TURA: Tura Police intercepted a public transport vehicle that was leaving Tura for Guwahati and arrested four hardcore militants belonging to the breakaway ANVC-B outfit on Saturday afternoon.
The vehicle in which the militants were travelling was intercepted at Rongram police outpost, 12 kms from Tura, and all four ultras were arrested by SWAT commandos who were waiting for the catch following intelligence reports about possible movement of militants out of the town.
The four militants have been identified as Togarik R Marak (22) from Selsella, Balsrang M Sangma (20), Beto S Sangma (26) and Bandu D Sangma (24), all hailing from Dobasipara area of Tura.
“Togarik and Bandu were involved in extortion from Nakham Bazar market of Tura and regularly sent money to their leader Rimpu Marak, while Balsrang was given armed training in Bangladesh,” said West Garo Hills District Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kr Singh.
The police chief also said that Togarik and Bandu were provided arms training in one of the ANVC-B camps located deep inside the jungles of West Khasi Hills.
The success came just hours before the main person involved in the attack on C&RD Minister Saleng Sangma’s residence was arrested.
Tura police caught the prime accused June Sangma from near the MTC bus stand at Tura Bazaar shortly after he lobbed the homemade bomb into the compound of the minister’s residence at Ringregittim area.