TURA: Meghalaya police commandos have recovered an AK-47 rifle and ammunition belonging to the banned GNLA outfit after a pitched gun battle with the rebels in East Garo Hills’ Rongjeng on Monday morning. There were no casualties.
Commandos from State police’s Special Force (SF-10) were undertaking a search operation in the area, following intelligence inputs about presence of the rebels, when they spotted around eight armed rebels near a stream outside the village of Chambildam, which falls under the jurisdiction of Rongjeng police station, around 8 am.
The rebels opened fire leading to a brief exchange before they escaped.
“The militants were by the side of the stream which was being used by the villagers for washing clothes and there were civilians at the spot so our team used maximum caution,” said Meghalaya DGP SB Singh.
Police were able to retrieve an assault rifle and a magazine containing 26 bullets. Search is on for the fleeing ultras.
Police sources have ruled out the presence of GNLA chief Sohan D Shira in the group and have identified the rebels to be headed by GNLA commanders Bartush and William who have been moving in the region for some time.
