By Our Reporter
Shillong: State security forces rescued five persons hours after they were abducted by cadres of the outlawed GNLA while apprehending three of their cadres from Lad Mawreng in East Khasi Hills here on Thursday.
These militants were apprehended following a fierce gun battle between the GNLA cadres and the police at Lad Mawreng on Thursday morning.
East Khasi Hills district Superintendent of Police AR Mawthoh told newspersons that on receiving information about the kidnapping of five employees of the Jaypee Group, which is executing Stage II of the Kynshi Hydel Power project, from Wahkaji in West Khasi Hills by the militants on Wednesday night who were fleeing in a Bolero Camper, a joint team of SWAT and CRPF personnel were dispatched to intercept the vehicle.
While the security team reached Lad Mawreng in the wee hours of Thursday morning, they came across the vehicle and directed the driver to stop. However the militants numbering around six jumped out of the vehicle and started firing indiscriminately on the police team and fled towards the thick undergrowth under cover of darkness.
The security team also retaliated, Mawthoh informed, adding that later during a search of the area they managed to apprehend one of the cadres, Anthony Marak of Rajai, Ranikor and seized one AK-56 rifle, three magazines and 47 rounds of ammunition along with plastic coated wire meant for use as IED, magazine pouches and other clothing items.
The five abducted Jaypee employees – Bolan Rabha, Ranjan Koch, Proveen Khalari, Halorstar Myrthong and Andrias Myrthong – were also rescued and later sent to Mawngap Police Outpost.
“At first light combing operation was carried in the area but the other militants could not be traced,” the SP said.
However, at 3.50 pm, the SWAT team managed to nab two other GNLA militants identified as Sen P Marak and Manuel G Momin from Mawngap, East Khasi Hills and recovered one .38 fabricated pistol along with magazine.
Mawthoh informed that East Khasi Hills police is in close touch with its counter parts in other districts to track the movement of the militants. “Random checking of vehicles will also be conducted,” he added.
To a query, Mawthoh said these militants are well trained by other militant outfits of the region. “I cannot rate them in terms of their caliber,” he stated.
Mawthoh also ruled out any possible link between the GNLA and the HNLC stating, “so far we have received no reports on the GNLA’s link with the HNLC but their connection with the ULFA has already been established.”
The senior police official also admitted that there have been recruitment drives conducted by the GNLA in Khasi Hills. He however, maintained that no such drive has been conducted in East Khasi Hills district.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Vivek Syiem, meanwhile, informed that police operation was on to nab the other three militants. “We will squash any attempts of GNLA to raise their head in Khasi Hills,” Syiem added.