From Our Correspondent
TURA: One of the most wanted GNLA leader and the outfit’s area commander for Tura region, Hedio Momin alias Karak escaped after a police raid at Nalnapara village under Dalu police station on Tuesday evening.
Hedio, who is among the most sought after Garo militant leader after Sohan D Shira and is wanted for attacks on former C&RD Minister Saleng A Sangma and his supporters, had taken shelter in a house inside the village.
Acting on a tip off, West Garo Hills police conducted a raid at Nalnapara which led to the exchange of fire between the militants and security forces. One of the GNLA cadre was hit during the encounter and police believe that the area commander may have been wounded in the process.
Hedio has been running a reign of terror in the Gambegre-Kherapara and Chokpot region for the last few months.
The police, meanwhile, arrested six villagers including four teenaged girls, following the raid and recovered an IED bomb with a detonator switch, a mobile phone and single barrel (SBML) gun besides empty cartridges and a GNLA flag from the spot.
The arrested persons were accused of providing food, shelter and logistical support to the militants.
Two of the arrested people have been identified as Nathan D Sangma (42) and Asat Ch Momin (40) from Nangnapara village. Among the teens, two 17-year-old girls were from Chengapara and Nangnapara village respectively while a 16-year-old was from Nangnapara village.
GNLA over ground workers arrested: The BSF troops deployed in West Garo Hills district arrested two over ground workers of the GNLA following a joint operation with State Police. The cadres have been identified as Silvert Sangma (25) and Miss Senate Marak (25).
The troopers recovered one GNLA flag, a detonator and an IED bomb and a demand note book from their possession.