SHILLONG, JUNE 6: In setback to the GNLA because of anti-insurgent operations, two of its top leaders and a cadre surrendered along with huge cache of arms on Saturday before the Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP)Rajiv Mehta in the police headquarter .
The three militants said they surrendered because the outfit ‘lacked ideology’.
The two GNLA area commanders who surrendered are Gabriel D Shira alias Darwin and Walsrang Ch Sangma alias Dalton along with a cadre identified as Sembath D Shira alias Tutim.
“Three GNLA cadres have surrendered today out of which two are important and senior members and one is a normal cadre,” Mehta told newsmen.
While Darwin was in-charge of West Khasi Hills, Dalton was looking after the outfit’s operation in Dadenggre area in West Garo Hills District.
Both belong to the 2010 batch of the GNLA and they are from Williamnagar, East Garo Hills District.
Tutim, who hails from Zik Zak, Paglapara in South West Garo Hills District had joined the GNLA in 2012.
One AK rifle with 40 rounds ammunition, carbine with 75 rounds of ammunition, 3 AK ammunition, one carbine with 7 rounds ammunition, pistol with 7 rounds were deposited by the GNLA cadres before the police besides 4 mobile handsets with SIM cards and money receipts.
Welcoming the surrendered cadres, Mehta said, “For me personally and Meghalaya police, it is extremely important that cadres of the GNLA are shunning violence and coming back to mainstream.”
Stating that having peace, tranquility and prosperity is what everybody aims, he said, “If more and more can come, if they can see logic and reasons and can shun violence and come to the mainstream, it is the best for all the people of the state.”
Refusing to claim the victory over the surrendering of the cadres, he said, “For us (police) it is not a trial. It’s not a question of victory for Meghalaya police but simply we are happy that people of the state are shunning violence especially by those who have gone astray.”
Mehta further appealed to all GNLA cadres and other such organizations which have taken up arms and are indulging in violence to abstain from violence and come to the mainstream.
In addition to this, additional DGP SK Jain said, “They (cadres) have come on their own may be due to the operations or their own problems within the organization or some inspiration have led them to surrender before the authority.”
Terming the achievement as a major setback to the GNLA, Jain said, “Their coming over ground is the result of the anti-insurgent operations launched by the Meghalaya police in Garo Hills region.”
He also informed that intelligence inputs clearly indicated that when some organizations came to know that some of these are likely to surrender very soon, they made overture to them to sell their weapons and offered them money.
“But they decided to come with weapons rather making some quick money before deserting their organization,” Jain said.
Speaking to reporters, all the three surrendered cadres said that the reason behind their decision to give up arms is because of the outfit’s lack of ideology.
Alleging lack of accountability in the outfit, Darwin and Dalton said, “Whatever money they have collected from extortion and demand notes, goes to the higher ups and there was not a single general meeting called.”
They also said their joining the outfit was not based on voluntary decision but rather was forced by senior cadres of the GNLA.
The GNLA which has been banned for its unlawful activities in the Garo Hills region bore the brunt of counter insurgency operation of the police codenamed Hill Storm operation.
Launched in the first week of July last year, police claimed that Operation Hill Storm is giving results with many camps of the GNLA busted in the jungle besides several cadres getting arrested and surrendered.- By Our Reporter
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