SHILLONG, MAY 9: In another blow to the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), the outfit finance secretary along with 13 top leaders and cadres laid down arms before the state police on Monday.
This is the second biggest surrenders after 16 cadres of the GNLA and ULFA decided to quit the militant outfit and abjure violence to join the mainstream last week.
The militants led by finance secretary of the GNLA Belding Ch Marak alias Rakkam and Area Commander of Chokpot area, Mathew Ch Marak alias Sacheng surrendered before the home minister Roshan Warjri at a ceremony held on Monday at the police headquarters.
They also deposited huge cache of arms and ammunition besides documents and ID cards.
Speaking to reporters, Warjri expressed her happiness over the surrender of the GNLA militants even as she lauded the efforts taken up by church and ngos leaders.
“We are hopeful that this will sent a strong message to the others,” she said while announcing that the anti-insurgency operation will continue in the region.
Stating that the government is open for talks, the home minister however said, “But this will be on condition that they (militants) give up violence and criminal activities.”
Terming the surrendering as ‘critical’ one, state Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Mehta said, “The surrender of the finance secretary will have an adverse impact on the functioning of the GNLA.”
He said Rakkam has been the main key person to distribute money for sustaining the cadres.
Mehta also said that this is another big surrender by the militants of the banned outfit especially with the coming forward of cadres from Chokpot, which is considered to be the hotbed of militancy.
“It is good sign that cadres from Chokpot which has been quite a headache for us have surrendered,” he said while extending his appreciation to important role played by church leaders and ngos.
Expressing hope of more surrenders in the coming days, Mehta said, “The quicker the GNLA realise the need to return to mainstream, the better it will be for the Garo hills as a whole. We therefore, advise them to come over ground and abjure the path of violence.”
When asked, the DGP confirmed that the GNLA commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira is still hiding in Garo hills and operation to nab him will be intensified.
The top cadres who surrendered are– Deputy Area Commander Sengrak M Sangma @ Ranggam, Dy Area Commander of Nongal area, Sengkai Ch Marak @ Kongal and Lance Corporal Finance Command, Sengpan M Sangma @ Timtam.
The other cadres are Tingku D Sangma @ Gona, Salnang S Marak @ Gando, Minnin B Marak @ Chanang, Okchie Ch Marak @ Tojrang, Jangam T Sangma @ Challangpa, Sempil Ch Momin @ Saljepa, Clever Ch Marak @ Dompa, Walmen B Marak @ Tom and Poth S Sangma @ Daria.
The arms deposited by them include one HK Rifle, one AK 56, six pistols, one AK 66, two AK 56 and communication sets.
Interestingly during an interaction with media, the finance secretary of the outfit has outrightly rejected of having any knowledge about the annual income and source of arms supply to the outfit.
Rakkam claimed that he is the finance secretary of the outfit just in name as everything is being controlled by Sohan.
When asked whether they are willing to help police nab Sohan, he however said they cannot help as they do not know where the self-styled leader is hiding and they have not been in contact with him for past two months.-By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours