17 ultras killed this year

From Staff Correspondent

Shillong, June 6: During the second phase of 'Operation Hail Storm' in the five insurgency affected districts of Garo Hills of Meghalaya, seventeen militants were killed and four policemen martyred. Ten civilians were also killed during the period. This is the data officially registered with the police with effect from January 1 till June 6 this year. There were 146 incidents in the past six months in which 19 civilians and 11 policemen were injured. There were 26 cases of abduction during the period. During the second phase of the Operation Hail Storm, the police maged to arrest 105 militants and recovered 44 weapons along with 413 ammunitions and other explosive devices. Going by the Meghalaya Police chronicle in the past six months, there are at least 19 militant organizations that were involved in violence.

The proscribed GNLA accounted for 50 of such illegal acts while its break-away faction known as the AMEF with 16 and another splinter group known as the ASAK being held responsible for seven illegal activities. Interestingly, 25 militants surrendered before the police during the first half of 2015.

In the second half of the year 2014, there were 150 militants related incidents. The data stated that 19 militant camps busted. During the period, 174 militants were arrested, 47 surrendered and 16 gunned down.