SHILLONG: At a time when the State Police was busy ensuring peaceful Durga Puja celebrations, the special police teams were engaged in an encounter with AMEF cadres in South West Khasi Hills in which ultras were slain.
The incident took place on the night of October 21.
A police official on Saturday said that the operations were intensified by the security forces fighting various insurgents in the Garo Hills districts and South West Khasi Hills.
“We had formidable success in South West Khasi Hills and North Garo Hills,” the official added.
South West Khasi Hills Police waged an unrelenting battle against AMEF militants and ambushed them on October 20 at Nongjri and in the gun battle two AMEF cadres were suspected to be injured, but a group of militants escaped to the forest.
The district police teams pursued the AMEF militants and again there was an encounter on October 21 at Weikut resulting in the death of three cadres and injury to few others.
Police recovered one 7.65 mm pistol with magazine, three 7.65 mm live ammunition, four numbers of fired 7.65 mm cartridges, one SBBL gun, airbag containing fuse wires, 10 wired detonators and a number of gelatin sticks.
The killed AMEF cadres have been identified as Neheru Arengh, Rangon Goeragre and Chatot M. Sangma.
Rangon Goeragre was a GNLA deserter who joined AMEF. Later, it was learnt that one Wesefield C. Momin alias Dakchak was also injured in the gunfight. He later came to Ranikor police station accompanied by headman and village elders of Weikut and was taken in police custody in the presence of SP, West Khasi Hills and BDO Ranikor.
Dalchak was an ANVC (B) deserter who later joined the UALA and was the “deputy commander in chief” of the outfit. Later, he deserted the UALA and joined AMEF as the deputy commander in chief.
