Summary Militants in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya shot dead five coal miners.
GUWAHATI (AFP) - Militants in India s northeastern state of Meghalaya shot dead five coal miners after the owners of the mine failed to pay extortion money, police said Tuesday.
The outlawed United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) killed the miners Monday night in the South Garo Hills district, 500 kilometres (300 miles) from state capital Shillong.
"The militants armed with automatic weapons lined up the miners and fired indiscriminately, killing five on the spot," Davies R. Marak, police chief of South Garo Hills, told AFP by telephone.
"We believe the attack was aimed at creating fear and extorting money in the coalbelt area of the Garo Hills," the police chief said.
The UALA is a little-known militant group with no clear ideology and is mainly active in the coal mining belt of the state.
Coal mine accidents and demands for extortion are common in the state because the government has little control over the privately-owned mines.
