Meghalaya’s Most-Wanted Militant Gunned Down by Security Forces

The encounter comes less than a week after NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma was killed by militants.

The commander-in-chief of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Sohan D Shira, was reportedly killed by the security forces on Saturday, 24 February in an encounter at the East Garo Hills of Meghalaya.

Heading the GNLA, a proscribed militant outfit active in the Meghalaya's South and East Garo Hills district, Shira had been dubbed as the most-wanted terrorist in the poll-bound state.

The encounter comes less than a week after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathone N Sangma was killed after militants attacked his convoy in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district.

Sangma's security officer and two party workers also died in the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack.

The 43-year-old NCP candidate was returning after campaigning and was on his way to Williamnagar, his Assembly constituency, when the convoy came under attack, police told PTI.

The Garo National Liberation Army, a proscribed militant outfit active in the state's South and East Garo Hills district, was campaigning against Jonathone, PTI reported.

Assembly elections for the 60-member House in Meghalaya are slated to be held on 27 February.

(With inputs from PTI)

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