Blast in Meghalaya

"Jimmy, area commander of GNLA, is suspected to be behind this," Marak said. The GNLA had threatened to carry out retaliatory attacks against security forces after one of their top commanders was gunned down.

Sohan D. Shira, military wing chief of GNLA, threatened retaliation.

"If our GNLA cadres are killed in this way, then from now onwards all those people (security forces) travelling in vehicles will also meet the same fate. This will happen very shortly," Shira had said.

The GNLA, one of five Garo rebel groups fighting for a separate "Garoland" in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma. Sangma is presently lodged in Shillong jail after being arrested from the India-Bangladesh border last year.

Over 40 people, including security personnel, have been killed, and more than 10 people were abducted for ransom by GNLA in the last three years.