of one of the arrested
GNLA cadres
SHILLONG: In what can be termed as a jolt to the GNLA, East Khasi Hills Police on Monday arrested three cadres of the banned militant outfit from the city.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, district police chief M Kharkrang said that the GNLA cadres were arrested from Iew Mawlong parking lot and they had come to Shillong for refuge in view of the ongoing anti-insurgency operations being conducted in Garo Hills.
The trio was arrested after SWAT teams carried out intensive surveillance in different parts of the city.
The arrested GNLA cadres have been identified as Rajesh M Marak from Chokpot, Herison K Sangma from Mandagabil and Mital M Marak from Ringku.
Kharkrang assured that police will make all out efforts to ensure that members of any militant outfit do not make Shillong their “safe haven”.
To a query, Kharkrang said that police had obtained some photographs from their ) mobile phones where they are seen brandishing guns, even though he added that the arrested cadres had claimed that they had come to Shillong to meet their relatives.
Police also recovered Rs.28790 in cash and a number of mobile handsets along with SIM cards.
SP (City) Vivek Syiem, meanwhile, said that the police will trace the retailer(s) from whom the GNLA cadres had procured SIM cards and necessary action would be taken against them.
One of the arrested cadres has been identified to be the PSO of an ‘area commander of GNLA’. Police have also recovered black attires from the cadres which they used to wear during their illegal activities.
The arrested GNLA cadres have been remanded in police custody for 14 days.