TURA, Jan 2 - One petty trader was injured when militants opened fire on a truck carrying 15 persons at Mandangre village on NH 62 in South Garo Hills at about 6.20 am today.
Incidentally, the spot is close to the place where an ambush was laid by GNLA militants in which five policemen were killed in 2014.
According to local sources, the truck coming from Mankachar in Assam was on its way to the weekly market of Sibbari, when it was stopped by two gun-toting militants and the persons were asked to get down. Sensing trouble, the alert driver immediately made a run for it after which the militants fired at the tyres of the truck.
Two other militants who were atop a small hill then began to fire at the truck hitting a petty trader in the leg. The injured trader has been identified as 28-year-old villager of Joradanga under Mankachar, Dudubor Rehman.
Rehman, who was bleeding profusely, was first sent to Sibbari PHC before being taken to Tura for further treatment. The other traders in the vehicle and the driver are safe.
District police chief, Lakador Syiem later confirmed the incident while also stating that three-four militants were involved in the attack. Police suspect the attack to be the handiwork of ASAK militants or local dacoits.
�Two of the four ultras were on the road dressed like Meghalaya police SWAT personnel while another one-two were waiting on a hill. They tried to stop the vehicle but the vehicle sped past them. Search operation around the area has been intensified after the incident�, said Syiem.
