TURA: Chairman of the banned GNLA, Champion R Sangma, has obtained bail in the eighth case registered against him from the court of the First Class Magistrate in Tura, D Marbaniang, which issued a release order on Monday.
With this, the GNLA chairman has now obtained bail in as many as eight cases from the courts. He is now awaiting the courts’ decision in two more cases to ‘win his freedom’.
The GNLA chief, who was allegedly pushed back from Bangladesh after his arrest in the neighbouring country in July last year, had sought bail from Tura PS Case number 82 (4) 2012 under Section 120 (B)/121 (A)/506 IPC R/W Section 10/13 of The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The High Court of Meghalaya had set aside the MPDA detention order of the West Garo Hills District Magistrate given against Champion Sangma, following which the latter had moved a bail application before the District Magistrate/ Additional District Magistrate on November 29.
However, the bail application was not taken up on that day due to the absence of the Public Prosecutor and it was only on the 5th of this month that the case was argued in the Tura court between Champion’s lawyer Sujit Dey and Public Prosecutor J Chetry, in which the former emerged successful.
On Monday, the court passed the order granting bail to the once dreaded militant chief in the Tura case. Champion is now awaiting bail in an MPDA case slapped on him by the District Magistrate of Williamnagar in East Garo Hills and another case in the Sessions Court in East Khasi Hills, before he secures his freedom.
The GNLA leader was arrested on his arrival inside Indian territory last year and was charged under several cases including terrorism and waging war against the State.
He has obtained bail in five cases under the MPDA, two cases under Nongstoin and one case under Tura.

GNLA kills two over ground workers in South Garo Hills

TURA: Two civilians, whom the banned GNLA accused of using their name to make a fortune, have been executed by armed cadres in Gasuapara in South Garo Hills. The killings reportedly took place on Friday night but their bodies were discovered only on Saturday.
The victims – Semion M Marak of Rongsigre village and Sengwal D Sangma of Rongbokgre village under South Garo Hills – both in their mid twenties, were picked up by armed GNLA men from Rongsikgre village on Friday night and taken away before they were executed in cold blood.
Police recovered their bullet-riddled bodies from the outskirts of the village on Saturday sending a fear psychosis among villagers ahead of the biggest festival in Garo Hills – Christmas.
Police sources have revealed to The Shillong Times that the abduction and execution of the two villagers was orchestrated by GNLA commander for Chokpot region, identified as one Thangkam T Sangma, who has accused the duo of using the name of the outfit for their ‘personal’ benefit.
This is the first time Garo Hills has been plagued by random killings and attacks on civilians by armed outfits just when the festive season of Christmas and New Year is round the corner.