From Our Correspondent
Tura: A Deputy Superintendent of Police enroute for an inspection of a police station in West Garo Hills narrowly survived an ambush laid by heavily-armed GNLA militants near Machangpani close to Dalu on Tuesday afternoon during which both sides traded heavy gunfire without sustaining any casualties.
The Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Ampati, Dr Sacheng R Marak, was travelling to Dalu for an inspection when the ambush was laid at approximately 12:15 in the afternoon.
When the DSP’s convoy was passing through Rangapara area, 13 kms beyond Kherapara on the road to Dalu border town, as many as 12 well-armed GNLA militants, hiding inside a sal forest on the right side of the road, opened automatic fire from AK rifles. The DSP’s vehicle sustained three bullet holes but the officer escaped unharmed.
As soon as the militants opened up, police SWAT commandos accompanying the DSP went on the offensive jumping out of vehicles and returning fire on the militants.
The encounter stretched beyond 15 minutes and forced the militants to flee into the thick jungle undergrowth.
By the time the firing had stopped and police teams had entered the sal forest they found a large number of spent ammuntion fired from AK rifles including three empty magazine cases.
Security forces have launched a major offensive in the area to flush out the militants who escaped after attacking the DSP convoy and it is believed that the ultras may have fled towards the Gambegre region which has been more like a ‘liberated zone’ for the ultras who have made use of the limited police presence in the area to their advantage.
This is the first major attack on a senior police officer in Garo Hills in recent months by the GNLA. The outfit had planned to target the Superintendent of Police of East Garo Hills last week but failed when CRPF teams raided the hideout of GNLA ‘commander-in-chief’ Sohan D Shira forcing him to flee. In retaliation the outfit shot dead a former police constable accusing him of working for the department.