In a shocking incident that has reverberated across Meghalaya and Assam, the bodies of three individuals from Dolgoma village in Assam's Goalpara were discovered by the East Garo Hills (EGH) police in a dense jungle early on Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the EGH police initiated an investigation following a verbal complaint from the family of one of the deceased, Jamor Ali (35). The relatives had grown concerned after being unable to contact Jamor Ali, along with his driver Noor Ahmed and Zahidul Islam (25), since late evening on April 15.

The trio's last communication was a call at 6 am on April 16, during which Jamor Ali informed his family that they were having breakfast in a jungle area within Garo Hills. Subsequently, their mobile phones were switched off, and all attempts to reach them proved futile.

The investigation led the police to locate the missing vehicle inside a dense jungle near the Link Road connecting Rogu Alda under Rongjeng police station, approximately 1.5 km from NH-217. The vehicle was found in a burnt condition, and nearby, a freshly-dug pit filled with fresh soil was discovered. The Forensic Team (FSL) and Crime Scene Unit (CSU) of the State Police were summoned to conduct necessary investigations.

Under the supervision of an Executive Magistrate, the pit was excavated, revealing three charred bodies. Following an inquest and spot post-mortem, the bodies were handed over to their respective families.

The police disclosed that Zahidul Islam had prior involvement in car lifting cases in Dudhnoi and Krishnai, with an outstanding non-bailable arrest warrant against him under Krishnai police station. Additionally, Jamor Ali had been linked to cattle theft cases at Matia police station in Assam.

East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Stephen A Rynjah, commented, “On initial assessment, it seems to be a case of criminal rivalry between car lifting and cattle theft groups."

The tragic incident has prompted calls from the victims' relatives for the chief ministers of both states to expedite the investigation and apprehend the perpetrators. As both Meghalaya and Assam gear up for elections in two days, tensions are running high along the border.