Guwahati: Armed militants of Meghalaya’s rebel group Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) gunned down five policemen in the troubled Garo Hills region in the state bordering area of Bangladesh on Tuesday, officials said.
After the incident, security forces launched a major search operation in Meghalaya against the militant group.
The incident took place in the Kolapara area near Banjakona in South Garo Hills district, about 410 Km from Shillong.
“A group of 20 GNLA militants ambushed a police team at the remote area, who were proceeding to Tura to bring a nabbed GNLA cadre,” a top police official said.
Reports say the rebels hurled two grenades targeting the police vehicle before firing.
In the militant attack, five policemen died on the spot and attackers snatched away three AK-47 rifles, and a carbine from the deceased persons.
The deceased policemen were identified as Biswajit Barman, Tengson R Changma, Tapash Hajong, Berin R Marak and Rangsing R Marak.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Police chief Peter James Pyngrope Hanaman said GNLA militant is behind the attack.
“A major operation had launched against the militant group at the suspected places in the state and we hope, security personnel will nab the attackers soon,” Hanaman said.
On Saturday night, suspected GNLA militants had killed seven Rabha community persons in the Gendabari area under Agia police station in Goalpara district, along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
