Tura: Security forces in East Garo Hills have busted a hideout of Garo militants belonging to the A’chik Matgrik Elite Force and recovered small arms along with explosives.
A joint team of the Army and SWAT commandos of the state police raided a camp of AMEF militants on Sunday at around 7:30 am at Papira Abri near Rongmil.
Spotting the approaching security forces the militants opened fire leading to a brief encounter before the ultras abandoned their positions and fled the scene.
They left behind two pistols, several incriminating documents of AMEF and other militant groups like the GNLA and ASAK along with a radio communication set, explosive materials, mobile SIM cards and camp materials.
Following the encounter the militants fled towards neighbouring north Garo Hills district and an alert has been sounded in the neighbouring region.
ASAK rebel gives up: A militant from the ASAK outfit who narrowly escaped mob fury at Rewak village and witnessed a fellow cadre being beaten to death has surrendered to police.
ASAK militant Bilchi Ch Sangma alias Surin and hailing from Emangre village gave himself up to South Garo Hills police after having narrowly escaped mob justice at Rewak.
He had gone to Rewak village, near Siju, with another militant, Gamseng Sangma, to extort money from the public when villagers turned against them, last week.
Gamseng was caught by the public and severely assaulted leading to his death.
Having witnessed the anger of the public against militants and worried he could face a similar fate, the militant decided to give himself up to the authorities.
The widespread extortion by militants and criminal gangs has been forcing villagers to take the law into their own hands.
In recent months there has been several cases of mob justice against criminals in Garo Hills.