Two Muslim men Akbar Banjara and Salman Banjara, both residents of Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut city were killed in an alleged gunfight in Assam’s Kokrajhar district on Tuesday.
Four police officials were also injured in the gunfight, reported the Pratidin Time.
The police claimed that Akbar Banjara and Salman Banjara ran an international smuggling racket and a reward of Rs 2 lakh had been announced for their arrest.
Both Muslim men were arrested by Meerut Police a week ago and they were handed over to Assam officers.
“The two cattle smugglers were hit by bullets during the militant ambush. They were declared dead on being taken to Saraibeel Primary Health Centre in another vehicle,” an Assam Police official told PTI.
Since the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government assumed power in Assam in May, 46 people have been killed in police firing. Out of the people identified, at least 18 were Muslims.
This article first appeared on maktoobmedia.com