Purkayastha said.

The police official further said that, police seized the bike which was used in the firing incident and recovered two handmade pistols, one point 32 pistol, 11 rounds of live ammunition.

(Reporting by Hemana Kumar Nath)