Three civilians killed, five injured in police-GNLA gun battle

Shillong, Nov 10: After the daring attack at the residence of the mother of East Garo hills SP JFK Marak in wee hour of Friday morning, three  civilians who were caught in the cross fire between the GNLA and police  were killed  in Nangalbibra market in South Garo hills district of Meghalaya Saturday evening .

Five more civilians sustained injury and have been rushed to Williamnagar civil hospital.

The incident took place when a police vehicle that went to drop a police party in the Nangalbibra market for the usual duty was attacked. On reaching the market, the police truck was attacked as GNLA militants who were in the vicinity. The police personnel, who were inside, somehow managed to jump out of the vehicle and escape unhurt.

The police retaliated and the militants fled inside the market making the crowd their shield as the market was crowded because of the market day. The militants and police exchanged fire and two civilians died on the spots and six were injured. The injured were taken to the Williamnagar civil hospital where one of them succumbed to injury.

South Garo hill SP  DN Marak said of the two who were injured one was a VDP member and the other was a driver. He, however, told this reporter that effort was on to safe the remaining five civilians and their identity was secondary right now.

Additional forces have been rushed to the area and the SWAT and COBRA commandos have been rushed. According to Marak one of the police officer who was chasing the militants claimed that he had hit one of them. Marak, however, said that the police will come to know if anyone of the militants were injured only when it is daybreak tomorrow.

With additional security forces, the police have launched a massive operation against the GNLA militants in that area.

Meghalaya home minister HDR Lyngdoh- who is currently in Delhi- said he has directed the concerned authority to ensure that the area is secure and additional forces have been rushed to the area. He said the situation is under control. – By Our Reporter