NONGSTOIN/ SHILLONG: Suspected ANVC-B militants, who entered from the porous Bangladesh border, shot dead two BSF constables and snatched away their INSAS rifles at around 10. 20 am on Friday near Kaithakona outpost in South West Garo Hills District.
The fresh killing comes at a time when security had already been beefed up after the GNLA militants killed five policemen in the same district on Tuesday.
A BSF official said that inputs suggest that it was the ANVC-B militants who were involved in the attack.
The slain BSF constables have been identified as Sushish Biswas and Papu Kumar Yadav.
While Biswas succumbed to his injuries on the spot, Yadav died in Shillong when the Guwahati bound helicopter which carried him arrived for refuelling.
The BSF constables of Kaithakona outpost were attacked while patrolling the border road close to the Zero Line of the international border.
The ANVC-B has its presence in West and South West Khasi Hills. The reclusive self styled ‘commander in chief’ of ANVC-B, Mukost Marak, has hideouts in West and South West Khasi Hills.
The BSF is investigating whether the attack has anything to do with the seizure of arms and ammunition from South Garo Hills on Thursday night by the force.
“We are ye to ascertain whether this was any retaliatory attack for the seizure of arms and ammunition from South Garo Hills by the BSF,” a senior BSF official said.
However, the ANVC-B was quick to react denying its role in the killing of BSF personnel while asserting that GNLA militants were involved in the crime.
“The GNLA is targeting to malign ANVC-B. The GNLA is randomly killing to distract and to disrupt law and order in the State,” the ANVC-B said in a statement on Friday.
“Last night, a group of GNLA and ULFA numbering around ten entered West Khasi Hills via Maheshkola in a Tata Sumo in order to cross over to Bangladesh, who also killed two BSF personnel and snatched two weapons,” the outfit said.
According to the ANVC-B, the GNLA is not alone but is being backed by foreign elements including ULFA.
The ANVC-B further said that the ambush on police was jointly carried out by GNLA and ULFA. Specially trained ULFA team was sent to assist GNLA in this mission and they are now moving in different directions with an aim to unleash more attacks on men in uniform and civilians, which could be seen as an attempt to distract the ongoing operations, the ANVC-B said.
According to the ANVC-B, the attackers have moved out of the area and some have crossed over to Bangladesh while others are desperate attempting to get to safer locations within Meghalaya.
“Overground GNLA workers are also assisting GNLA to move out of the area. Their movement is also being helped by some insiders who are giving specific information on patrolling, police checking and operational plans,” the ANVC-B further claimed.