GNLA rebels launch retaliatory attacks in Meghalaya

The outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) launched retaliatory attacks a day after security forces destroyed their general headquarters.

The attacks by the GNLA came a day after security forces overran their general headquarters in the Durama hill range near Adugre village in the East Garo Hills district.

The Garo rebels attacked a repeater station of the Meghalaya Police Radio Organisation (MPRO) at Chasinggre on the outskirts of Tura, the district headquarters of the West Garo Hills, Meghalaya Police chief P.J.P. Hanaman told IANS.

Meanwhile, a civilian was shot dead at Rongjeng-Shallang tri-junction in the East Garo Hills by suspected United A'chik Liberation Army rebels after heated argument for not making way for their vehicle, East Garo Hills District Police Chief J.F.K. Marak told IANS.

He said the civilian was on the steering with his wife when the incident took place Wednesday night.

The GNLA rebels opened fire at an Indian Oil Corporation petrol pump in Chasinggre, injuring two workers - Nobo Hajong and Biswajit Shah - before they hurled a grenade, damaging the petrol pump cash counter.

The rebels later opened fire and lobbed a grenade at the MPRO repeater station near the petrol pump, damaging communication sets.

No MPRO official was injured in the attack.

In the third incident, rebels ambushed a team of Special Weapons and Tactics unit at Pathargittim in the South Garo Hills, injuring commando Donboklang Jana.

Jana, who received bullet injuries in his stomach and thigh, was airlifted to the state capital Shillong, Hanaman said.

The GNLA, fighting for a separate Garoland in Meghalaya, has forged an alliance with Bangladesh-based rebel group A'chik Special Dragon. It also has links with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah, the United Liberation Front of Asom and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland.

At least 46 people, including nine security personnel, have been killed since January in the Garo Hills region.