Guwahati: Ashiqul Islam, an accused in the sensational Batadrava arson case died in a road accident at the Raidangiya area of Nagaon on Sunday night, police said.

Speaking to the media, Nagaon Superintendent of Police, Leena Doley said that the incident took place when the accused allegedly made an attempt to escape from the police vehicle he was in, and then was hit by another police vehicle which lost control.

A day earlier, Ashiqul Islam surrendered before the Nagaon police, following which he was taken into police custody.

“During interrogation, Ashiqul Islam had confessed that he had kept illegal firearms in his home. Our team went to his home and recovered one 7.62 mm pistol, one .22 pistol, seven rounds of live bullets and a mobile phone. We also recovered the red t-shirt which he wore on the day of the Batadrava incident. While returning back to the police station, Islam made an attempt to escape by jumping out of the moving vehicle he was in, and then was hit by another police vehicle which lost control. He was injured and was immediately shifted to a hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors,” said SP Leena Doley.

SP Doley also informed that three police personnel including one Sub-Inspector, one driver and one home guard also sustained injuries during the incident.

Ashiqul Islam has been identified as a hardcore dacoit who was being operating in the district for last couple of years, informed the Superintendent of police Leena Doley.

So far 11 people have been arrested by the Nagaon police in connection to the Batadrava arson incident, SP Doley stated further.