GNLA commander in chief Sohan D Shira was shot dead in an encounter by police in East Garo Hills.
Garo Hills police killed the most wanted rebel in an encounter which lasted for hours. The self-proclaimed commander-in-chief of the Garo National Liberation Army or GNLA was involved in several attacks on security forces and civilians as well.
Sohan was shot dead at around 11:50 am at Dobu A'chakpek during an encounter with a joint team of the Garo Hills Police and Meghalaya's Special Force-10 commandos.
Police said the security forces had intensified anti-terrorism operations in the Garo Hills, 320 kilometres from state capital Shillong, after the killing of Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone N Sangma on Sunday last.
Sangma, his personal security officer and two party workers were killed in an explosion at East Garo Hills when their convoy was returning from a campaign.
GNLA was formed in 2010 by a senior police officer Pakchara R. Sangma who deserted the state police to launch the outfit, originally to fight for carving out a 'sovereign Garoland' in western areas of Meghalaya. Since then, it has been blamed for large number of killings, abduction, extortion, bomb blasts and attacks on security forces.