Guwahati: Police in poll-bound Assam have been alarmed over the recovery of a large number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from a stronghold of the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in East Garo Hills of neighbouring Meghalaya.
Assam police believes that the presence of such a large number of IEDs at this juncture in Garo Hills areas of Meghalaya definitely looks ominous for the poll-bound state.
Director General (DG) of Assam police, Mukesh Sahay, on Friday said the militants groups in Meghalaya had been maintaining coordination with militants groups in Assam and the recovery of the IEDs from the stronghold of a Garo tribe militant group, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was mostly likely linked to militants’ intention to disrupt polls in Assam.
He said Assam police and Meghalaya police have been coordinating closely in tackling militancy which has transcended the inter-state boundary.
Meghalaya police have recovered 63 IEDs since Thursday in several villages under Williamnagar police which are considered stronghold of GNLA militants.
Police informed that most of the IEDs were hand-made and a commandant of the United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), Drishti Rajkhowa and his team of trainers have helped the Garo tribal militant groups to assemble those IEDs.
Rajkhowa is one of the most wanted ULFA commanders which is in charge of the western sector of Assam and is known to have strong base in Garo hills areas of Meghalaya that has porous border with Bangladesh.
