One killed,11 injured in triple blasts in Meghalaya

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

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

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

In Tura, he said mechanic Sapan Borai died of shock from the incident and eight others were injured in the blast. Similarly in Nangalbibra, three persons sustained injuries.

He, however, said that there was no report of any injuries of the blast in Mendipathar.

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 explosions.

The Chief Minister termed it as 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 P A Sangma, who reached New Delhi 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, was formed on August 19, 2003 to fight for an ''independent Garo state or A'chik state'' in Meghalaya. The outfit, headed by former Meghalaya police constable Peter Marak has suspected linkages with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM).

UNI