The three persons who claimed to be the leader of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) on Sunday surrendered before the West Garo Hills police.
In a press statement, Police said, based on the information, an investigation was initiated and it was learnt that three persons named below were involved in the alleged GNLA regrouping.
Namchang Ch Momin @ Jingjang D Shira (22) ,son of Late Pardinend Marak, a resident of Village – Darangagre, PS – Dalu, West Garo Hills. Adot M Sangma (26), son of Ritson M Marak, r/o Village – Ganipara, PS, Dalu, and Silwit R Marak (26) son of Clement Marak, r/o Village – Nalnapara, PS, Dalu.
“Accordingly, a counter-insurgency operation was launched and while the police team was on the way to Darangagre village, an information as received from Kherapara OP that all above named persons have surrendered at the outpost. The team then returned to Kherapara OP and interviewed all the three persons,” Police said.
Subsequently, a house search was conducted at the residence of Namchang Ch Momin @ Jingjang D Shira and several incriminating materials like camouflage uniform, boots etc. were recovered and duly seized.
All three above named persons were arrested.
“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,” SP, West Garo Hills V. S. Rathore said in a statement issued on Sunday
“It is suspected that some more persons might have been involved in the act and investigation is underway to unearth the whole conspiracy,” he added.
It may be mentioned that we from the Meghalaya News 24 on Friday evening has received an whatsapp message from an unknown number claiming that one Jingjang D. Shira, was the new Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) Chief Executive Director and 500 numbers of GNLAs are being trained in Rengdim in West Khasi Hills bordering East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts of Meghalaya.
In the whatsapp message they also shared one photograph below 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.
However, the prompt action by the police has foiled any such attempt. Meghalaya Police is making all possible efforts to thwart any attempt of militants regrouping.
The West Garo Hills SP, further said, “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,” Rathore said.
“Militancy has been controlled with lot of sacrifice and any effort to destroy this hard-earned peace shall be countered as per law. All such efforts shall be nipped in the bud,” police added.
