Dibrugarh: An accused in a former CRPF jawan’s murder was injured in police firing during a weapon-recovery operation in Assam’s Sivasagar district.Rubul Khan, accused in the murder of businessman and former CRPF jawan Biman Baruah, was shot in the right leg in the early hours of Tuesday after he allegedly tried to attack Bihubor police station OC Nabin Chetia with a machete.Khan was being taken to recover the weapon allegedly used in Baruah’s murder. He was later taken to Sivasagar Civil Hospital for treatment.This comes two days after the prime accused in the case, Biki Singh, was injured in police firing after he allegedly tried to flee from custody during a weapon-recovery operation at Bihubor.According to police, Khan led a team to the spot where the machete was allegedly concealed. During the recovery operation, he allegedly picked up the weapon and tried to attack Chetia, prompting the police to open fire.“Since he posed an immediate threat, our personnel opened fire, resulting in a bullet injury to his right leg. He was shifted to the hospital for treatment,” a senior police officer said.While being taken to the hospital, Khan told reporters that he was an accomplice of prime accused Biki Singh in Baruah’s murder. He said he and Singh attacked Baruah with machetes on the night of Sept 18.“Biki first attacked Biman with a machete, and then I attacked him,” Khan told reporters.Baruah, a resident of Rongajan Bengali Basti in Bihubor, was hacked to death on Sept 18. Police earlier identified Singh as the prime accused and said another person was involved in the killing. Khan was arrested on Sept 21.Singh was arrested in Nagaland on Sept 19 after fleeing Assam following the murder. Residents apprehended him in the Naginimora area of Nagaland’s Mon district and handed him over to Assam Police.On Sept 20, Singh was injured in police firing during a weapon-recovery operation at Bihubor. Police said he allegedly tried to escape from custody despite warnings and was shot in the right leg. He was later taken to hospital for treatment.Baruah’s family alleged that the murder was linked to his opposition to drug-related activities in the area. They said Baruah had complained to police about Singh’s alleged involvement in drug smuggling after he reportedly resumed such activities following his release on bail.Singh was previously arrested in drug-related cases and was out on bail when the murder took place.Baruah had served in the CRPF’s 172 Battalion and took voluntary retirement after around nine years to care for his ailing parents. He later started a business.
