Remote detonators shipped in from Bangladesh
Police bust GNLA HQ
TURA: Police commandos on Tuesday busted the general headquarters of the banned GNLA in East Garo Hills forests while in neighbouring South Garo Hills district another elite police unit is in hot pursuit of the ‘action group’ cadres who have smuggled in powerful explosives with remote detonators from neighbouring Bangladesh on the same day.
Commandos of the SWAT unit of Meghalaya Police raided the GNLA general camp located in the forests of Adugre in Durama Hills of East Garo Hills on Tuesday afternoon resulting in a major gun battle that lasted for several hours.
The operation was jointly conducted by East and South Garo Hills police teams since both districts share a common border.
“Our commandos attacked the camp from two different locations and the operation is still continuing,” said East Garo Hills district police chief JFK Marak while speaking to The Shillong Times in the late afternoon.
Casualties, if any, remain unknown since the area where the operation is taking place is located in the deep forests where there is limited communication network.
However, villagers from the area reported that many GNLA cadres were injured in the firing. There are reports that two GNLA cadres with bullet injuries have escaped to the nearby villages and a combing operation has been initiated by the police to flush them out.
Preliminary reports given out by police suggest that over thirty GNLA cadres were inside the camp when it was attacked by SWAT commandos.
The camp commander identified as Gabrial along with senior militants identified as Megam, Daniram, former Williamnagar area commander Babang and police constable turned GNLA commander Savio R Marak are said to have been holed up inside the general headquarters when it was attacked.
According to police, GNLA’s elusive commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira was in the vicinity of the area before the attack took place.
“We know Sohan is hiding somewhere between Adugre and Jingamgre villages as per our intelligence reports,” claimed the police chief.
GNLA plans to explode bombs revealed
Garo Hills Police are said to have obtained high value intelligence inputs about possible plans of the banned GNLA to create mayhem by detonating explosives in select places of Garo Hills as retaliation for Meghalaya Government’s refusal to invite them for talks.
The explosive plans of the GNLA were revealed following Tuesday morning’s encounter in Gasuapara border where a group of militants were reportedly bringing in the explosives into Garo Hills under the direct orders of GNLA chief Sohan D Shira.
SWAT commandos from Baghmara intercepted the GNLA militants at Gasuapara border region after the ultras crossed over from neighbouring Bangladesh with powerful explosives and remote detonators.
The GNLA group was intercepted during the early morning hours at round 5 to 6 am, after they had crossed over 2 km inside the Indian territory.
In the encounter the ultras reportedly fled deeper into Garo Hills territory and were being closely pursued by SWAT commandos. There is apprehension that the militants could slip into the nearby forests extending to Chokpot region which is their stronghold.
The militants are said to belong to the ‘Action Group’ unit handpicked by Sohan himself.
“Sohan deputed his hand-picked men from the action group to bring in the explosives which include RDX and remote detonators. The GNLA has plans to target certain areas particularly the urban (town) areas,” said police chief Davis Nestell R Marak whose team of commandos intercepted the shipment in Gasuapara border belt leading to a gun battle.
“We are trying to cut them (militants) off and the operation is still on,” the police chief said.
The GNLA leadership has reportedly been peeved with Meghalaya Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma for refusing to extend an olive branch to the outfit for peace talks.