SHILLONG/NONGSTOIN: Police in West Khasi Hills recovered a drone and a boat among other things from a hideout of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in the district on Tuesday.
The recovery of these items, besides mines and ammunition, has perplexed the police since this is for the first time that they have seized a drone.
Sources said the militants may be using the drone to know the movement of security personnel or the nature of the terrain to facilitate their movement without hurdles.
The militants may be using the inflatable boat to cross the river probably to escape the glare of security personnel who mostly guard the land, sources added.
“The recovery is unique this time, we are examining the recovered items to know the motive of the militants,” DGP SB Singh said.
The police chief said the drone appears to be made in China. The drone, also known as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is used for surveillance by security forces. Earlier, Shallang police sent a search team after a tip-off about the GNLA hideout at Riangdim Nengdawak forest in West Khasi Hills. They made the recovery around 11.30am on Tuesday.
Besides the inflatable boat and drone, the search team found 82 rounds AK ammunition, three life jackets, two claymore mines, one tent and a magazine pouch.
According to police, the claymore mines, if planted by the militants, will cause damage in terms of injury to the security personnel.
The recovery was following a counter-insurgency operation carried out by Shallang police against GNLA.
Police could not arrest anyone as the militants, who were holed up in the hideouts, escaped.
“We are looking for the escaped cadres,” a police official added.
