By IANS,
Shillong : Two rebels of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) were killed in a gunbattle in Meghalaya Thursday, police said.
The battle broke out in Watregittim area in South Garo Hills district when the rebels fired at the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos who were tracking them down, Inspector General of Police (western range) F.D. Sangma told IANS.
He said a team of SWAT commandos launched a morning crackdown in the area based on specific information about the presence of the rebels along with their regional commander Rakkam Sangma.
However, Rakkam managed to escape during the encounter.
The rebels killed in a gunbattle, which lasted for more than 20 minutes, were identified as Rengchang Ch Marak and Subarthapa N. Marak, he said.
An AK-47 rifle, two pistols, a grenade, a cache of ammunition, a cellphone and some “incriminating documents” were recovered from the site, police said.
Meanwhile, SWAT commandos are continuing with their combing operation in the area to track down more rebels, Sangma said.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo tribal rebel groups, is fighting for a separate Garoland in the five impoverished districts of the Garo Hills to be carved out from Meghalaya.