North Garo hills ASP shot by GNLA

TURA, MAY 9: Meghalaya police additional SP Ringrang Momin was hit on the buttock when GNLA militants led by its commander Philiport (Rakban D Shira) firedupon the police party during an operation conducted by the SWAT and CRPF commandos on Saturday.

North Garo hills SP Ramesh Singh said the officer was immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.  The incident took place when the security personnel were returning froma search operation and other policemen also received minor injuries.

An MPS of the 2004 batch, Momin is known to be a fearless and daring
officer within police department and has been part of numerous operations
in Garo hills. He has been a target of militants.

In December 2014, a group of militants from GNLA shot at his quarter
while his wife and child were inside. An IED was also suspected to be
planted though it was removed.

Momin is a recipient of 2 gallantry awards for his action in the line of duty.

The search operation followed when the GNLA on Saturday fired upon an approaching police team in North Garo Hills. In the exchange of fire between militants and police, Momin was injured.

The incident took place at Achongba village near Mendipathar in North
Garo hills, about 125 km from Tura. The police team was on their way for an operation in the village, when the militants waylaid them and fired upon.

“There were two police teams, who had gone for an operation.  The team
had an encounter with Rakban D Shira alias Philiport gang of GNLA in
the village. The militants fired first and the police retaliated. It
lasted for several minutes and injured our officer”, said GHP Raju,
inspector general of police (Operations).

Momin was administered first aid in Goalpara and has been transferred to hospital in Guwahati.

Philiport is an area commander of GNLA.

Additional forces have been called in to North Garo hills and massive search operation is on. Police say that a group of six GNLA rebels led by Philiport were taking shelter at Achongba village.

Police said that the outfit is all out to create fear psychosis in Garo hills. The GNLA made an attempt to unleash terror by exploding an IED at Dalu in West Garo Hills, along India-Bangladesh border yesterday, Raju informed. – From Our Correspondent