Garo rebels target police party, no casualties

Shillong : A police team in Meghalaya Thursday had a narrow escape when Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) at Dagi Teksragre area in South Garo Hills district, police said. No casualties were reported.
A woman, however, went into shock due to the blast.
"They (GNLA) attempted to kill the police personnel who were travelling in a convoy of two to three vehicles but they managed to escape," Inspector General of Police F.D. Sangma told IANS.
Sangma said the security forces were returning from Chokpot in South Garo Hills to Tura, the districts headquarters of West Garo Hills.
The GNLA, which was declared a terrorist outfit under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, is fighting for Garoland in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in western part of Meghalaya.
Over 30 people, including security personnel, have been killed by GNLA rebels in the Garo Hills in the last one year. In the past two months, nine people were killed while three engineers of the government-run Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited were abducted by GNLA rebels. The engineers were later released unharmed.
Sangma said a massive combing operation has been launched to nab the rebels.