Tura, March 5: A handful of criminals led by a former militant who was aiming to revive the disbanded Garo outfit GNLA with a collection drive has been busted by Garo Hills police.
On February 7th, social media was filled with stories of a return to militancy in the Garo Hills after a post went viral announcing the revival and regrouping of the banned outfit which had ceased to exist after the killing of its founder leader Sohan D Shira in 2018.
The post was uploaded under the pseudonym Goera Panthora which also mentioned the GNLA headquarters as Tura
“After that release, on the 25th of February kharkutta police received a complain that some unknown persons are demanding funds for GNLA revival. The demand was made through a phone call. On receipt of the FIR, North Garo Hills Police swung into action and began investigation. During the probe we successfully managed to arrest 3 persons, including the kingpin who is a former militant,” informed Bruno A Sangma, North Garo Hills Superintendent of Police.
The ring leader arrested is Sengsan K Marak (40 years) who goes by the name of Kodarok. Hailing from Resubelpara Khardang area, he was a former cadre of the Garo outfit United A’chik Liberation Army.
The UALA was a notorious outfit once headed by one Singbirth alais Norrok X Momin who attacked the Williamnagar jail killing a jail warden.
It was also behind the execution of a group of villagers in Assam during Diwali celebrations. Norrok was ultimately killed in police encounter with Garo Hills police.
In the attempt to revive the GNLA, police have seized a mobile phone and sim card used in demanding extortion money.
Two other criminals who were part of the revival attempt have also been nabbed by North Garo Hills police.
One is 40 year old Tiljash Sangma, arrested from A.dokgre area. He is an associate of Sengsan K Marak and helped Sengsan in collection of funds.
Police have also seized his phone and sim card used in the crime.
Another is Suresh Sangma alias Pot (42 years) who was also arrested from A.dokgre.
He too is an associate of Sengsan K Marak and had assisted in collection of fund from a businessman and collection of phone numbers of potential victims. His phone too has been confiscated.
