Shillong: Security forces today shot dead a Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) ‘commander’ wanted for allegedly molesting and killing a woman on suspicion of being a police informer, in Meghalaya’s North Garo Hills district.
Several others were suspected to have sustained injuries in the encounter which took place in a remote village in the district along the Meghalaya-Assam border, police said.
Acting on a tip off about the presence of GNLA cadre Bangsi Alda in Mendipathar police station area, special police teams raided it and an encounter took place this afternoon, IG (Operations) G H P Raju said.
The slain militant was identified as Salnang T Sangma, a self-styled area commander. He was identified from the GNLA ID that was found in his pocket, Raju said.
It was being suspected that several others present in the camp were also injured and a combing operation is on to nab them, he said.
Salnang was one of the prime accused in the molestation and murder of Josbina M Sangma in May 2014 at Rongpakgre village in South Garo Hills district, Raju said.
A mother of four, she was shot at point blank range in front of her husband.
The other prime accused in the murder case, GNLA cadre Tengton, is still at large, he said.
At the encounter site, police recovered a 9 mm carbine, AK 47 magazines and ammunition and other articles, Raju said.