Minority groups face increasing attacks from Garo militants
TURA: There is rising cases of attacks on minority tribes and communities residing in the plains belt region of West Garo Hills by suspected Garo militants in the past few weeks with one village elder succumbing to their attacks while another has been taken away at gunpoint on Sunday.
The Buddhist minority dominated village of Haldibari, near Selsella, became a target for Garo militants suspected to be from the banned GNLA a week ago. The Gaonbura of the village, one Huzil Mann, was attacked at his house on the night of May 24.
Armed militants came to his house at around 7 pm and after calling him out opened fire seriously injuring him. He was rushed to Down Town hospital in Guwahati for surgery but succumbed to his injuries on May 28 sending shock to the entire Buddhist Mann community who reside in Haldibari. This is also the only Buddhist village in the Garo Hills and is surrounded one side by Muslim population in nearby Assam and Garo villages of West Garo Hills district on the other.
The Muslim minority groups are also facing the heat from militants and in broad daylight on Sunday suspected Garo militants entered Zekabari village market of West Garo Hills bordering Mankachar district of Assam and abducted a trader.
The militants reportedly opened fire in the air from AK rifles and small arms to scare away the public in the market and took away Fozal Haque, from his shoe shop into the forests of Selsella region. He hailed from nearby Salbari village.