Operation Rhino-2 against ULFA in Meghalaya

Shillong, Jan 12 (UNI) The army, along with Meghalaya police have intensified their joint operation 'Rhino-2' against the ULFA elements in the state, sources said here today.

The Centre had directed the state government to allow the army to enter five kilometers inside the state to flush out ULFA cadres in view of the recent Asom carnage, in which 66 Hindi-speaking migrants were killed by the banned out fit.

The operations have been launched in state' s East and West Garo Hills districts bordering Asom, official sources said.

Security had been beefed up at the entry points between Asom and Meghalaya to detect ULFA cadres sneaking into the state following the ongoing massive combing operations in Asom.

''The operations are going on in full-swing but so far we are yet to make a breakthrough,'' state's Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge Western Range F D Sangma told UNI over phone from Tura here today.

The Union home ministry had directed the BSF to keep an extra-vigil to check the movement of people along the Indo-Bangla border.

The ULFA had been using state's Garo Hills districts as their 'safe sanctuary' to escape from the security forces dragnets and as their 'transit route' to Bangladesh.

West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills share borders with Asom and Bangladesh.

Last year, the state police busted an ULFA hideout at Masuk in West Garo Hills district.

Mr Sangma said they are taking no chances and have put their forces on high alert across the state to prevent sneaking of ULFA militants into and outside state.

Earlier, the state police along with the army arrested and killed several ULFA cadres including its senior leaders in Garo Hills.

UNI