From Our Correspondent
Tura: A group of GNLA militants who were taking shelter in a temporary camp to escape police operation in East Garo Hills had a run in with SWAT and CoBRA commandos leading to an exchange of fire early Monday morning.
The eight-member GNLA group lead by Williamnagar deputy area commander Marcuish had taken shelter inside a forest at Songsak Rongdol village when police closed in on their hideout shortly after 6 am.
As the security forces were cordoning off their hideout, the militants emerged from the undergrowth and opened indiscriminate fire from automatic rifles before fleeing into the village where a large number of woman and children were present going about their morning chores.
To avoid civilian casualties the police commandos were compelled to halt their fire on the retreating militants who later escaped leaving their temporary camp abandoned.
It was later learnt that the GNLA militants had fled from Williamnagar in anticipation of an all out operation against all militant groups by the security forces following the daring attack on Williamnagar jail by ANVC-B militants who shot dead two unarmed and innocent jail employees- Assistant Jailer Neil Warjri and warder Sarai Sing Thabah.