Tura, March 10: Four police personnel were killed today allegedly in an ambush by the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) at Panda reserve forest near Rongara in Meghalaya's South Garo Hills.

The rebels also snatched away arms from the security personnel.

Rongara is about 15km from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills.

The policemen were travelling in a Maruti Gypsy when the militants ambushed them around 10.30am. About 30 cadres had waylaid the police vehicle. They had planted an IED, which did not explode.

Sub-inspector Sombatsing K. Sangma, 33, constables Lenin Ch. Marak, 31, Tangseng Arengh, 29, and Hemingstone Marak, 28, were killed. Two other police personnel, Arpon Marak, 33, and Baiti Sangma, 31, of the 3rd Meghalaya police battalion, were injured.

Meghalaya police have pressed an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter to evacuate the injured. One of the injured, Baiti Sangma, has been airlifted for medical treatment at the North East Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Medical Science, Shillong. He has sustained bullet injuries on his shoulder and legs.

'We have launched a massive combing operation in the area to catch the militants,' said an official.

Meghalaya DGP Rajiv Mehta has rushed to the spot to assess the situation.

The police team was on its way to Baghmara from Rongara police station when the incident took place. The militants fired at the police from a hilltop, when the Gypsy was negotiating a turn.

Sub-inspector Sombatsing was seated next to driver Tangseng, who faced the brunt of the attack and died on the spot. The four constables, who were seated behind, had no chance to retaliate as the militants continued to fire for about 15 minutes.

Lenin and Hemingstone were killed while trying to resist the attack. Battalion constable Baiti managed to escape despite being hit. Constable Arpon jumped out of the vehicle and escaped without any bullet injuries.

After the firing, the militants approached the wrecked vehicle and left with an AK rifle, two Insas rifles, a 9mm pistol and ammunition belonging to the policemen. However, they failed to take away two other Insas rifles, belonging to the surviving policeman, in haste. The survivors took shelter in the forest until rescue teams arrived.

The police claimed that the ambush is the handiwork of the GNLA. The outfit is yet to take responsibility.

In several militant ambushes last year, over eight police personnel were killed. In the last five years, over 1,000 cases of crime against militants have been registered in the state, including 230 last year.

'They were waiting specifically for the vehicle to arrive and when it did they immediately began firing. Most of the policemen were injured in the first round of firing. An IED was also placed on the road, however, it did not explode. Our boys retaliated to the militants' gunfire and two of them survived,' said Lakador Syiem, superintendent of police, South Garo Hills.

'The attack was led by commander-in-chief Sohan D. Shira. It was a cold-blooded murder as the cadres, after the first round of attack, went to the vehicle and shot the policemen to death. Some of them were shot in the face, though they were only injured,' Syiem said.

Reacting to the incident, the state's political department said the government would pay an ex gratia of Rs 7.5 lakh each to the victims while Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 would be given to the seriously injured and the other injured, respectively.

'The government expresses its deep anguish at the unfortunate incident and deep gratitude to the brave soldiers of Meghalaya police who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the state. The government also conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved families,' a communiqué from the political department said.

Tura Lok Sabha MP P.A. Sangma condemned the attack and killing of the police personnel.

'The law and order situation in Meghalaya, particularly in Garo hills, has deteriorated to such an extent that even the villagers have taken the law into their own hands and the government has completely failed to maintain peace. The recent settlement with certain sections of the insurgent group to bring back peace has not shown any positive result, as evident in the recent attacks,' the MP said.

He also appealed to church leaders and right-thinking citizens to play a proactive role to bring peace in Garo hills.