TURA, June 28 � Security forces in Garo Hills with assistance from the army achieved its first major breakthrough against the newly created Garo militant outift called Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) by gunning down two of its senior leaders who were returning to a camp deep inside the jungles of Kharkutta in East Garo Hills district bordering Assam late Saturday night.
Official sources said Commandos of the Meghalaya police�s Special Operations Team (SOT) in collaboration with Mendipather Police of East Garo Hills and army troops stationed in Paikan area of Assam came across a group of GNLA militants deep inside the jungles of Kharkutta area. The inaccessible area is a zone for militants to cross to and fro Assam.
Based on intelligence reports that a group of GNLA militants would be returning through the said route after releasing a coal merchant of Shallang area in West Khasi Hills, the security forces were preparing to lay a trap when seven well armed GNLA militants suddenly appeared from the thick undergrowth in pitch dark in Amerim hill shortly after 12:30 in the night.
A heavy exchange of fire took place between the two sides. In the ensuing encounter two militants, including the leader of the group, were shot dead while the rest escaped.
Police recovered from the possession of the two dead militants one M 20 pistol, a .673 calibre Chinese pistol, two hand grenades, photos, several mobile phones and photos of the abducted coal merchant from Shallang.
The deceased have been identified as senior GNLA member Patrick Marak who is also known as Jong and Janggam in the GNLA. He hailed from Mangsang area of East Garo Hills which is adjoining West Khasi Hills. Patrick was also in a recent photo of the GNLA sitting next to Commander-in-Chief Sohan D Shira and loading a pistol. That photo also included arrested GNLA general secretary Novembirth Ch Marak which police later seized.
The other militant who died in the encounter has been identified as Sengbat Sangma of Upper Watregre village under Raksamgre region of Dadenggre sub-division in West Garo Hills.
It is believed that the group of seven militants were returning after escorting the coal merchant back to Shallang for his release. The militants had reportedly obtained Rs 10 lakh from the family of the merchant for his safe release.
During the encounter, one of the militants was spotted carrying a large camouflage bag believed to contain the ransom money.
