Meghalaya: Top Commander Among Killed Garo Militants

Four militants, including a self-proclaimed deputy 'commander-in-chief' of a Garo militant outfit were killed in a gunfight with Meghalaya Police commandos in the East Garo Hills district today. Two other militants escaped during the operation, DIG (Western Range) GHP Raju said. From the encounter spot, the commandos recovered one grenade launcher with five cells, one AK-81 series rifle and another MKS assault rifle, five Chinese grenades, two high-explosive grenades, one pistol and over 300 rounds of AK and INSAS ammunition and important documents, the DIG said. On a tip-off, a team of SWAT commandos launched an operation late last night in the Bolkinggre forests, about 5 km from district headquarter town of Williamnagar. Around 2 AM this morning, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants fired at the commandos and in the ensuing gunfight, which lasted for over an hour, four of the militants were shot dead, he said. One of the slain militants has been identified as Roster Marak, a deserter constable of Meghalaya Police who had joined the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). He is the deputy 'c-in-c' of the outfit and believed to be the right-hand man of Sohan D Shira, the 'c-in-c' of the Garo rebel group. Other three have been identified as Peter Momin alias Bruno, Henitson Sangma and Jekyll Marak, Raju said. Two cadre – Darwin Shira and BM Sangma - managed to escape from the spot which was believed to be a transit camp, he said. A sub inspector of the SWAT team, Sengoran Ch Marak, sustained bullets wounds in his left hand during the encounter. He has been shifted to Tura Civil Hospital and was stated to be out of danger. GNLA, a nascent Garo militant group floated by a deserter DSP of Meghalaya Police, Champion Sangma, has been blamed for rampant extortion, kidnappings in the three districts of Garo hills. It was also responsible for killing policeman and labourers and is said to be the most active group in Meghalaya at present.