GNLA ‘chief’ confirms involvement in Tura blast
From Our Correspondent
TURA: The mysterious low intensity blast that rocked a locality of Akonggre in Tura on Wednesday night has been confirmed to be that of a Chinese hand grenade and the prime suspect, the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), has confirmed its involvement.
The GNLA has acknowledged that its cadres carried out the blast in the heart of Tura town on Wednesday night.
The blast occurred in Chetripara locality of Akonggre, which is just a stone’s throw from Tura main market.
GNLA ‘chairman’ Champion R Sangma called up The Shillong Times office on Friday and claimed responsibility for the blast.
“We wanted to display our strength but had no intention to harm the public,” claim the GNLA chief.
Interestingly, the militant leader claimed the target was on a CRPF patrol that went haywire and added that two grenades were lobbed one of which failed to detonate.
It is now becoming clear that the militants probably planned to target the CRPF patrol that is normally stationed in and around the police petrol pump, next to Chetripara. Fear of retaliation may have forced the militants to abandon their prime target and resort to a softer target.
The vicinity of the road connecting Akonggre to Tura bazaar is normally secluded by evening and absence of street lighting coupled with the presence of anti-social elements may have given an advantage to the militants to commit the crime and get away.
Although the GNLA claimed to have lobbed two grenades, police have found the pin to one explosive device only.
The militant leader has reiterated his demand for the government to immediately withdraw the special CoBRA units of the CRPF deployed for jungle warfare in East and South Garo Hills districts.
Champion claimed that as many as 12 of his boys have recently completed training in explosives in Myanmar with assistance of the Kachin Independence army, a rebel group fighting for independence against the regime in Myanmar.
He further claimed that the cadres were led by a former police constable and ‘deputy commander-in-chief’ Rupanto Marak alias Toding Ch Marak, ‘finance secretary’ Millam Rado Marak and ‘second commanding officer’ Ripik Marak.
“If CoBRA units are not withdrawn at the earliest, our boys will not hesitate to act,” warned the GNLA ‘chairman’.