In a case of mistaken identity, two civilians were gunned down by the Army at a remote location near Kharkuta area in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district on Wednesday night, a Defence spokesman said on Thursday.
The Army also said that a probe had already been ordered to ascertain as to what led to the killing of the civilians in the area. The development took place at time when the people in Meghalaya, particularly in Garo Hills region of the Hilly State, have been debating over the enforcement of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in to curb militancy.
“Two individuals got killed in firing by Indian Army personnel carrying out counter-terrorism operations in the Kharkuta area and the incident primarily occurred due to non-adherence to existing security instructions by the concerned civilians,” said a Defence spokesman based in Guwahati.
He said that the Army troops were actively dominating the Kharkuta area on Wednesday. On specific information that two Garo National liberation Army (GNlA) militants might try to move, the troops established a Mobile Vehicle Check Post at approximately 8.30 pm along the road from Kharkuta to Khilor.
“At approximately 8.40 pm, a motorcycle came and abnormally accelerated their bike and tried to escape when forces signaled them to stop. It was dark and due to the huge back blast and flash which came out of the silencer, it seemed that the motorcyclists had opened fire in retaliation killing the two motorcyclists instantly,” said the Defence spokesman.
The deceased were identified as Sweetbirth D Marak (30) and Alphius Momin (35), a teacher hailing from Rajasimla area.
On November 3 this year, the Meghalaya High Court has asked the Centre to enforce the AFSPA in Garo Hills region of the State considering the deteriorating law and order scenario.
According to the official statistics, the insurgents in Garo Hills have abducted a total of 87 people — including 25 civilians, 27 businessmen, 25 employees of private Sector, five Government employees and five teachers — for ransom between January and October this year.