TURA: A group of armed GNLA militants narrowly escaped a police raid on their hideout in the Chokpot region of South Garo Hills on Monday morning, according to a police report.
As many as 11-12 GNLA rebels led by ‘area commander’ Kamdat had taken shelter in a makeshift camp outside Andamari village, not far from Sibbari, and were having an early morning meal when police commandos arrived on the scene leading to a gun fight.
The ultras abandoned their meal and fled into the forests firing sporadically to deter the security forces from pursuing them.
According to police sources, the sudden surfacing of GNLA area commander Kamdat in the Chokpot region with a posse of armed rebels has surprised police intelligence since he was last known to be operating in the East Garo Hills region under direct command of GNLA chief Sohan D Shira.
Police do not rule out the possibility of the GNLA establishing a new command in the Chokpot region to strengthen its presence since a large number of rebels from the previous command of Baichung had deserted the group with weapons and were now operating on their own.