File Picture (Picture Courtesy: The North East Today

February 24, 2018: In a major-breakthrough, Sohan D. Shira - Commander-in-Chief of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has been killed by security forces during an encounter on Saturday in Meghalaya.

Reportedly, Shira was killed by a SWAT team of Meghalaya police at Dobu in East Garo Hills, Meghalaya at around 11.50 am.

Security forces had been on a look out for Shira since the killing of NCP candidate from Williamnagar Jonathone N Sangma and three others on February 19. The dreaded militants triggered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) that killed the young candidate and his companions.

It maybe stated that the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was formed in 2009 by a former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Meghalaya, Pakchara R. Sangma alias Champion R. Sangma, after deserting the Police Force with the objective of fighting for a 'sovereign Garoland' in the Western areas of Meghalaya. Since its formation, the GNLA has been involved in killing, abduction, extortion, bomb blasts and attacks on Security Forces (SFs). The law and order situation in the Garo-dominated areas has deteriorated after the outfit was formed.

Further details awaited.