TURA,JULY 9: The most wanted Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militant Savio Marak was killed in an early morning encounter on Thursday in Meghalaya’s East Garo hills. Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos of Meghalaya police led the counter insurgency operation at Rengregre village, near Williamnagar to hunt down Savio alias Daroka at 4:30 am.
The operation at the Durama range began yesterday night based on intelligence inputs that Savio and his team were taking shelter in a makeshift camp.
In an exchange of bullets between GNLA and SWAT commandos Savio was gun downed. At least six GNLA cadres were present in the camp. However, taking advantage of the thick forest, the rebels managed to escape.
Savio was the key man in the GNLA rank and file who was in touch with media to give out official statement from the outfit.
A former battalion constable with Meghalaya police, Savio from Bolkingre village, near Williamnagar had joined the outfit in 2011. He left the police while on law and order duty at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills during Garo – Rabha ethnic conflict.
“He (Savio) came under sinister influence of Rupanto Marak, who is his uncle and the deputy commander-in-chief of GNLA. He deserted Meghalaya police and ran away with the official INSAS rifle issued to him”, said GHP Raju, Inspector General of Police (operation), who lauded East Garo Hills police for the operation.
Across several police stations in Garo hills, over dozen criminal cases had been lodged against Savio. In October 31, 2011, he had killed four police personnel at Dobu in East Garo Hills. In 2012, he had killed village head of Daribokgre in West Garo Hills in broad day light.
“In 2013, Savio’s wife had asked him to surrender and he had contacted the police. However, his sister, mother and aunty forced him to continue with GNLA for fear of retaliation from Sohan D Shira. Since then he never contacted senior police officials”, informed Raju.
Sohan is commander-in-chief of the outfit and is leading GNLA in absence of its chairman, a former deputy superintendent of police Champion Sangma lodged in Shillong jail.
Between 2012 and 2013, Savio managed to escape from three such operations in West Garo Hills at Dadenggre, Sakalgre and Baladingre. “He was last spotted by police at Daribokgre village in 2012. All his cadres were arrested and some got killed over the years in different encounter at Dollongre and Gambegre village”, informed a senior police official.
“His command lasted for about one year in West Garo Hills. In 2013, a lot of people in the district were served with extortion notes by Savio and his team”, the official informed. The top five GNLA, who are at large are – Rupanto Marak, Baichung, Hedio, Piliport and Sohan Shira.
“The killing of Savio is a big achievement for the Meghalaya police”, the official added.-From Our Correspondent
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