SHILLONG, Jan 7 — Buoyed by the recent successes against militants, Meghalaya Police with the support of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have launched a joint operation against the banned outfits in the State-Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC). “The new offensive against the militants have been launched in the wake of the arrest of 13 HNLC militants in Ri-Bhoi and Jaintia Hills districts on January 4 and 5”, said a senior police official. The catches included Michael Papang, an Area Commander and Miktor Lapang which have come as a big boost for the security forces. The operation is targetted to contain the ultras mainly in the district of West Khasi Hills, and East, West and South Garo Hills. The sources disclosed “the joint operation is also aimed at flushing out the militants from their hide-outs and busting their training camps.
The strengthening of intelligence gathering, which had been the weak link in police operations earlier, has yielded good results, of late. The efforts have resulted in confirmed reports on the existence of camps and hide-outs of the militants in the inter-state and international border areas, confided the source. The operation has also come about in the wake of concerns that the ULFA is trying to infiltrate into the State and set up camps specially in the densely forested areas in the Garo Hills in the aftermath of the outfit winding up camps in Bhutan. There have been, however, no clinching evidence to confirm the fears, so far.
Meanwhile, another exchange of fire took place between the police and suspected NLC militants near Jakrem in West Khasi Hills district yesterday, said a senior police official. A police party was checking vehicles near the famed hot springs at Jakrem when they were fired upon by militants travelling in a mini-bus No. ML 05 B 8518. As the police retaliated, the ultras numbering six to eight, escaped into the nearby jungles. The mini-bus was carrying a group of picknickers, including some girls, from Shillong to Jakrem. The militants boarded the bus at Pomlum village, about 12 kms from here.