Fierce gunfight between Garo rebels, commandos
January 28th, 2012 - 12:09 am ICT by IANSShillong, Jan 27 (IANS) A fierce gunfight lasting an hour broke out between Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos in the jungles of Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district Friday. There was no casualty on the security forces’ side, police said.
The gunfight came on the day GNLA military wing chief Sohan D. Shira gave the slip to the police. Two Meghalaya government engineers kidnapped three days ago by the rebels also remained untraced Friday.
The exchange of fire took place at Rengchi area of the district, bordering Bangladesh when SWAT commandos came under fire from a group of GNLA rebels hiding there.
“The encounter lasted for an hour and the militants retreated into the jungles after intensive firing from security forces,” a police official told IANS on phone from Nongstoin, the district headquarters of West Khasi Hills, about 93 km from Shillong.
Though there were no casualties on the security forces’ side, police are yet to confirm if any of the rebels were injured.
Security forces have launched a crackdown on the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in western Meghalaya.
Meghalaya, especially the Garo Hill, the most backward region, is used as a safe haven by various northeast-based militant groups.
The GNLA, one of five Garo rebel groups fighting for a separate ‘Garoland’ in the western area of Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma.
However, Indian intelligence officials believe Champion has been “arrested” by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) commandos Nov 23 night from Haluaghat in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.
Over 20 people, including security personnel, have been killed in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
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- GNLA sets conditions to free abducted engineers - Jan 28, 2012
- Kidnapped engineers untraced, GNLA chief escapes (Lead) - Jan 27, 2012
- GNLA rebels, forces exchange fire in Meghalaya - Mar 02, 2012
- Meghalaya Police announce reward for catching GNLA rebels - Apr 28, 2012
- Centre unlikely to accede to Garoland, says G.K. Pillai - Feb 14, 2012
- Gunfight between Garo rebels, security forces - Nov 21, 2010
- Commados mistakenly kill two Meghalaya cops - Jul 03, 2011
- Determined to end Garo terror outfit: Chidambaram - Feb 19, 2012
- Garo militants abduct 2 Meghalaya engineers - Jan 25, 2012
- Two Garo militants killed in Meghalaya - Dec 18, 2011
- No trace of kidnapped official in Meghalaya - Nov 28, 2011
- Meghalaya mulls chopper use to fight rebels - Jul 31, 2011
- Garo rebel killed, camp busted - Feb 09, 2012
- Fierce gunfight after rebels attack Meghalaya police officer - Feb 28, 2012
Tags: commandos, crackdown, district headquarters, government engineers, gunfight, intelligence officials, jungles, militant groups, national liberation army, police official, rapid action, rebel groups, rebels, safe haven, security forces, security personnel, shillong, shira, special weapons and tactics, west khasi hills