SHILLONG, June 4 (IANS): Three police personnel were killed and two were critically injured Saturday after a militant ambush in western Meghalaya, police said.
A group of 10 heavily armed militants hiding on a hilltop attacked a highway patrol police team at Thapa Darenchi area of East Garo Hills district, District Magistrate Praveen Bakshi told IANS.
The militants also snatched away four rifles, including one AK-47 and one INSAS rifle.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police suspect the involvement of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
"The GNLA is active in the area and we suspect it received support from some other militant group from outside the state," a police officer said on condition of anonymity.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign Garoland. It is headed by police officer-turned-outlaw Champion R. Sangma.
The outfit is believed to have links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the NDFB.
