Ethnic clash, GNLA activities mar peace in G aro Hills
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The major ethnic clash between the Garos and Rabhas and the violent activities of the GNLA militants have marred peace in the Garo Hills region.
The conflict between the two communities which broke out on both sides of the Assam-Meghalaya border had led to the death of nine people and around 30,000 people had been rendered homeless either because their houses were burnt down or because they had to flee their homes out of fear.
Earlier too there had been intermittent clashes between the two communities but not at such a large scale.
Actually, the ethic clash was a result of the bandh called by the Rabhas on the New Year’s eve. Things came to a head when the vehicle of a priest of a local church in East Garo Hills was blocked by the Rabhas on account of a bandh they had called along that area.
The Garo-Rabha clash attracted the attention of the Centre. A Union Home Ministry team led by the joint secretary Shambu Singh visited the affected areas.
When the clashes got worse the governments of Assam and Meghalaya Governments were compelled to work out a joint strategy to bring things under control. Finally be February 2011 the displaced families on both sides of the border returned to their respective homes.
2011 also saw a spurt in militant activities. The GNLA and the Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) in association with anti-talks factions of ULFA and NDFB continue to disturb the peace in the Garo Hills region.
This year, the armed GNLA men killed 21 persons including 10 police men. The number of GNLA men killed by the security forces in Garo Hills was six this year. While the common people and the police men became the target of GNLA , police arrested as many as 32 GNLA cadres this year alone, besides motivating as many as 31 cadres to surrender with arms. Eight militants were also killed in encounters with the police.
In April 7 this year 20 GNLA cadres led by its Chief Instructor Mingran T Sangma surrendered before Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh in the presence of senior police officials at a surrender ceremony held at Shillong.
The GNLA Chief Instructor claimed that they had surrendered since they were dissatisfied with the style of functioning of some of the leaders of the outfit.
The police also seized 19 arms of different categories including AK rifles and pistols from the GNLA. The major success was in the recovery of as many as 482 numbers of ammunition.
Ten hand grenades including two highly explosive ones and 141 gelatin sticks were also recovered by the police this year.
However, the arrest of many ULFA and NDFB cadres in Garo Hills is indicates that the GNLA acts as facilitator for free movement of these cadres to Assam through the porous border of Garo Hills from Bangladesh.The police list says while six ULFA cadres were arrested this year, 3 cadres surrendered before the police.While four arms belonging to ULFA were seized, the number of ammunition recovered from the group is 306.
As far as NDFB is concerned, nine cadres were arrested this year compared to the last year’s figure of 3.
While two NDFB cadres surrendered 3 arms and 16 numbers of ammunition were recovered from them.
Members from other minor groups numbering around 16 were also arrested by the police this year besides recovering arms and ammunition from them.
However, the alleged fake encounter which led to the killing of an old villager, Washington Marak accused of being GNLA informer in Williamnagar, East Garo Hills created a furore among the general public and NGOs in Garo Hills.
Following the demand of the NGOs, the State Government constituted a magisterial inquiry to inquire into the alleged encounter but refused to remove the then Williamnagar Circle Inspector TC Chacko who was believed to be involved in the fake encounter.
Further, the GNLA kidnapped Dadenggre BDO PK Boro from his office at gun point on November 21. After remaining in the custody of the outfit for more than a month Boro was finally released on December 24. Editor of Achik Songbad Alva Sangma acted as interlocutor for the release of PK Boro. Alva drove alone for 2 hours and then trekking another hour over thick jungles to bring Boro back to safety.
Sangma was contacted by GNLA military commander Sohan D Shira asking her to come and pick up Boro from a designated location
