Hunt on for Meghalaya rebels behind police killing
November 1st, 2011 - 3:23 pm ICT by IANSShillong, Nov 1 (IANS) Security forces in Meghalaya launched search operations Tuesday to nab Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels who gunned down five people, including four police personnel, in an ambush Monday evening, police said.
A group of 10 heavily armed militants hiding on a hilltop attacked a highway patrol police team at Nengpatchi area of East Garo Hills district, killing the policemen and a civilian and injuring two police personnel.
Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed into service to track down the rebels who are suspected to be holed up in and around Nengpatchi area.
Though no militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, the state’s Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Rajiv Mehta said: “The GNLA is behind this cowardly attack.”
“They (GNLA) have been under tremendous pressure from us. Today may be their day, but they should remember that we are not far from them,” he said.
Mehta, who reviewed the overall law and order situation in the Garo Hills after the incident, added: “We have got vital leads and the hunt is on to arrest them.”
Deputy Inspector of General of Police (western range) G.H.P. Raju said the GNLA central area commander Rakkam Marak and former Meghalaya police constable Savio Ch Marak, who is now area commander of GNLA in West Khasi Hills district, led the GNLA cadres in the Monday evening hit-and-run operation.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a separate Garoland in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills. It is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma.
The outfit is believed to have links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
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- Rebels kill policeman, injure three in Meghalaya - May 30, 2012
- Militants kill three cops in Meghalaya (Lead) - Jun 04, 2011
- Three cops killed in militant ambush in Meghalaya - Jun 04, 2011
- Four GNLA rebels killed in Meghalaya - Aug 09, 2011
- Four policemen injured in ambush by Garo rebels - Dec 20, 2011
- GNLA rebels, forces exchange fire in Meghalaya - Mar 02, 2012
- Three Garo rebels surrender in Meghalaya - Jul 24, 2011
- Fierce gunfight after rebels attack Meghalaya police officer - Feb 28, 2012
- Garo rebels attack police outpost - Jun 29, 2011
- Two Garo militants killed in Meghalaya - Dec 18, 2011
- Fierce gunfight between Garo rebels, commandos - Jan 28, 2012
- Meghalaya's views sought to declare GNLA outlawed - Nov 01, 2011
- Rebel attack: Meghalaya seeks central forces - Jun 06, 2011
- Meghalaya rebel commander killed - Oct 18, 2011
Tags: combat battalion, cowardly attack, deputy inspector, east garo hills, garo hills district, marak, militant group, national democratic front, national liberation army, police constable, police law, police team, rajiv mehta, rebel groups, search operations, shillong, special weapons and tactics, ulfa, united liberation front, west khasi hills