Meghalaya rebels kill two coal miners
By IANSWednesday, November 17, 2010
SHILLONG - Suspected Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels Wednesday killed two migrant coal miners and attacked a petrol pump in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district, police said.
According to police, the miners - Nazrul Islam and Kuki Boro - were killed around 4.30 a.m. in two different areas of the Nongalbibra coal mining belt, about 475 km from Shillong.
The rebels later hurled two grenades at a petrol pump in the Pathargittim area. One of the grenades exploded causing some damage to the pump, the official said.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the blast. Intelligence agencies suspect the involvement of the GNLA, a rebel group headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma.
“These attacks by the GNLA are aimed at creating fear in the coal mine areas and to extort money,” a top intelligence official said.
The GNLA had earlier slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs.5 lakh to Rs.1 crore on petrol pump owners, coal dealers and businessmen in the coal-rich districts of Garo Hills.
The GNLA is fighting for a sovereign “Garoland” in western Meghalaya.
