Gun battle erupts between Garo rebels, security men

An intense gun battle erupted in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district Thursday, as security forces launched a crackdown on a militant hideout, an official said.

There were no reports yet if anyone was arrested or killed in the crackdown in Adugre area, about 370 km from here.

"The gun battle is on as rebels are continuing with their firing. The Special Weapons and Tactics team and Combat Battalion for Resolute Action commandos are retaliating," Davies N.R. Marak, the district police chief, told IANS.

The crackdown was launched on the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) camp two days after members of the militant group killed a 35-year-old Garo woman. The rebels shot her dead in front of her children after she resisted their rape bid.

The GNLA, one of the five Garo tribal rebel groups, is fighting for a separate Garoland to be carved out of Meghalaya.