By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In a major breakthrough the state police on Monday morning finally arrested the much wanted Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion Sangma from near the Indo Bangla border at Umkrem, East Khasi Hills.
The arrest of the GNLA chief was confirmed by the State police DGP N Ramachandran on Monday evening.
Champion Sangma, the former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) left the State police force and floated the militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in 2009 which has unleashed a reign of terror in many parts of Garo Hills and certain parts of West Khasi Hills.
The policeman-turned-rebel is wanted by police for masterminding several crimes, including killings and extortion in insurgency-ravaged Garo Hills.
According to Ramachandran, the State police had intelligence inputs about the presence of some militants in Umkrem village after which a team of state police left for the village and conducted the operation on Monday morning.
The arrest of the GNLA chairman comes at a time when the outfit has been letting loose a reign of terror in Garo hills after indulging in wanton killings and kidnapping of government officials and businessmen.
The DGP also informed that Champion Sangma has been brought to Shillong and he was also produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
“The court has remanded him to 14-day police custody,” Ramachandran said.
Earlier, there were speculative reports that Champion Sangma has been arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in Bangladesh.
However, a PTI report quoting official sources said Champion was pushed back by Bangladesh on early Monday morning.
To tackle the activities of GNLA, the state police had formed the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) force consisting of highly trained commandos to neutralize the GNLA rebels operating in the thick jungles of Garo Hills.
It may be mentioned that the GNLA is demanding for a separate state for Garo tribals. Recently one Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) sub-inspector was killed by GNLA in Garo Hills while another constable was injured.
The GNLA militants recently killed a 32-year-old schoolteacher, Danny G. Momin in East Garo Hills after alleging that Momin was a police informer belonging to the rival ANVC group.
