One ASAK cadre killed, two arrested in the encounter at Rewak village

Tura, July 01: Meghalaya police today gun downed a cadre of A’chik Songna An’pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) and arrested two cadres from Rewak village, near Baghmara in South Garo Hills. The operation was launched at the area since yesterday late evening, as villagers informed the police on the whereabouts of the outfit
taking shelter with a welding technician. Police say that he was abducted on Sunday from Rewak market, where the welding centre is located.

Rewak is about 6 km from Baghmara town, which is about 126 km from Tura. Inspector general of police (operations), G.H.P Raju said, “No FIR was filed by the family. However, we conducted the operation based on inputs provided by the villagers and rescued the welder Manoranjan today at 5 am”.

The exchange of fire lasted for about 20 minutes, in which one cadre was killed and two others were arrested. The police managed to rescue the welder unharmed. One INSAS rifle, incriminating documents were recovered from the slain cadre. “There were about eight to nine cadres taking shelter at Rewak village. In the operation, we managed to gun down one and arrest two, others managed to escape in the jungle”, said Raju.

The Garo hills region is witnessing a series of abduction in the last two weeks. On June 18, the police rescued a bank manager from Antekagre near Melliem in South West Garo Hills. On June 26, police rescued four abducted traders unharmed from the clutches of a group of GNLA and Ulfa (Independent) militants from a remote location in the West Garo Hills district.

On June 29, a shoe trader was abducted from Dalu, from Indo-Bangladesh border. On June 30, a school teacher on his way to Dalu from Tura was abducted. West Garo Hills SP Mukesh Singh said, “Our operation to rescue them is on. No FIR has been filed in this case”.(SP News)