Two cops killed in Meghalaya ambush by suspected GNLA rebels

Meghalaya Police IG (Operations) GHP Raju told The Indian Express over the telephone from Shillong that the rebels took advantage of a patch of bad road about three kms short of Siju, which is about 28 kms from Baghmara, the district headquarters.

While Havildar Aldrin Lyngdoh of the 3rd Meghalaya Police Battalion and armed branch constable Aitom A Sangma were killed on the spot, three other police personnel – Medison Sangma, Betherson M Sangma and Brething K Sangma have sustained serious injuries.

“Our sources said that the incident was the handiwork of a group of GNLA rebels headed by one Hadeo C Momin, who heads the Chokpot area command of the outfit. Momin is a known bomb expert and has been involved in several other IED explosions in South Garo Hills that targeted security forces in the Garo Hills region,” IGP Raju said.

It was only on November 6 that the GNLA commander-in-chief had issued a statement offering reward of Rs 15 lakh to his cadres for targeting security forces. A day earlier, the Meghalaya Police had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of 10 “most wanted” militant leaders, eight of whom were from the GNLA.

Meanwhile, a massive hunt has been launched jointly by commandos of the Meghalaya Police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) to track down the rebels.