Shillong, July 29 (IANS) The Garo National Liberation Army Friday claimed responsibility for Thursday night’s grenade explosion in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district.
No one was injured in the blast.
Champion R.Sangma, a former Meghalaya police officer-turned GNLA chief, warned the state government of launching such attacks to pressurise the government to withdraw central forces from its turf in the Garo Hills region.
‘Our attack (grenade) was to send a message to the government to withdraw the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action and Border Security Force from Garo Hills,’ Sangma said.
However, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh made light of the threats.
‘There is no question of withdrawing the troops or suspending our combing operation against them. Instead, we will intensify our operations,’ Lyngdoh said.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign ‘Garoland’.
