From Our Correspondent
TURA: A sudden spurt in counter-insurgency operations by Meghalaya police which deployed special commando units of SWAT and SOT in the jungles of Gambegre and its adjoining areas is believed to have made the GNLA panicky leading to the abduction of three policemen and the subsequent killing of one captive.
An intense counter-insurgency operation was launched in the past few weeks in Gambegre area after intelligence reports indicated that the GNLA was trying to dominate the area and “liberate” it for use as a corridor for movement of cadres and shipment of arms.
Highly placed police sources have revealed to The Shillong Times that as way back as two weeks ago a group of GNLA militants had accosted a police constable attached to guarding the State Bank of India at Gambegre.
The said constable was moving through the village in search of a herbal medicine to cure a boil on his body when he came across the group. The militants, then numbering eight, questioned him about his identity and deployment and released him with a stern warning to remain silent on their presence.
When intense operations were launched the GNLA outfit presumed that it was carried out following tip off from someone in the area and targeted the police picket at the bank.
They managed to trap three policemen deployed for bank security duty during a fishing trip on Saturday and accused them of informing the authorities on their whereabouts despite strong denials from the captive trio.
A senior GNLA militant leader who apparently spoke in fluent Khasi put several questions on Havildar William Maiong accusing him of speaking out even though the policeman had never come across the group since his posting in the area.
Incidently, the GNLA ‘chairman’ did announce to this newspaper late Saturday night about the capture of a person during a fishing trip for spying on their camp but did not give further details. He was apparently getting briefed by his juniors on the ground.
It was during the interrogation and intense beating that Maiong broke free and ran for freedom only to be cut down in a hail of fire by the militants.
The havildar’s body was given full police honours in Tura and later escorted to his hometown in Ri-bhoi district by a special vehicle accompanied by an Additional DSP.