TURA/ SHILLONG: Surrendered cadres of a rival outfit and also retired personnel of a central paramilitary force are believed to be working for the banned GNLA outfit as part of a separate unit created to procure weapons from different states of the North East.
Recent arrests of a number of persons actively working or supporting the armed rebel group has thrown light on the creation of a separate wing headed by overground workers of the GNLA who have been doing the bidding of the rebel chief Sohan D Shira.
Last month’s arrest of Senglung Phokan alias Bulbul has helped the police from Meghalaya and Assam to complete its investigation into the involvement of people with the group. He was identified as the head of the group residing in Hawakhana locality of Tura and was married to a Garo lady from Dilma A’pal in Mendipather, North Garo Hills. He looked into the procurement of vehicles, recruited drivers for movement of arms and was responsible for collecting money from Sohan D Shira and payment to various consignees.
Several surrendered cadres belonging to the ANVC outfit have reportedly been working clandestinely for the GNLA for financial gains.
Jakra Sangma, Salim Sangma and Biking Sangma, all from Salpara village of Mendipather, were found by police to be actively working for the banned outfit (GNLA).
A retired CRPF constable based in Eralibil locality of Dimapur in Nagaland, identified as Daplin, was arrested for being a major player in the procurement and transportation of the arms. He recently secured bail from Mendipather.
A total of three vehicles procured by the GNLA for transportation of the arms have been seized by police in recent times. A truck in Dimapur (AS 18 C 1181), a Hyundai i10 car (ML08 B 0101) and a Mahindra Scorpio, which were used by the outfit for such operations, are now under the custody of the law enforcement authorities following their seizure.