NDFB leader gunned down

Guwahati police anticipate retaliation

The explosives recovered after the encounter in East Garo Hills on Saturday. Telegraph picture
Shillong, June 19 : The army claimed that Dijen Dhigwara Narzary, the general secretary of the anti-talks faction of the National Democratic Front of Boroland, and his gunman, Bwidha Gawri, were killed in an encounter by Meghalaya police at Guri Simran under Dainadubi in East Garo Hills around 4am today.
The police recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the militants, comprising members of the Garo National Liberation Army and NDFB.
Police sources in Guwahati said the outfit could retaliate and accordingly, measures were being taken to thwart any such attempt.
“They have retaliated in the past and could try again, particularly on soft targets,” a source said.
The police recovered an AK-47 rifle, three grenades, two cell phones, two wireless sets and an IED, which was detonated later by the bomb squad.
A large number of bullets were also recovered from the slain militants.
A police officer said the Meghalaya police, along with the army, raided two adjacent hideouts of both GNLA and NDFB militants in the wee hours today at the Guri Simran village in the district.
The operations against the militants were going on since last night after the police got information that the area commander of GNLA, Rakkam Marak, was also part of the group hiding in the area.
It was the group led by Marak, which had ambushed a police patrol party at Tapa Darengchi in East Garo Hills on June 4, killing three constables and injuring two others.
After today’s encounter, the security forces found empty shells fired from INSAS rifles used by the militants which they had earlier stolen from the policemen.
The GNLA-NDFB combined group has been operating for sometime in Garo hills engaging in extortions, killings and kidnappings.
The GNLA, with the support of NDFB and Ulfa, has made the task of the security forces all the more difficult.
A police officer from East Garo Hills district said if the GNLA resorts to the use of explosives by getting help from NDFB and Ulfa who are experts in bomb making, the law and order situation in Garo hills would further deteriorate.