HDR’s claim: We are close to eliminating GNLA

By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh has claimed that the police are very close to eliminating the GNLA.

“We are very close to eliminating the GNLA, but I cannot give any specific indication on when the police would be able to complete the job,” Lyngdoh said while speaking to reporters here on Thursday.

According to the Home Minister, combing operations against the GNLA are on in full swing.

“It is because of the sustained efforts of the police that four GNLA cadres including a very senior cadre were eliminated during a police encounter in East Garo Hills on Thursday morning. In fact, I would specifically like to congratulate the police for this achievement,” he said.

Talking tough, Lyngdoh said that he is confident that more GNLA cadres would fall into the trap of police in the near future.

When asked about the present strength of the GNLA, he said that as per information available with the police, the strength of the GNLA at present would not be more than 200, out of which 50 per cent of them are hardcore cadres while the rest are over ground workers.

He however admitted that the Garo militant outfit had sophisticated weapons in their arsenal.

“This has been proved with police seizing an AK-47 rifle during the encounter on Thursday. In fact, the weapon is the same one which the GNLA cadres had seized during an earlier encounter when three police personnel had sustained bullet injuries,” the Home Minister added.