Two policemen injured in IED blast in Meghalaya

Two policemen were injured in a bomb blast triggered by Garo militants in Meghalaya on Friday, police said.

The incident took place in South Garo Hills district and the injured policemen have been admitted to hospital.

"Two policemen -- Robert Nonglait and Tennyson Ch. Marak -- were injured in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) planted the IED by the roadside in Jadigittim area," Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P. Raju told IANS.

He said the policemen were attacked while they were proceeding on bus to unload rations for the police personnel stationed at Baghmara, the district headquarter town of South Garo Hills.

"We have launched an operation in the area to flush out GNLA militants hiding in the area," the police official said.

Raju said one of the perpetrators has been identified as Rakkam, who was directed by Sohan D. Shira, self-styled military wing chief of GNLA.

The GNLA, which claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma, who is lodged in Shillong jail after being arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in 2012.