SHILLONG, Nov 21 (IANS) - A gunfight, lasting an hour, broke out between security forces and rebels of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district Sunday, police said.
The exchange of fire took place at 10.30 a.m. in Goreng village on the border area between South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills districts, when security forces came under fire from four GNLA rebels hiding there.
"The encounter lasted for an hour and the militants retreated back to the jungles after intensive firing from security forces," a police official told IANS on phone from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills district, about 400 km from Shillong.
However, an amount of Rs 50,000 left behind by the GNLA rebels was recovered from the site.
Though, there were no casualties on the security forces' side, police are yet to confirm if any of the rebels were injured.
Security forces have launched a combing operation in the area.
Suspected GNLA militants Wednesday killed two migrant coal miners and attacked a petrol pump in South Garo Hills district to create fear in the coalmine areas and to extort money.
The GNLA, fighting for a sovereign 'Garoland' in western Meghalaya, had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore on petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.