Meghalaya rebel group’s chief killed in gunfight

SHILLONG - The chief of a separatist group was killed in Meghalaya Thursday in a gun battle with the security forces, a police official said.

Liberation Achik Elite Force (LAEF) chief Nikseng G. Momin and his aide Rakbat A. Sangma were killed in a gunfight in Darugiri forest around 3 a.m. in East Garo Hills district, Sylvester Nongtyngner, district police chief, told IANS.

Two other rebels managed to escape, he said.

Two pistols, live ammunition, a hand grenade and some incriminating documents were seized from the slain rebels and the encounter site, Nongtyngner said.

The shootout started after the rebels hurled a grenade at the security forces in order to evade arrest. The grenade, however, failed to explode, he said.

Momin was suspected to be involved in the killing of a policeman in West Khasi Hills district, and kidnapping and extortion in coal mine areas.

The LAEF is fighting for an independent Achik state for the Garo tribals.