North East Police: Two cops killed in encounter gaffe

Shillong, July 3 (PTI) Two policemen were killed in
shoot-out between two security teams after one mistook the
other to be a group of militants in Meghalaya's East Garo
Hills district today.
Two teams of around ten policemen each were entrusted
an operation at Dorengkigre near the district headquarter town
of Williamnagar where, according to an input, some militants
of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) were hiding, a
senior police official told PTI.
"One team reached the area ahead of the other. When
the second team reached the place, it mistook the first one to
be a group of militants and fired at them. A brief exchange of
fire took place in which two personnel were killed," the
official said.
The incident happened between 6.30 am and 7 am. The
deceased personnel have been identified as Havildar Gopal
Prasad Nunia and constable Martin Marak - both from the
Meghalaya Police 1st Battalion.
The official said the area was thickly forested which
might have caused the mistaken identity.
After the embarassment, Meghalaya Police has ordered a
probe into the incident.
State Home Minister H D R Lyngdoh described the
incident as an "accident".
"We have asked for a report. An inquuiry will be
done," he said. PTI RTJ