Tura, May 28: Meghalaya Police has successfully neutralised the purported attempt to resuscitate the dreaded Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in Garo Hills. Police said the attempt by few people was nothing more than an attempt to create a fear psychosis in general public to extort money from businessmen.
The West Garo Hills Police launched a counter-insurgency operation soon after media reports claimed that GNLA had sent a WhatsApp message claiming one Jingjang D. Shira was the new GNLA Chief Executive Director and 500 cadres of GNLAs were being trained in Rengdim in West Khasi Hills bordering East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya. The message also shared one photograph and the person claiming to be Jingjang D. Shira said that the one who is wearing a green towel in the photo is Nengsrang Sangma, New GNLA secretary and Second In-Charge. The one who is wearing camouflage, covered with black scarf is Jingjang D. Shira, the Chief Executive Director of GNLA.
Based on the reports, police launched an investigation and quickly learnt that the three persons identified as Namchang Ch Momin alias Jingjang D Shira, 22 yrs, of Darangagre village, Adot M Sangma, 26 yrs, of Ganipara village, and Silwit R Marak, 26 yrs, of Nalnapara village, all under the jurisdiction of Dalu Police Station in West Garo Hills, were involved in the alleged GNLA regrouping.
Subsequently, a counter-insurgency operation was launched and while the police team was on the way to Darangagre village, an information as received from Kherapara out Post that all above named persons have surrendered at the outpost. The team then returned to Kherapara OP and interviewed all the three persons.
Subsequently, a house search was conducted at the residence of Namchang Ch Momin alias Jingjang D Shira and several incriminating materials like camouflage uniform, boots etc. were recovered and duly seized. All three above named persons were arrested, a press statement from Police said.
“It has also been ascertained and there is no GNLA regrouping effort as such and the three persons allegedly committed the act to create a fear psychosis in general public to extort money from businessmen etc. It is suspected that some more persons might have been involved in the act and investigation is underway to unearth the whole conspiracy,” informed V. S. Rathore, Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills.
He assured that Meghalaya Police is making all possible efforts to thwart any attempt of militants regrouping. “We appeal to members of general public that if any person receives any information related to militancy, it should be informed to the local police station immediately. We will act on all such information and suitably reward the person giving information without disclosing his/her identity,” he said.
He further asserted that militancy has been controlled with lot of sacrifice and any effort to destroy this hard-earned peace shall be countered as per law, and all such efforts shall be nipped in the bud.
