Our Bureau
TURA/JOWAI: Suspected GNLA militants kidnapped manger of a coal export firm at Gasuapara in South Garo Hills on Monday night, while unidentified miscreants shot dead a coal labourer at Nongjri in East Jaintia Hills district on Tuesday morning.
The suspected militants entered the compound of the coal company at Gasuapara and kidnapped its manager Ratan Das reportedly for ransom after the company failed to comply with the demands of the militant group.
“Four suspected militants came to the depot and took away its manager. They were armed with AK rifles and dressed in camouflage and black dress with their faces covered,” said South Garo Hills district SP Davis Nestell Marak.
It is suspected they might have taken him to the foothills of Nokrek adjoining Chokpot region from where as many as three senior GNLA commanders — Rakkam, Baichung momin and Hedio alias Cello-Pa — operate.
Meanwhile, a group of unidentified miscreant, numbering around six went to a labour camp located at Nongjri village under Sutnga Elaka in East Jaintia Hills District and demanded money from coal labourers living in the camp.
“When they failed to comply with their demand, miscreants shot dead one of the coal labourers and badly assaulted three others,” sources said.
The deceased was identified as Gyan Bahadur Gurung (33).
The coalmine owner, P Pala of Sutnga village has lodged a complaint with Khliehriat police in this connection.
It may be mentioned here that on October 20, a 27-year-old youth, identified as Hari Thapa, a resident of Jhalupara, Shillong, was also shot dead allegedly by a group of unknown miscreants armed with sophisticated weapons at a coal mine in the same area.