Shillong, Dec. 24: The BSF has launched a joint operation along with Meghalaya police to curb movement of HNLC militants along the Indo-Bangla border.

The paramilitary force’s move came in the wake of inputs that the militants, who killed a coal exporter yesterday, had come from Bangladesh and fled to the neighbouring country after committing the crime.

Coal baron Raja Khongsit was killed while his wife injured at their residence at Pomshutia village in East Khasi Hills along the border after HNLC militants fired at them yesterday morning.

BSF public relations officer Ravi Gandhi told The Telegraph today that the force was co-ordinating with the police to track the movement of the militants.

“We have launched joint operations to trace the militants and also to prevent them from sneaking into Meghalaya in future for subversive activities,” he said.

The police said they had inputs that the militants, after committing the crime, did not stay in any of the Meghalaya villages, but trekked back to Bangladesh, fearing action.

Pomshutia is adjacent to many border villages in and around Dawki.

What has surprised the BSF is that the militants managed to sneak into the Meghalaya villages from Bangladesh a few days ago despite the presence of a patrolling party along the international border. To make matters worse, the border force could not prevent the militants from escaping to Bangladesh.

A BSF official said there were limitations on the part of the force, as the local people do not co-operate with them whenever they notice the movement of the militants.