Four Men Killed in Meghalaya Police Shootout During Pre-Dawn Check

Four armed men were killed in an exchange of fire with police during a routine naka-checking operation in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district in the early hours of today.

The incident occurred around 4 am in the Songsak area. According to sources, the men allegedly opened fire on police personnel as they approached the checkpoint for inspection. Police returned fire, and all four men sustained injuries and subsequently died.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be formally established. Swapnil Pawar, Superintendent of Police, East Garo Hills, stated that police are first working to confirm their identities, after which their backgrounds and criminal histories will be verified.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the men may have had a serious criminal record or links to individuals with criminal backgrounds. More significantly, police have confirmed a possible connection between the four and an incident reported at Tapra, across the state border, on August 25.

As part of the investigation, police are also reviewing the circumstances leading up to the encounter, including the events surrounding the opening of fire, while gathering further details about the men and their possible links to reported crimes.