TURA: The GNLA has denied any involvement in the recent kidnapping of a trader from Rongrikkimgre Village of Chokpot in South Garo Hills. The trader, Dulal Roy an owner of a hardware store in the market was abducted at gunpoint in broad daylight by three unidentified armed militants on Monday.
Denying its involvement in the incident Finance secretary of the GNLA and Nongal Commander, Rakam Ch Marak put the blame on rival militant outfit A’chik Songna An’pachakgipa Kotok (ASAK) and its Commander-in-Chief, Reding T Sangma.
“The kidnapping is the handiwork of none other than ASAK and its Commander-in-Chief, Reding T Sangma. The GNLA has been active in the same area over the years in the past without imposing any burden or inconvenience to the people. Reding and his cadres have been collecting an amount of Rs 5000 as tax even from betel nut shops since some time back,” the Finance Secretary of the GNLA alleged.
The militant leader further claimed that Reding, as part of the GNLA, terrorized Government Officers of various departments from Baghmara and extorted money from the people with the help of which he started a coal export business to Bangladesh and financially assisted the setting up of a small shop at Mindikgre Market for his new wife.
It may be mentioned that the police on preliminary investigations had suspected the involvement of either the GNLA or the ASAK in the kidnapping incident. A person suspected to be an over-ground worker of some militant group was also arrested earlier by police in connection with the kidnapping.
