From Our Correspondent
TURA: Security forces on a combing operation in Dadenggre region of West Garo Hills had a brief exchange of fire with GNLA militants on Monday morning while a trader abducted by the ultras over 12 days ago was released unharmed.
Police teams on the lookout for GNLA militants operating in Dadenggre region were fired upon near Rom Bazar, not far from Selsella on Monday morning. The police teams also retaliated but there were no casualty.
“It is very common for the militants to open fire from a long distance to halt advancing security teams so as to make a quick getaway,” informed police from Tura. The group was reportedly led by new GNLA area commander Savio Marak. Meanwhile, petty trader Kalidas Hajong who was kidnapped by the same outfit from Bajamra on October 17 has been safely released. Kalidas was taken away at gunpoint by GNLA militants who also fired and injured a school teacher, Motjeng Sangma, when the latter protested to the abduction taking place.
Kalidas Hajong was released near Rom Bazar of Selsella on Saturday last, it is learnt.
Extortionist held: Meanwhile, Tura police apprehended a senior leader of a student organization while he was allegedly extorting money from traders of Tura market on Monday evening. According to Tura police, the general secretary of the Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) was caught along with another member after they had allegedly taken away a sum of five thousand rupees from a shop selling branded clothes on the Dalu-Thakurbari road. The two student leaders caught by the Tura police have been identified as FKJGP general secretary Raksang A Sangma (24 years) hailing from Araimile locality of Tura and Donnie M Marak (19) hailing from Matchakolgre area of the same town.