TURA, OCT 29: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) on Thursday warned that if the government does not stop counter insurgency operations against them the abducted Block Development Officer (BDO) Jude Rangku T Sangma will be executed.
“If the government doesn’t stop and withdraw the operations against us and others within the Garo hills region immediately within this week, then we will be compelled to shoot the Meghalaya state government official who is still in our custody”, warned Garo Mandei Marak, outfit’s joint publicity secretary in a release.
In the wake of the BDO’s abduction, the police have launched a massive operation in Chokpot area of South Garo hills, which is a hotbed of insurgency. The outfit demanded the government to halt operation across Garo hills.
“If operation against militants are not put to an end, we will kill the officer and his body might never be found again even for a proper burial”, the outfit threatened in the release.
The outfit said that they are not just giving a mere threat. “This is not just a threaten but we won’t hesitate to shoot him (BDO) if the operation is not stopped”, the release added.
The outfit also disowned two rebels, who were gunned down at Goalpara
in Assam two days ago, police claimed that the two who were gunned down were GNLA rebels. “They are not members of our outfit. Our cadres carry GNLA identification card”, the release said.
The GNLA has raised its ugly head after months of silence. Their activities were on halt after the killing of its senior cadre Savio Marak, who was gun downed in an encounter in East Garo hills on August last.
Jude is the third BDO in Garo hills, who has been held captive by the rebel outfit in the past four years.
The outfit claimed that Jude had told the chief minister that Rs 40 crore, meant for blacktopping of Chokpot road, was taken away by the outfit and the situation was not conducive to initiate development works.
Yesterday the outfit denied taking any money from the BDO. “We have abducted him to find out why he lied to the chief minister”, the release said.
Chokpot is about 60km from Tura in West Garo Hills and about 90km from Baghmara, the district headquarters of South Garo Hills.
The BDO was waylaid at Deku Deganggre at gunpoint while he, along with two others, was en route to Tura in a government vehicle on Tuesday between 6.30pm and 7pm.
The intensified police operation is still on in the area. “We are yet to locate his whereabouts”, said police sources.
Police claimed that the outfit’s western range commander Hedio C Momin, who hails from Chokpot area, abducted the official.
The BDO is a 2010 Meghalaya Civil Service batch cadre and had been posted in Chokpot for the past two years. Police claimed that the BDO had received several threats and extortion demand by the GNLA.
Silent rally: The district administration and public at Baghmara in South Garo hills today led a silent procession to seek unconditional release of the abducted official. They have appealed to the militant to release the official unharmed in the interest and welfare of Garo hills.
A conglomeration of civil bodies comprising Garo Students Union, Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People, Association for Democracy and Empowerment also appealed to the militants for the officials’ safe and early release.
“We appeal to the militants not to disturb the overall wellbeing of the society so that the peace and tranquility should be maintained in the South Garo Hills region”, a joint appeal by civil societies said.-From Our Correspondent
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