TURA
A doctor from Garo Hills, who has a history of criminal antecedents, was attacked by a mob of angry public at Rongram market, 15 kms from Tura, on March 14 night, while attempting to extort money from meat vendors.
The accused, Jimmy Carter Sangma, arrived at Rongram market and began taking money from vegetable vendors who had set up stalls on a plot of land, next to the road, which the doctor claimed to be his.
He had arrived at the market in a vehicle with three accomplices to collect money.
While the vegetable vendors gave in to his demand, it was at the meat market where trouble erupted.
On demanding money from the meat vendors, he was challenged by both the sellers and a section of the public, who asked the traders not to give in to his demands.
Angered by the opposition, he allegedly whipped out a large dagger and threatened to attack anyone who opposed him.
This infuriated the public, who pounced on him and his three accomplices, raining blows on them. Soon, more members of the public joined in the spark of mob justice.
While the extortionist doctor was beaten black and blue, the three accomplices managed to flee the scene with considerable injuries.
The mob was so agitated that they destroyed the doctor’s vehicle, lifted it off the road and threw it over the Rongram bridge into the Ganol river below.
The doctor was saved by the skin of his teeth after police from nearby Rongram market arrived on the scene and rescued him. He was taken to the Rongram police station, but even there the public surrounded the station demanding they hand him over for public justice.
Additional forces were rushed to the scene and the doctor was arrested and taken for medical treatment.
The accused doctor has a chequered history of criminal antecedents. He was earlier arrested for links with the militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army, where he was known to be a “defence secretary.”