TURA/ SHILLONG: Silence and not outcry pervaded Garo Hills though as many as eight people lost their lives in December alone in insurgency related incidents in the region.
Moreover, the fate of two persons abducted by GNLA in December first week is yet to be known.
While the village elder identified as Balnat Marak was abducted near Nokrek National Park, in West Garo Hills , a coal exporter Md. Aftal Sheikh was kidnapped from South Garo Hills.
December, which otherwise heralds tranquility in view of Christmas is not a peaceful month for Garo Hills.
Peace was shattered when the GNLA militants raided Samanda Megapgre village, 18 kms from Williamnagar, on December 5 and abducted Dilseng N Sangma (28) and Liping D Sangma (27). They were executed in cold blood and their bodies dumped in nearby Patrang Samanda reserve forest. Both were accused by the GNLA of being timber smugglers.
Yet again on December 6, a rice mill owner identified as Onarson A Sangma (50) of Oragitok village in West Garo Hills, close to East Garo Hills border, was abducted and killed by GNLA militants on suspicion of being a police informer.
The GNLA militants went on a rampage on December 11 as they attacked , Chasingre petrol pump on the outskirts of Tura leaving three persons injured. The same day the militants attacked a remote police radio station on the foothills of Tura peak bombing the station and destroying its equipments.
On December 13, two civilians accused by GNLA of using their name to extort money were abducted from Gasuapara border region of South Garo Hills and shot dead.
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 and executed in cold blood.
Police recovered their bullet-riddled bodies from the outskirts of the village.
There was no end to the killing spree by GNLA even on Christmas eve.
On December 24 afternoon, three armed rebels of the GNLA entered Raja Apal village in North Garo Hills and shot dead a former cadre Aldrin Marak for deserting the armed outfit.
The former militant had surrendered to the army and police in March, this year, and had returned to his village to celebrate Christmas when he was attacked.
Later, a suspected arms smuggler who was earlier arrested by Tura police was shot dead by GNLA militants in Kharkutta region of North Garo Hills district on December 27. The victim, Alwin Sangma of Megong A’kong village in Kharkutta was abducted and killed by the armed rebels for his alleged involvement in an illegal arms racket.
December Case Diary
- December 5: Two villagers Dilseng N Sangma and Liping D Sangma, were executed by GNLA in East Garo Hills .
- December 6: Rice mill owner Onarson A Sangma shot dead in East Garo Hills by GNLA
- December 11: A man identified as Dominic Marak, travelling with his wife killed by unidentified militants in East Garo Hills
- December 11: Three injured when GNLA attacked Chasingre petrol pump on the outskirts of Tura.
- December 13: Two civilians, Semion M Marak and Sengwal D Sangma were executed by GNLA in South Garo Hills.
- December 24: GNLA kills former cadre Aldrin Marak in North Garo Hills
- December 27: GNLA executes one Alwin Sangma in North Garo Hills.