Shillong An encounter was underway on Thursday between
security forces and Garo militants responsible for the gruesome killing of a
tribal woman after molestation and attempted rape, in South Garo Hills district
in Meghalaya.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri assured
'justice' to members of the bereaved family of the woman. "All efforts are
being made to ensure that justice is delivered to members of the bereaved
family especially to the father and children who are going through a tough time
after the shootout in the premises of their home," Warjri said.
He also reviewed the security scenario in the entire Garo
Hills region at Tura, the headquarters of Garo Hills division taking into
consideration activities of the militant groups.
The encounter followed an operation launched in the Durama
hills range across the Simsang River where 40 to 50 militants of the Garo
National Liberation Army were holed up in a camp, Inspector General of Police G
H P Raju said.
At the time of going to press, commandos of Swift Weapons
and Tactics (SWAT) and CRPF's Cobra Force were engaged in the encounter.
The Centre had on Wednesday rushed five companies each of
BSF and CRPF to Meghalaya to assist the state government in maintaining law and
order.
The security forces were sent at the request of Meghalaya
Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
The Garo militants shot dead a 35-year-old tribal woman, a
mother of four, with an assault rifle splitting her head in two claiming her to
be a police informer after she resisted their attempts at molestation and rape
in Raja Rongat village on June 3.
The GNLA in a statement had denied that the woman was
molested or raped and said that she was 'executed' as she was a 'police
informer'.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and MoS (Home) Khiren
Rijiju had on Wednesday sought a detailed report of the horrific killing.
"We urge the Central Government to extend their full
support in terms of manpower and other resources in view of the challenges
posed by the mushrooming of militant outfits," Joint Home secretary V R
Syiem said in the report sent to the Centre.
"There are reports that an encounter is going on
between the militants and the police. I only hope this is not a fake encounter,
because very often, in Meghalaya, we have witnessed fake encounters where
innocent people have been killed. The culprits as they have already been
identified should be arrested and punished. “Said senior leader PA Sangma.
Condemning the act, he appealed to the people to be calm and
maintain peace. "The incident that took place yesterday is a horrible
incident, I have condemned that already, and I appeal to the people to be very
calm," added Sangma.
Source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com/News/India/Gun-battle-erupts-between-Garo-rebels-security-men/articleshow/36113863.cms
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