One killed, three injured by GNLA rebels in Meghalaya

One person was shot dead and three were injured in two separate incidents carried out by outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels in insurgency-ravaged Garo Hills in western Meghalaya Tuesday.

Heavily armed GNLA rebels shot dead Jenipar K. Sangma and assaulted his teenage son Arsen Marak at their residence in Rangmai area under South Garo Hills district allegedly for extorting money in the name of the outlawed outfit, police said.

In another incident, a GNLA rebel lobbed a grenade at a wine store in Jaddigittim market area injuring two people and damaging the wine store. Police said the grenade attack was to mount pressure on businessmen in the area to comply with the GNLA's extortion demands.

The injured were rushed to a hospital and were released after first aid.

Police have registered a case and a man hunt is on to nab the rebels.

The GNLA, one of five Garo rebel groups fighting for a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma.

Champion Sangma is presently lodged in Shillong Jail after he was arrested from the India-Bangladesh border last year.

The GNLA, which has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in East Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, has been declared a terrorist outfit.

Over 40 people, including security personnel, have been killed while more than 10 people were abducted for ransom by GNLA rebels in the last three years.