SHILLONG, APR 15: Shillong police arrested three militants belonging to the banned Garo militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) from the heart of the city on Tuesday. The arrests were made after the police got intelligence inputs about their movement in the city.
One of the militants is the self-styled personal security officer (PSO) of the GNLA’s area commander Phili Bot.
The three have been identified as Rajesh M Marak of Chokpot, South Garo Hills, who is also the self-styled PSO, Herison K Sangma from Mandagabil, North Garo Hills and Mital M Marak of Ringku, East Khasi Hills District. They had joined the outfit since 2010.
The three have been remanded to 14 days police custody by a city court.
Briefing the media, East Khasi Hills SP M Kharkrang said, “The arrest was made after an intensive surveillance launched based on intelligence inputs that a group of GNLA cadres had come to the city for refuge.”
The three were arrested by the police from a hired Bolero from Iew Mawlong parking lot while they were planning to head for Ringku, a village along the international Indo-Bangla border in East Khasi hills district.
Though the militants had not taken any arms with them, police however seized cash amounting to Rs 28, 790, black squad uniforms and mobile sets (which had pictures of the arrested persons armed with automatic weapons) along with huge number of SIM cards from their possession.
According to Kharkhrang, the black action squad uniforms were meant to be used during extortion and other criminal activities.
Police have also taken serious note of the number of SIM cards being sold in the black market without valid documents.
“We are going to trace down such mobile retailers who are engage in supplying SIM cards without valid documents because there are also liable for legal action,” SP (City) Vivek Syiem added.
Syiem said during the preliminary interrogation the militants claimed they had come to the city to visit their relatives. But he said that their main motive for coming to Shillong was nothing but to take refuge because of the ongoing ianti-insurgent operations being carried out by the Meghalaya police in different parts of the five districts of Garo Hills region.
Kharkrang said that the militants are using Shillong not only to take refuge but also as a facilitation centre for many militants for making arms deals.
Kharkhrang, however, said the police are firm to ensure that militant cannot use Shillong either as a safe heaven or as facilitation centre for arms deal.- By Our Reporter
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