Narcotics trafficker arrested in Itanagar after shootout

Police in Itanagar arrested a well-known drug trafficker, Rohit Basumatary, after a dramatic chase and gun battle on Saturday evening. Officers had set up a checkpoint around 6:15 PM when they tried to stop Basumatary in a blue Renault car. Instead of stopping, he sped away. The chase ended when Basumatary crashed his car. He then got out and shot at police officers. They returned fire and managed to wound him in the leg. Police said the team, led by Itanagar's SDPO Kengo Dirchi, worked carefully to bring the situation under control. After his arrest, Basumatary was taken to a hospital under heavy guard. During the incident, one officer suffered minor injuries, while another had some abrasions. A search of Basumatary's vehicle revealed 12 grams of suspected heroin hidden in a soapbox and a firearm marked 'Made in USA' with six live rounds. Investigators noted that Basumatary had a long criminal history across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, including robbery and drug trafficking. He is now facing multiple charges at the Chimpu police station, including violations of Indian laws related to drugs, arms, and public safety.