Sajjak Alam, the primary suspect in the Panjipara shooting incident, was killed in a police encounter early this morning while attempting to escape to Bangladesh. Alam had been evading capture since last Wednesday when he, along with others, opened fire on a police team in Panjipara, North Dinajpur. Police sources confirmed that Alam fired at the officers during his escape attempt, prompting the police to return fire. After three to four rounds of gunfire exchanged, Alam was fatally shot by the police at the scene.
The shooting incident occurred when Alam, along with his associates, ambushed a police team in Panjipara. The attack left two police officers injured, who were immediately admitted to a private hospital in North Bengal for medical treatment. Authorities revealed that the incident was part of a broader attempt to apprehend Alam, who was wanted for his role in the shooting and other criminal activities. Alam had reportedly been trying to flee to Bangladesh after the attack, and police had been tracking his movements closely in the days following the incident.
In the aftermath of the shooting, West Bengal’s Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar visited the area and addressed the police force. During his visit, Kumar issued a public statement asserting that any attack on the police would be met with a strong response. He stated, “If we get shot at, we will shoot four times,” signaling the police's readiness to take decisive action against any threats. Just 48 hours after this statement, Alam was killed in the encounter with police while attempting to cross the border.
Sources confirmed that Alam had been trying to escape through the border when the police, acting on intelligence, located his position. Upon being confronted by the police, Alam reportedly fired at the officers, leading to a retaliatory exchange of gunfire. The encounter resulted in his death at the scene. Alam's death marks the culmination of an intense manhunt that began immediately after the attack on the police officers in Panjipara.
The police action has sparked reactions from various quarters. Some former police officers have defended the police response, emphasizing that swift and decisive action was necessary given the circumstances. They highlighted that Alam's attempt to flee to Bangladesh would have made apprehension difficult, and immediate action was required to prevent further harm.