Goalpara, Aug 30: Four suspected dacoits, including the prime accused in the recent shooting of a businessman in Assam's Goalpara district, were killed in a police encounter in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills on Sunday, police said.The deceased were identified as Alason Marak of North Garo Hills, Babadul Islam of Paikan Second Block, Kalam Sheikh of Agia Balbala, and Sustam Rabha alias Kaltu of Chotomatia in Dhudhnoi.Police said the group was allegedly involved in several criminal activities, including dacoities along the Assam-Meghalaya border.According to East Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Swapnil Pawar Vasantrao, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) received information that the suspected dacoits were travelling through the Chongsak area.Acting on the tip-off, Meghalaya Police and the ATS set up a naka checkpoint and began checking vehicles in the area.“When the suspects' Bolero arrived at the checkpoint, we signalled the vehicle to stop. However, the suspects ignored the instructions and opened fire at the ATS personnel,” Vasantrao said.Police personnel retaliated, resulting in the deaths of all four suspects, he added. The encounter also brought an end to the search for Marak, who was allegedly involved in the shooting of Goalpara businessman Abu Syed on August 23.“We received the information from Meghalaya Police in the morning. When we asked who was involved, we learnt that Alason Marak, who was involved in the killing of businessman Abu Syed on August 23, was dead. Along with him, three more have died,” an official at Dudhnoi police station said.Four people had earlier been arrested in connection with the shooting.According to police, those arrested include Syed's brother, a person who was travelling with him in an e-rickshaw, and two of his business partners, identified as Azad Ali and Mofidul Islam.The two business partners were arrested on August 26 and allegedly told investigators that they had approached Alason and asked him to shoot Syed, police said.“They met Alason and asked him to kill Abu Syed for Rs 2 lakh. They paid Rs 1.20 lakh, while Rs 80,000 was pending. It can be said that a supari (contract) was given. Based on the investigation so far, we believe the Damra incident is business-related,” the police official said.Syed was seriously injured on August 23 after unidentified assailants opened fire on him in front of his business establishment in Goalpara's Damra area before fleeing.He was subsequently admitted to Solace Hospital in Goalpara town in critical condition. The incident is being investigated as an alleged contract killing linked to a business dispute, police said.