Two Meghalaya policemen killed in blast

Two police constables were killed and two others were injured Friday in a bomb blast triggered by insurgents in Meghalaya.

"ULFA (United Liberation Front of Asom) and GNLA (Garo National Liberation Army) militants planted a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) bomb by the roadside in Tebrongre area of West Garo Hills district, killing two constables and injuring two others," IGP (Operations) G.H.P. Raju told IANS.

He said the police constables were conducting a road patrol in the militant-hit area between Dadenggre and Rongram.

The dead constables have been identified as Arphius Khymdiet and Lembartu Suchiang. The injured personnel have been admitted to the government-run hospital in Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills. Their condition is stated to be critical.

"They (militants) wanted to target the police and the security forces as we have been carrying out a series of anti-insurgency operations in and around the district for the past several days," Raju said.

A massive combing operation has been launched in the area to arrest the GNLA and ULFA militants who triggered the blast.