Meghalaya minister assures justice to killed woman's family

, June 5:

Home Minister Roshan Warjri today assured 'justice' to members of the bereaved family of the woman whose head was blown away by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants in a remote village in South Garo Hills on Tuesday evening after she resisted their molestation and rape attempt.

The Home Minister also reviewed the security scenario in the entire Garo Hills region at Tura, the headquarters of Garo Hills division taking into consideration activities of the militant groups. "All efforts are being made to ensure that justice is delivered to members of the bereaved family especially to the father and children who are going through a tough time after the shootout in the premises of their home," Warjri told PTI.

She said the perpetrators will be brought to book sooner or later even as she informed that a heavy gun battle is going on between the security forces and the GNLA militants in neighbouring East Garo Hills. "We have reinforced our troops in areas considered as vulnerable to ensure that law and order is maintained," she said.

About 10 companies of central paramilitary forces were on their way to the western part of the state where GNLA and a host of at least four other militant groups are actively indulging themselves in criminal activities, she said. The Home Minister has also directed the district administration to provide necessary relief to the family especially the children who witnessed the assault, molestation and execution of their mother.

Meanwhile, gun battle with the GNLA militants is on in Durama Hills range across Simsang River in East Garo Hills. About 100 specially trained commandos of the state police and the CRPF's CoBRA have launched an attack in one of the camps of the outfit located about 20-km away from Williamnagar, the district headquarter, East Garo Hills SP Davies N Marak said.

He said there was no confirmation of any casualty on both sides even as intermittent firing is on till about 3pm. The camp have been located deep inside the jungle and is expected to house about 40-50 terrorists and is accessible only on foot with very less telecommunication connectivity, the SP said.

PTI