DGP-level meet on Nov 6
SHILLONG: The State government has sounded a security alert on the inter-state border with Assam after seven Rabhas were gunned down by suspected tribal Garo militants in Goalpara on Sunday night even as a DGP-level meeting will be held on November 6 in Guwahati to ensure that there is no communal flare up in the borders of Garo Hills.
Though the initial report had suggested involvement of proscribed GNLA in the attack, police suspect involvement of another Garo militant outfit United Achik Liberation Army (UALA).
The militants opened fire from automatic weapons on a group of people gambling on the occasion of Diwali at Gendamari village under Agia police station, killing six on the spot. Another person succumbed to injuries on way to hospital while 10 others were seriously wounded in the attack.
The attack has come at a time when Garos are opposing holding of Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council elections scheduled on November 13 and 25.
The concern of Meghalaya Government is that the situation, if not controlled, may lead to a repeat of Garo-Rabha ethnic conflict of January, 2011 in which 12 people were killed and more than 50,000 were rendred homeless.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, the State DGP PJP Hanaman said the DGP-level meeting would be attended by senior police officials, army and CRPF men.
“I will be meeting my Assam counterpart J N Choudhury to see how best we can optimize forces to develop some synergy to have security”, he said.
According to the DGP, the concern of the police is to ensure security in the Assam-Meghalaya border to see that there is no ethnic unrest following Sunday’s incident.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who is in London on a visit, took up the matter with Meghalaya government seeking its assistance in apprehending the militants, sources said. (With inputs from PTI)