Encounter still on between security forces and militants who killed Garo woman

An encounter is on between security forces and militants, who blew the head off a tribal woman on Tuesday after she resisted their attempts at molestation and rape in South Garo Hills district in Meghalaya, reports said on Thursday. 

The militants said they killed the woman as she was a police informer.

A group of four to five militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) toting assault rifles entered the house of the 35-year-old woman at the remote Raja Rongat village at around 6 pm on Tuesday, IGP (Operations), GHP Raju said on Wednesday. 

She was first assaulted and molested, police said adding when she resisted, they shot her with automatic assault rifles from point blank range blowing her head in almost two pieces. 

The Home Ministry on Wednesday rushed nearly 1,000 paramilitary personnel to Meghalaya in the wake of killing of a woman who resisted attempts by militants belonging to GNLA. 

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said five companies of BSF and five companies of CRPF have been sent to Meghalaya to assist the state government in maintaining law and order. 

Also read: Centre asks Meghalaya government to nab militants who raped and killed woman

Taking strong exception to the killing of a woman who resisted attempt to rape by militants in Meghalaya, the Centre on Wednesday sought a report from the state government and asked it to punish those involved in the crime.

"I have spoken to the Chief Minister and have asked to identify the culprits and ensure that strict punishment is given to them," Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told reporters in New Delhi. He said PA Sangma-led National People's Party has submitted a memorandum to him alleging that the law and order machinery in Meghalaya has completely failed and the central government should intervene. "We are looking into it," he said.

The Home Ministry has also sought a report from the state government about the incident in which the woman was killed by militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).

The 35-year-old tribal Garo woman's head was blown to pieces when she resisted an alleged molestation and rape attempt in South Garo Hills district. She was at home with her husband and five children when four to five armed militants of GNLA entered their house around 6 PM on Tuesday. They locked up her husband and five children inside the house and pulled out the woman, police said.

She was first assaulted and molested. When she resisted, they shot her with automatic assault rifles from point blank range blowing her head in almost two pieces.