From Our Correspondent
TURA: In a shocking incident as many as five minors were allegedly molested by a Garo militant who used threat and intimidation to fulfill his pedophile ambition in Samanda village of East Garo Hills last week.
The militant, who has claimed to be from the breakaway faction of the ANVC, known as the ANVC-B, attacked young girls who were on their way to School in Samanda on Wednesday and Thursday.
He sexually molested three children aged 9, 12 and 13, in the Samanda Reserve forest on Wednesday morning when they were going to school using a shortcut through the jungle.
The next day he again attacked two minors, aged 11 and 12, from the same school in the forest.
When the villagers of Samanda tried to catch him the militant threatened them with a pistol and also claimed to belong to the ANVC-B.
Unable to catch him for fear of attack the villagers informed the Williamnagar police who rushed a team to the village but the militant escaped before their arrival.
Williamnagar police said that the militant has been identified as Jamesbirth Momin alias Giljeng Momin of the ANVC-B outfit hailing from Kosi Gate in Bajengdoba. He was married to a girl from Samanda. Police have launched a search operation to catch him after the young girls came forward with their testimonials and revealed their ordeal.
2 GNLA militants arrested in Khasi Hills
Two GNLA militants have been arrested from Rajaju area of South West Khasi Hills district close to the border with West Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills during a surprise raid in the area by SWAT commandos.
Following inputs about a group of GNLA militants serving demand notes and extorting money from traders and coal dealers of the area, police launched an operation on Sunday morning and successfully nabbed two members of the group without arms.
In the possession of the two arrested men were several numbers of GNLA demand notes ready for distribution on traders and businessmen.
Both men were arrested and taken into custody and interrogation is taking place. (With inputs from the Shillong bureau)
