Five cops shot dead by militants

Five policemen were today gunned down by suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in heavily forested area of Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, a top police official said.

Heavily armed militants attacked a police vehicle carrying an under-trial prisoner killing all the five police personnel on board on the spot at Bangjakona village in Gasuapara block, about 450 km away from here, he said.

"Five policemen were shot dead in an ambush laid by heavily armed militants," H Nongpluh, Inspector General of Police (Western Range) told PTI.

He said, three AK series riffles and a carbine were taken away by the militants.

The police vehicle which left Tura, the division headquarter of Garo Hills region, was ferrying a prisoner and was on its way to Baghmara, the district headquarter.

However, it was not readily known if the prisoner escaped or was taken away by the ultras.

The act was seen as retaliation to the security forces' recent counter insurgency operations against the outfit's hideout and cadres, Nongpluh said.

Last week, police raided the house of Sohan D Shira, commander in charge of the outfit in Williamnagar and arrested of his brother in-law.

The police have also arrested another four cadres of the outfit while they were trying to enter Tura town two days back which police accused of trying to create a law and order problem there.

The GNLA which is fighting for a 'sovereign Garoland' in the Western areas of Meghalaya is one of the militant outfits active in the Garo Hills region.

The outfit has been involved in killing, abduction, extortion, bomb blasts and attacks on security forces.