An election candidate has been killed along with three other people after a landmine explosion occurred in India’s north-eastern state of Meghalaya, police said on Monday.
The attack happened on Sunday night at an area in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills district where four militant groups are seeking independence.
The candidate for the Nationalist Congress Party from the William Nagar assembly constituency, Jonathone Sangma, was killed along with his driver and two police, reports Reuters citing police.
“The vehicle in which Sangma was travelling bore the maximum impact of the explosion. Everyone in the car died on the spot,” said Ringrang Momin, a senior state police officer.
Police officials said there were four active militant groups in the area demanding secession from India for tens of thousands of Garo tribals living in the state bordering Bangladesh.
“This is the handiwork of the militant groups... We have yet to identify the outfit involved in the landmine explosion,” Momin said.
Elections for the 60-member house in Meghalaya state are scheduled for Feb 27.
