Gun battle near Sohan’s camp, ultras escape
TURA: A day after GNLA militants executed a mother of four children in cold blood in Chokpot area, Garo Hills police responded with a heavy bombardment of their leader’s camp in remote Durama hills but the militants escaped without any casualties.
Police commandos from SWAT and the CRPF’s CoBRA units went on the offensive against the banned GNLA with a large mobilization of forces. The commandos zeroed in on Sohan D Shira’s camp located at Durama Hills, south of Adugre village, some 20 kms from Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
“Our commandos moved in last night and the encounter began at 8 am. There was heavy exchange of fire from both sides,” confirmed district police chief Davis Nestell R Marak from Williamnagar.
During their movement towards the direction of the camp the security forces were fired upon by armed sentries of the GNLA located at several vantage points.
Commandos let loose several rounds of mortar fire in the direction of the GNLA hideouts but failed to hit any target as the militants sneaked away into the forests.
“Preliminary reports from the field indicate that there were as many as thirty militants in the camp including Sohan D Shira,” informed district SP Davis Nestell Marak.
By the time the commandos had over-run the camp there were no occupants present.
Security forces recovered three bullet proof jackets along with an air gun, some personal belongings and food items. All the heavy weaponry of the GNLA had already been shipped out of the camp by the ultras.
According to police, there were as many as nine well constructed huts to house as many as thirty cadres.
The camp also housed a well furnished kitchen, separate toilets, and sufficient number of plastic chairs and tables while beds made of bamboo were neatly placed inside the huts. The camp was located close to the border with South Garo Hills in remote Adugre region.
“Meanwhile, the GNLA was quick to response to the attack on their leader’s camp with a statement to The Shillong Times.
“Police used heavy mortar fire on our camp destroying many of our posts and dwelling places. But we escaped without any loss,” claimed Toding Marak, the deputy commander-in-chief of GNLA.
HM visits victim’s family: Meghalaya Home Minister Roshan Warjri, meanwhile, led a delegation of the state government to pay condolences to the family of the woman.
The state home minister arrived at Chokpot accompanied by Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Y C Modi and parliamentary secretaries Samuel Sangma, Michael T Sangma and W D Sangma. Deputy commissioner in charge of the district, T G Momin and police chief Lakador Syiem were also present at Chokpot when the high level delegation arrived to meet the family.
Warjri was visibly moved after seeing the four little children of the woman who was executed by the GNLA.
She also directed the Deputy Commissioner and the BDO to speed up the process of handing over ex-gratia compensation for the family.
GNLA denial: Meanwhile, the GNLA has denied its cadres made an attempt to rape and molest the mother of four children on Wednesday night.
The head of the Chokpot command of the outfit, Jangjang R Sangma, who dispatched the execution squad against the mother of four children issued a press statement to The Shillong Times on Thursday taking claim for the murder but stopping short of accepting responsibility for the alleged rape attempt.
The outfit has claimed to have material evidence on the involvement of the 35-year-old victim and branded her a paid police informer. It claimed that their trainer Kram D Sangma was killed by police and four others arrested because of the tip off by the deceased woman.
“Seven cadres headed by Tenton were dispatched on a mission to execute the order from higher authority. She incurred the death penalty. What does she expect?” questioned the militant in a chilling manner and warned of similar action for others who go against the interests of the banned organization. Accusing certain individuals of spreading the rape and molestation allegation, the GNLA commander has warned of taking action.”The allegation of molestation, attempt to rape is baseless, concocted. Such allegation is uncalled for. The penal code of GNLA for such cases of molestation, attempt to rape is death penalty for all including cadres,” claimed Jangjang Sangma.
