TURA, March 8 - The �Operation Hillstorm� against militants holed up in the Durama Range in Garo Hills, is to be launched once again.
The announcement of continuance of the fight against militants came today through a release issued by the police headquarters.
Interestingly, since the start of the current phase of the operations, the police have had immense success in not only neutralizing militants, but also in scattering those that had been holed up.
�The Meghalaya Police have sent additional force to Garo Hills to strengthen the ongoing operation. Additional commandos were dispatched into Garo Hills to comb the jungles of Durama and to neutralize GNLA and other militant groups who are on the run since the last two weeks,� stated the release.
Enumerating the success of the police since the restart of operations, the police stated that as many as four GNLA camps were busted; 70 IEDs, 1475 electrical /non-electrical detonators and half a kilo of gelatin explosive materials were recovered so far during these operations, which started on February 24.
Operations are ongoing in the five districts of Garo Hills as well as in West Khasi Hills.
The police release also stated that most top leaders of the GNLA, including Rupanto @ Toding, Dy CinC and his group, and ASAK leaders, such as Reading T Sangma and his group, are now holed up in South Garo Hills area.
�Additional security forces have been dispatched to these areas to seal all the escape routes and to intensify combing operations in all the villages and interior areas of these jungles,� added the release.
It is decided at the highest level that Operation Hillstorm-3 would continue for another three months. Additional Special Force 10 Commandos would be inducted for special operations against these militants to supplement the SWAT teams who are already into counter insurgency operations in Garo Hills.
Further, the release stated that another 12 additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) and six units of CoBRA are being added to supplement the local police for sustained operations during the coming months.
