TURA: Reports about the dramatic detention of militant leader of GNLA group and former DSP Champion R Sangma alias Pakchara by Bangladeshi authorities that percolated from across the border appears to have been false with Indian security agencies, which initially ran the story, failing to substantiate it even as the militant group remained mum refusing to either accept or deny it.
Both central and state security agencies went into overdrive on Monday over preliminary reports that a man having the description of GNLA chairman Champion R Sangma had been arrested a few days ago and remained in their custody.
The story went into top gear after it was picked up by security agencies from India which have been on the trail of the GNLA leader who was last known to have entered Bangladesh in the month of April from the Garo Hills sector.
A week ago, Bangladesh security agencies had allegedly arrested four Garos from Modhipur area of Tangal district, near Mymensing, over alleged criminal links. The move was seen as a precursor to security beef up for the visit by Foreign Minister SM Krishna and later by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.
Among the four arrested, one apparently had similarity in name with the alias used by GNLA chairman Champion and some identical features prompting Indian security agencies to jump the gun. It is now believed that neither of the four arrested men had any links to the GNLA.
It is also alleged that senior Meghalaya police officers played to the tune in the hope the report would create confusion and lead to large-scale surrender of GNLA militants.
Of late, intelligence agencies in India have been alarmed by the establishment of a nascent organisation known as PMB-Pakistan Myanmar and Bangladesh, in which the highly influential and powerful Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of the Pakistan army is said to be making efforts to bring together all militant groups of the three countries under a single fold for better coordination and effectiveness of its evil design.
The GNLA Chairman is believed to be in Bangladesh moving from one border area to another to drum up support for the outfit’s cause. He is also alleged to have established strong ties with the dreaded ULFA and NDFB which is a worrying factor for security agencies both in neighbouring Assam and Meghalaya.
Intelligence officers tracking the movement of the GNLA chief have, in recent past, reported his sighting in a major border town enroute for a meeting with other militant group representatives while at the sametime going for a health check up to overcome some of his medical problems.