Garo rebel leader escapes

The ‘commander-in-chief’ of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) managed to escape when his hideout was busted by police teams in a Meghalaya village, police said on Friday.

Acting on a tip off about the presence of the GNLA ‘C-in-C’ Sohan D Shira, police teams raided Bawegre village last evening, the police said.

“Police teams raided a suspected hideout of Sohan D Shira at Bawegre village, about 4 km from Williamnagar town of East Garo Hills district,” Deputy Commissioner East Garo Hill district Pravin Bakshi said.

He said the militant and his aide had a narrow escape when they saw the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos approaching.

Police said the GNLA cadre opened fire first and managed to escape from the camp.