Rebel attack: Meghalaya seeks central forces

June 6th, 2011 - 8:12 pm ICT by IANS  

Shillong, June 6 (IANS) The Meghalaya government Monday sought five companies of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to tackle the anti-national activities of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels who killed three policemen last week.

“We have requested the centre to sanction us five companies of ITBP to tackle the GNLA activities in Garo Hills region,” Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh told IANS.

Three police personnel were killed and two others critically injured Saturday after a group of 10 heavily armed GNLA rebels attacked them at Thapa Darenchi area in East Garo Hills district.

The militants escaped with four rifles, including an AK-47, of the police personnel.

Lyngdoh, who reviewed the law and order situation in Garo Hills region with Director General of Police Prem Singh and other senior police officials, said combing operations were in full swing to flush out the GNLA rebels.

The three districts of Garo Hills region in west Meghalaya have witnessed a spurt in GNLA’s anti-national activities, prompting the government to launch an offensive.

Though the GNLA denied its involvement in Saturday’s incident, the home minister said that police have got leads on the Garo group behind the attack.

The government has announced a compensation of Rs.5 lakh for the families of each of the three policemen killed in the incident.

The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign “Garoland”. It is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma.

The outfit is believed to have links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).

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