SHILLONG: Operation Hillstorm 3, which was launched to neutralise GNLA militants who are holed up in the Durama hills area of Garo Hills, will continue for another three months. Informing this here on Tuesday, GHP Raju, Inspector General, Meghalaya Police, said that additional Special Force-10 Commandos, who are undergoing commando training, would be inducted for this special operation. “They (commandos) will supplement the SWAT teams who are already engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Garo Hills,” he said.
It may be mentioned that Operation Hillstrom-3 was launched by Meghalaya Police on February 24 in the Garo Hills districts and in the West Khasi Hills district. In the ongoing operation as many as four GNLA camps were busted, 70 IEDs, 1475 electrical non-electrical detonators and half a kilo explosive materials were recovered so far. According to Raju, most of the GNLA leaders namely Rupanto, deputy commander-in-chief and his group, and ASAK leaders such as Reading T Sangma and his group have crossed to Durama and holed up in South Garo Hills area. Additional security forces have been dispatched to these areas to seal off all the escape routes and to intensify combing operations in all the villages and interior areas of these jungles, he said. In addition, the police department has already written to the Government to requisition 12 more companies of Central Armed Police Forces and six units of CoBRA to supplement the local police for sustained counter insurgency operations during the coming months. He pointed out that after the launch of Operation Hillstorm-3, several GNLA cadres had approached NGOs and Church leaders to facilitate their surrender.
