Police shoot-out with GNLA
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Garo Hills-based militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and police security forces exchanged heavy firing on Sunday morning at Goreng Village, bordering South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills. The police side, however, saw no casualties in the encounter that lasted about half an hour.
South Garo Hills SP Mukesh Singh said, “The firing took place around 10:30 am when some militants hiding in the area fired upon security forces present there.”
It may be reminded GNLA had abducted the East Garo Hills District Transport Officer (DTO), R Syngkon, in October.
Till date, whereabouts of the official remain a mystery.
Singh added that Rs 50,000 was recovered from the hideout of the rebels after they had decamped into the jungle, though it could not be confirmed whether they had suffered any casualties.
Earlier this month, suspected cadres of the same outfit killed two coalmine workers, even as a grenade was hurled at a petrol pump in Nagalbibra, South Garo Hills.
The encounter has taken place at a time when the outfit seems to have intensified its extortion drive in the coal-rich belt stretching from South-East Garo Hills to parts of West Khasi Hills.
Meanwhile, security forces have intensified combing operations in the area following the encounter.
Source: The Shillong Times
