SHILLONG: The GNLA has denied that two persons who were killed on August 7 in Goalpara were its cadres. The proscribed outfit, however, pointed out that the duo was eliminated in a fake encounter.
The encounter took place during a joint operation of 19th Dogra Regiment of Army and Assam police with a group of ‘GNLA extremists’ at Kongkal under Kukurkata outpost under Krishnai Police station in Goalpara district on the wee hours of Thursday.
In a statement issued on Sunday, senior GNLA cadre, Savio Ch Marak said that those who were killed were innocent civilians from Kongkal village.
“We are saddened by the death of two innocent youths, one Simman sangma and his friend. We condemn the killing by the Indian army and Assam police,” he added. According to the GNLA, it is a clear cut incident of fake encounter of innocent civilians. “The locals know that the two youths were not militants, but daily wage earners. The claimed recovery of two 7.65 pistol with 3 magazines, 3 HE 36 grenades and one IED is baseless,” the GNLA alleged.
“It has been a routine drama staged by the Indian army and Assam police before every State function like Independence Day or Republic Day. It has been a feature of Indian Army to stage fake encounters of innocent civilians projected as terrorists, militants or insurgents,” the GNLA added.
“Meghalaya government should stand firm and send strong signal to the Assam government, to not intrude inside the boundaries of the state and allow the army or police of Assam to commit such heinous crimes,” the GNLA said