Unrest in Garo Hills continues
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Suspected militants from the breakaway faction of outlawed ANVC — ANVC(B) — targeted a police vehicle and civilians in the heart of Nangalbibra market of South Garo Hills by firing indiscriminately on innocent civilians leading to the death of two persons on Saturday afternoon. Six others sustained serious injuries in the incident.
The militants were apparently trying to extort money from traders who were reluctant to meet their demand when the ultras opened fire.
“We have concrete evidence of the involvement of ANVC-B militants who targeted innocent civilians to create fear psychosis in Nangalbibra,” said police officials from Garo Hills.
The incident took place just after 4pm when there were hundreds of people inside Nangalbibra market purchasing essential items during the weekly market day.
A police truck that was returning from Jadigittim market after deployment of troops was attacked by four rebels in the heart of the market when the ultras sprayed bullets from automatic rifles.
The driver and his havaldar companion miraculously escaped unhurt even as the front portion of the vehicle sustained severe damage from the firing.
While fleeing towards the fish market of Nangalbibra, the militants opened indiscriminate fire on unsuspecting civilians. Two innocent persons, a village defense party volunteer and a driver, died on the spot after sustaining several bullet injuries.
Six other civilians including 3 coal labourers suffered from bullet wounds to their bodies. One of the injured persons is battling for his life after having sustained bullet injuries on his stomach and intestines, while the other injured civilian has already slipped into a coma.
Among the four suspected ANVC-B attacker two are suspected to have received bullet injuries after police personnel fired on them shortly after they committed the heinous crime.
While the militants escaped they abandoned their knapsacks which included several incriminating documents and other day to day use items for the jungles.
Another militant outfit, the GNLA, in the meantime, has denied having a hand in the attack. Its finance secretary Rakkam Ch Marak issued a clarification to The Shillong Times denying his group’s involvement in the attack on civilians.