Two policemen injured in GNLA ambush

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Feb 5: Two policemen were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the proscribed Garo tiol Liberation Army (GNLA) at Jadagitim under ngalbibra police station of South Garo Hills district on Friday morning. The two injured constable belong to the West Khasi Hills based 4th Battalion of the State police. They were on the requisitioned police bus to dispatched rations to South Garo Hills when the GNLA triggered the IED near a bridge. Both of them were rushed to Williamgar Civil Hospital. Sources monitoring the two injured constables said that their condition is stable.

Fortutely, the occupants of the civilian vehicle that followed the bus survived the ambush laid by the militants. SP of South Garo Hills district And Mishra rushed to the spot and inspected the area. He told The Sentinel that there could have been a major casualty had the explosives burst when the civilian cars were crossing the spot.

Mishra said that the blast was the handiwork of a hardcore cadre identified as Timtam who functions under the direct command of the GNLA Fince Secretary and area commander identified as Rakkam.

Late report coming in said that there was a heavy exchange of fire between the militants and the police operation team in the areas adjoining the area of occurrence. East Garo Hills SWAT team has joined the South Garo Hills operation team in the combing operation. The SP informed that there are around 15-17 GNLA cadres in the group that targeted the ration supplying police bus.