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CRPF SI killed in firing, constable injured

By The Assam Tribune

SHILLONG, July 24 � A CRPF sub-inspector was today killed and a constable injured in firing by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in East Garo Hills district even as security forces busted their camp in Durama Hills range.

Sub-Inspector Pradeep Kumar and constable Munna Kumar of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) came under heavy firing from the militants while they were conducting search at Nobokgre village, 15 km south of Williamnagar, the district headquarters, Meghalaya DGP N Ramachandran said.

Pradeep died on the spot while Munna, who sustained serious bullet injuries, was out of danger, even as both were airlifted by an Air Force helicopter, he said.

Both were part of a back-up team comprising of the Meghalaya Swift Weapons and Tactic (SWAT) teams and the CRPF's CoBRA personnel, the DGP said.

Earlier, acting on a tip-off that GNLA militants were camping in a jungle under Memamang hill located about 23 km from Williamnagar, Meghalaya's SWAT commandos and CRPF's CoBRA personnel stormed the camp late last night.

Ruling out the presence of the GNLA�s C-in-C Sohan D Shira in the camps which were busted last night, Ramachandran claimed to have identified the occupants of the camp.

He also ruled out that the camps were run with the aid of ULFA armed trainers.

The GNLA formed in 2010 has been categorised as a terror organisation by the Centre in January this year for carrying out outlawed activities like killing, rampant extortion and abduction of businessmen and is active in three western Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya and in pockets of West Khasi Hills district.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya government today said it is �confident� of tracking down the militants who shot dead a school teacher in a small town in East Garo Hills district of the state some days back.

�We are going all out. We will not spare. We are confident that we will track them down and wipe them out,� Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh said.

The reaction of the Home Minister came hours after security forces had to airlift the slain sub-inspector and the injured constable.

The Home Minister did not rule out the nexus of other militant groups of the NE in aiding the rebels in the militant-infested jungles of three Garo Hills district in Meghalaya.

�After all, it is a militant-militant nexus... You can never really rule out the nexus between them,� Lyngdoh said.

Security forces have intensified search operation in the Durama hills range south of East Garo Hills district, about 23 km from Williamnagar, the district headquarters. � PTI

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