Eight shot dead in Meghalaya

Shillong, June 24: Unidentified men gunned down eight coal miners and injured three others in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, police said today.

"The incident occurred on Sunday at around 11 p.m. in Garegiitim coal mines area in the district," Davies R Marak, district police chief of South Garo Hills, said.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the killing. It is, however, suspected that the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA), a faction of the Achik National Volunteer Council-B faction, led by Norrok Momin may be involved in the killings.

"We are yet to verify the people behind the attack," Marak said. Security forces have been sent to the area.

Meanwhile, investigations are on. "We are investigating the locals and trying to find out eye-witnesses of the incident. The motif of the murders too is not clear," said police. Police suspects that the random killing was due to the non-payment of extortion money. Post mortem is being conducted on the bodies, post which they would be handed over to their families.

IANS