From Our Correspondent
TURA: A group of GNLA militants from its southern command which had gone to collect militant tax from coal quarries was challenged by a team of SWAT and CRPF’s CoBRA commandos leading to a firefight in which one ultra was shot dead on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred in remote Dangsa Awe region of South Garo Hills. A six-member GNLA group led by its regional commander Rakkam Sangma went to Maidugittim village to collect extortion money from coal quarries located close to Simsang river.
The group was in the thick of a collection drive when a team of SWAT commandos from Meghalaya police along with CoBRA units of CRPF laid siege to the village leading to a fierce firefight that lasted for over 40 minutes.
In the ensuing encounter one of the GNLA militants was killed. Security forces also seized a live hand grenade and several empty cases of AK ammunition. Police are verifying the identity of the militant killed in the encounter.
The rest of the militant gang fled across the nearby Simsang river towards the West Khasi Hills border close to the area. The encounter comes close on the heels of Meghalaya police issuing a deadline to the GNLA to surrender unconditionally within a week. The deadline has long passed but the militants have remained adamant and have even threatened to retaliate against non-indigenous people residing in the region.
