Season of encounter: Top GNLA militant killed in Meghalaya

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 3: In an early morning swoop, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos State of the State police gunned down Kennedy Sangma nee Hebel-a top Garo tiol Liberation Army (GNLA) militant at Durama hills, near Khakwa Duragre village in East Garo hills. The incident took place around 7:30 am.

“The operation was conducted by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos. Kennedy was killed in a heavy exchange of fire,” informed the IGP operations GHP Raju.

Police recovered two AKs, a Draganov sniper rifle, 24 live AK rounds, one AK empty case, two live 7.62 Draganov sniper rifle rounds and four mobile handsets from the incident spot, which was a makeshift hideout of the outfit.

“Five heavily armed GNLA cadres had opened fired at the police party and there was an exchange of fire, which lasted for about 10 minutes,” the IGP stated.

Hebel is from the 2nd batch GNLA and was the area commander of Chokpot, and was also commander of the action group – Eagle Hunters, which was formed earlier this year to execute policemen. In 2013, he was arrested from Chokpot in South Garo hills but maged to escape from Tura district jail. In the same year, he ambushed a police under trial prisoner escort party near Kapasipara in South Garo Hills and was also responsible for this year’s attack on police party at Panda, near Rongara in South Garo Hills.

Police claimed that he was recently promoted as ‘self-styled sergeant’ and a close aid of the dreaded GNLC self styled Commander in Chief Sohan D Shira.