‘Baichung led GNLA team in cops’ abduction, murder’
SHILLONG: Meghalaya police on Monday picked up seven people, including a prime accused in the abduction of three policemen and killing of one in West Garo Hills district.
Havildar William Maiong was abducted along with constable Sambu Dalu and Naik G Momin on Saturday from nearby Dilni river by Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) militants after being lured by one Pintu Ch Marak to accompany him for fishing.
Constable Dalu and Momin, however, managed to escape from the clutches of the militants.
”Altogether, seven people have been picked up this morning from Churinggre village in connection with abduction and killing of our police personnel ,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (Western Range) G H P Raju told UNI.
Pintu Ch Marak, the prime accused in the Saturday’s GNLA’s operation, had lured the three police personnel to go for fishing to Dilni river, was among those picked up by the police for questioning.
Quoting the interrogation reports, Raju said the villagers confessed that a group of 15 GNLA militants had stayed in their village to carry out Saturday’s hit-and-run operations.
The detainees have also revealed that the militant group was led by Baichung Momin.
”The detainees are still being interrogated and they have identified the militants involved in Saturday’s abduction and killing,” Raju said.
Meanwhile, another senior police official on Monday said the hunt for the militants involved in the incident was on.
“We are trying out best to nab these militants with the available resources,” the official said.
Responding to a query whether the police would call off their operations against the militants, the official said the State Government would take the final call in this regard.
Meanwhile, intelligence sources on Monday revealed that 60 GNLA rebels had recently completed their training, which was in line with the SWAT and SOT to counter the ongoing operation of the police.
Majority of the GNLA cadres have undergone their training in Garo Hills itself while few of the cadres have undergone training outside the State, sources said
With the GNLA having close links with the ULFA and NDFB, intelligence sources said the training to the GLNA cadres was imparted by the two major militant outfit of Assam.
Intelligence sources believed that the enhancement of the skills of these cadres would definitely add to the strength of the outfit.
CONDEMNED: Meanwhile, the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), Jaintia Hills unit, has condemned the Saturday’s incident.
“What made the GNLA target our people serving in Garo Hills, the GNLA should clarify this”, a statement issued by the KSU organizing Secretary, Nangaibor Syiem Sutnga stated.
The KSU asked the GNLA to stop targeting Khasi Pnar people working in Garo Hills immediately else it would also find alternative ways to safeguard their own people, the statement further said. (With inputs from UNI, our reporter and Jowai correspondent)