Meghalaya: LAEF behind twin grenade explosions

Shillong, June 23 (UNI): The rebels of Liberation of A'chik Elite Force (LAEF) were behind the last night twin grenade explosions in Tura and Nangalbibra, Meghalaya police today said.

"Our preliminary investigation confirms that LAEF was behind the twin grenade blasts in Garo Hills,'' Deputy Inspector General of Police Western Range, F D Sangma told UNI here over the phone from Garo Hills.

The two simultaneous explosions occurred at Tura, the district headquarters of West Garo Hills district and the coal-rich belt of Nangalbibra in South Garo Hills late last night killed one person and injured 11 others.

The grenades have been identified as powerful 36 HE hand grenade mainly used by NSCN-IM militants.

"We have got leads and we are already on the job to crackdown those militants involved in the blasts," Mr Sangma said.

Security has been tightened in all sensitive regions of the Garo Hills and more deployment of police forces have been undertaken to prevent further untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister D D Lapang, NCP leader P A Sangma and several Garo Hills-based NGOs, including the banned A'chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) condemned the twin explosions.

Chief Minister DD Lapang termed it a ''cowardice act of targeting the innocent people''.

''Instead of attacking the innocent people, they should air their grievances to the government,'' Mr Lapang said. He also assured compensation to the family members of the blast victims.

Tura MP and NCP general secretary PA Sangma who reached New Delhi on late last night returned to Tura today and demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the blast.

The proscribed ANVC which entered into a tripartite cease-fire agreement with the Union and Meghalaya Governments also condemned the grenade attack at Tura Super Market and assured to try to find out the culprits.

The LAEF, a tribal Garo militant outfit, formed on August 19, 2003 to fight for an ''independent Garo state or A'chik state'' in Meghalaya. The nascent militant, headed by a former Meghalaya Police Constable, Peter Marak has suspected linkages with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).

UNI