By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State police is keeping a close watch on the activities of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) since the militant outfit is spreading its tentacles in other parts of the State besides Garo Hills.
Superintendent of Police (City) M Kharkrang said, “We are not ruling out the possibility of GNLA using Shillong as a meeting place and we are constantly monitoring the situation.”
The recent arrest of Jackius Sangma, an arms dealer associated with the GNLA along with some Dimapur-based arms dealers in Shillong has prompted the police to keep a close watch on the activities of the militant group to thwart any of their attempts to establish a footing in East Khasi Hills especially in Shillong.
“So far we have not come across any case of the GNLA engaging in extortion in Shillong,” the police official added.
The tightening of vigil by the police occurred after it was reported that the GNLA had expanded its activities in West Khasi Hills and even in neighbouring Assam.
There are chances that the GNLA leaders can arrange meetings with the leaders of other militant groups, both from within and outside the State, in Shillong, Kharkrang said.
There have been several instances in the past when cadres of several Northeast based outfits like the NSCN, ULFA and NDFB and some Tripura – and Manipur-based militants were also arrested from various parts of Shillong, he mentioned, adding that based on the interrogations of the arrested militants, it was revealed that the meetings organised in Shillong mainly dwelt on closing arms deals among the outfits.
Meanwhile, Kharkrang also informed that the State Police was attempting to seek public cooperation in order to bust the finance cell of the GNLA.
It may be noted that Shillong has been largely peaceful ever since the State Police was able to neutralize the once-dreaded HNLC.