‘Operation Hill Storm’ to continue in Garo Hills for two more months
SHILLONG: The State Police along with the CoBRA unit of the CRPF and other central forces launched ‘Operation Hill Storm’ on July 11 in Durama Hills area of Garo Hills and have arrested as many as 25 militants belonging to GNLA, ULFA, ASAK and other outfits from their stronghold besides seizing arms and ammunition.
In a statement issued here on Wednesday, IGP in-charge administration and operation, G.H.P. Raju said that since the days of the ANVC, the interior jungle areas of Durama in Garo Hills has been a safe haven for all militant groups for obvious reasons like difficult terrain, thick jungle, scant police presence and plenty of water sources.
“The Durama Hills area has become the main training ground for many militant groups including GNLA, ULFA and other militant groups,” he said.
According to Raju, ‘Operation Hill Storm’ was launched on July 11 to flush out militants and to re-occupy the interior areas to deny any ‘comfort zone’ to GNLA and ULFA militants in the area.
He pointed out that during the operation, security forces were able to bust four GNLA camps belonging to Sohan D Shira, Rupanto R Marak and Baichung and a general camp and in total 25 militants belonging to GNLA, ULFA, ASAK and other militant groups were arrested from various hideouts. Eight weapons, 220 rounds of ammunition, five rocket launcher shells and other explosive materials were recovered during the operations. Raju informed that the general camp was the main militant camp where huge quantities of ration had been stacked for the rainy season and was the main camp used to impart training to the new cadres.
“All the training activities were conducted by ULFA trainers and many ULFA cadres were also trained in this general camp,” he said.
The operation has not been without setbacks since top GNLA cadres such as Savio, Baichung, Sacheng and Jarek had managed to escape from the general camp along with recruited cadres before the camp was busted by security forces.
Operation Hill Storm will continue for two more months, Raju informed.
