Arunachal Governor's wife escapes robbery bid, six held

Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa's wife escaped unhurt during an alleged highway robbery bid near Assam's Guwahati while she was travelling to Itanagar, police said on Monday.

Six people were later arrested in connection with the incident.

Rita Rajkhowa was accompanied by her driver and a personal security officer provided by the Assam Police when the incident occured around 11.45 a.m. on Sunday.

"A white Swift D'Zire vehicle chased her vehicle near Sonapur town, with its passengers hailing it to stop. As the vehicle occupants were not known to her, she did not let the driver stop her vehicle and instead asked him to speed away.

"The miscreants tried to stop her by overtaking her vehicle two more times before she ordered her driver to enter the Jagiroad police station in Assam," a Raj Bhavan statement said on Monday.

"She informed her husband on phone, after which the Arunachal Pradesh Governor requested the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh DGPs to look into the matter and provide security to her. She also filed a police complaint," the statement said.

She was later escorted by policement of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh till the Raj Bhavan in Itanagar.

Later, the Assam Police arrested six persons, including three from Assam and two from Utter Pradesh.

"It seems to be a robbery bid. We are questioning them to ascertain the motive behind their action of chasing the vehicle," a senior police official in Assam said.

--IANS

ah/tsb