Shillong, Oct 5 (MExn): Five suspected NSCN (IM) cadres were gunned down this morning by the Special Operation Team (SOT), Meghalaya Police at Mawlyngad village near Sohryngkham, East Khasi Hills district.
According to Meghalaya Police, the incident occurred at around 6 am this morning, when the Police, acting on an intelligence input, intercepted the heavily armed militants proceeding to an ‘unknown destination’ in two separate vehicles.
The police intercepted the militants at Mawlyngad village in Sohryngkham, a few kilometers away from Shillong.
On being confronted, the militants suddenly opened fire on the Police team who retaliated the firing killing five, while about three cadres managed to escape, said the Police.
Police recovered from the militants’ possession one AK-47 rifle, five Chinese grenades and one pistol. The Police also seized one of the vehicles (Tata Mobile jeep) in which the group of suspected militants were traveling in. A massive manhunt is on to nab the remaining militants who reportedly escaped.
Denying the police statement, a highly placed source who had gone to examine the bodies told The Morung Express that the manner in which the bodies of the suspected NSCN (IM) cadres were lying indicated that they had been arrested, tortured and then beaten to death after which bullets were pumped into their bodies. “Their heads were battered and their intestines were lying on the ground. Their eyes were gouged out,” the source said. Moreover, the ambushed vehicle bore no bullet marks, he added. The deceased have been identified as Chuba Ao, Nixon Shimray, Imsang Zeliang, Victor Hmar and Martin.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Phungthing Shimrang, Convenor of the Ceasefire Monitoring Board, NSCN (IM) confirmed that Chuba, Imsang and Martin were NSCN cadres, while Nixon and Victor were civilians and worked as driver and handyman respectively. (inputs from NNN )
