Garo ultras kill 5 cops in Meghalaya

GUWAHATI|SHILLONG: Five policemen were on Tuesday gunned down by suspected Garo National Liberation Army ( GNLA) militants in heavily forested area of Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, a top police official said. Heavily armed militants attacked a police vehicle carrying an under-trial prisoner killing all the five police personnel on the spot at Bangjakona village in Gasuapara block, about 450 km away from Shillong. Militants first set off an explosion and then opened fire on the policemen. They took away weapons from the policemen which included AK-47 rifles and a carbine.

Inspector General of Police (Western Range) H Nongpluh, confirming the killings said three AK series rifles and a carbine were taken away. The police vehicle which left Tura, the division headquarters of Garo Hills region, with the prisoner was on its way to Baghmara, the district headquarters. It was not known if the prisoner escaped or was taken away by the ultras. This is the second major incident involving the outfit in the last three days. On Sunday night, the militant dressed in army fatigue gunned down seven person in Assam's Goalpara area.