Acting on intelligence reports about the movement of heavily armed GNLA militants led by their area commander Laben alias Chenang, East Garo Hills police SWAT commandos conducted an overnight operation in Resubelpara area and by 5 am on Sunday located the hideout inside Resu Song Megap.

The militants, who were coming out of their hideout in the house of a sympathiser, were shocked to see the police commandos. They opened fire from authomatic rifles resulting in a brief encounter.

“We had to take up defensive positions instead of going on the assault because we did not want any innocent civilians to get caught up in the cross fire,” said a police officer from Resu.

Taking advantage of the police handicap the militants escaped into the jungles behind the village. They left behind several incriminating documents which were later seized by the security forces.

The owner of the house where the militants were taking shelter, Walton Sangma, has been arrested.

From the documents seized police have been able to get sizeable number of information on the activities of the GNLA, it was revealed.

The incident comes just a day after another group of GNLA militants tortured to death an unidentified villager in Dobu and then leaving the body with its hands tied behind close to a police anti-dacoity camp.