Rebels ambush police patrol in eastern India, killing 5

Rebels ambush police patrol in eastern India, killing 5

2011-11-01 03:51:43 GMT+7 (ICT)

MIRANSHAH, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Four police officers and a civilian were killed on Monday when insurgent rebels ambushed a patrol team in northeastern India, officials told a local newspaper.

The highway police patrol team in the Nengpatchi area of East Garo Hills district, located in the state of Meghalaya Nengpatchi, was ambushed by ten unidentified gunmen who had been hiding on a hilltop near the scene of the incident, local police officials told the Times of India.

East Garo Hills police chief JFK Marak confirmed that four police officers belonging to the Meghalaya Police 5th battalion were killed in the attack, while the civilian driver of the vehicle was also killed. Two police officers were critically injured.

Officials told the newspaper that the group of militants were able to run off with five weapons from the patrol team, including two AK-47 rifles, two SLRs and one carbine.

No group or terrorist organization has claimed responsibility, but police officials believe rebels from the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) were behind the attack. The GNLA, one of five Garo rebel groups fighting for a sovereign Garoland, is led by former police officer Champion R. Sangma.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told the Times of India that the government will "not rest until the perpetrators of this heartless act are apprehended and dealt with a firm hand in accordance with the law." The slain police officers were identified as NR Marak, Probinson Sangma, Victor Marak and E. Sangma.

On October 21, six police officers were killed and three others were injured in an ambush by Maoist rebels in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.

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