Meghalaya: Armed militants ambush police vehicle, kill five cops.

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Five policemen were on Tuesday gunned down by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in heavily forested area of Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, a top police official said.

Heavily armed militants attacked a police vehicle carrying an under-trial prisoner killing all the five police personnel on board on the spot at Bangjakona village in Gasuapara block, about 450 km away from here, he said.

"Five policemen were shot dead in an ambush laid by heavily

armed militants," H Nongpluh, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) said.

He said, three AK series riffles and a carbine were taken away by the militants.

The police vehicle which left Tura, the division headquarter of Garo Hills region, was ferrying a prisoner and was on its way to Baghmara, the district headquarter.

However, it was not readily known if the prisoner escaped or was taken away by the ultras.

The act was seen as retaliation to the security forces' recent counter insurgency operations against the outfit's hideout and cadres, Nongpluh said.

Last week, police raided the house of Sohan D Shira, commander in charge of the outfit in Williamnagar and arrested of his brother in-law.

The police have also arrested another four cadres of the outfit while they were trying to enter Tura town two days back which police accused of trying to create a law and order problem there.

The GNLA which is fighting for a 'sovereign Garoland' in the Western areas of Meghalaya is one of the militant outfits active in the Garo Hills region.

The outfit has been involved in killing, abduction, extortion, bomb blasts and attacks on security forces.

Meghalaya: Armed militants ambush police vehicle, kill five cops - Indian Express

 

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IN RESPONSE

Meghalaya to raise Special Task Force to deal militancy

Meghalaya will soon raise a Special Multi-Task Force deal with the law and order issue, besides tackling the burgeoning insurgency issue in the state.

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma announced the decision Wednesday after chairing the Cabinet meeting which discussed on the prevailing law and order situation following the recent killings of seven security forces in the state.

The decision to raise the force was part of the government's resolution to re-strategise its fight against militancy.

It has become necessary to re-strategise our efforts and also to increase our support and investment to strengthen the police organization," Sangma told journalists.

He said the state police department has been asked to formulate the proposal for setting up the force, after which, the government would fast track its sanctioning and establishment.

The task force which would be the size of a battalion, where its main functions include strengthening of intelligence gathering and combating militancy, Moreover, he pointed out that the need to raise the Special Multi-Task Force was also due to the sudden withdrawal of central paramilitary forces by the centre in the event of any law and order crisis or elections occurring in any part of the country.

Meghalaya police have raised six battalions, four which are Indian Reserve Battalions. One of the battalion now is deployed at New Delhi.

"It is not possible to depend on the Centre. There must be more investments to strengthen the internal security apparatus, and therefore, by establishing the Special Multi-Task Force, would be in a better position to nip attempts to disrupt peace and harmony," Sangma said.

The Centre has deployed Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) commandos and Border Security Force to fight against the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in close coordination with Meghalaya's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos.

The GNLA, outlawed by the central government, forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, gaining access to arms and ammunition.

Meghalaya to raise Special Task Force to deal militancy : Nagaland Post