TURA: Two suspected ANVC-B cadres who were conducting an extortion drive in Sangknigre village near Chokpot were attacked and killed by rival GNLA militants in broad daylight on Wednesday morning. The village is straddled between West and South Garo Hills districts.
The two militants identified as Belbong and Raga were collecting money from traders who were doing brisk business during the weekly market day when a group of five heavily armed GNLA militants arrived on the scene and rounded up both the extortionists at around 9 am.
Both the ANVC-B militants were summarily executed in the village itself and the GNLA militants left behind a note citing the reason for their execution. They also left a photograph of one person mentioned as Amit on the body of one of the militants who was shot dead.
A message left behind with the photograph stated that the two militants who were shot dead had been recruited by Amit, a businessman, to collect ‘tax’ on behalf of the ANVC-B. The banned group also warned of action against the businessman.
Meanwhile, West Garo Hills Police rounded up four suspected GNLA collaborators from the West Garo Hills side of Sangknigre village.
West Garo Hills district police chief Mukesh Kr Singh informed that a pistol along with demand notes of the GNLA was recovered from the arrested persons.
Four ASAK cadres held West Garo Hills Police on Wednesday arrested four A’chik Songna An’pacha-kgipa Kotok (ASAK) cadres. According to police, the cadres have been identified as joint secretary of the outfit Lucky R Natal, Netun N Sangma, Damion Sangma and Elkin Sangma.Police recovered one 9 mm pistol, one 7.65 pistol, six live rounds and demand notes of ASAK and GNLA, one wireless set and other materials from the possession of the cadres.