12 executed for allegedly passing on info to police
SHILLONG: At least 12 persons have been executed by GNLA militants since 2012, alleging them to be police informers, as per the reported cases in the media.
In the absence of proper protection to the ‘paid’ police sources or informers, there is a spurt in the cases of killings of police informers by the GNLA militants.
Though the police have always resorted to denial as far as informers are concerned, intelligence sources say that it is always known that police pay a specified sum of money to their sources to get information on the movement of militants.
In majority of the cases, the victims were executed in the presence of the family members and the militants also left notes which mentioned that the victims were killed as they were collaborating with the police.
Though the GNLA had shot dead many people in the name of being police informers, police had not taken responsibility and had denied that the victims were informers.
A police officer said that the GNLA is miserably justifying that their victims were police informers to convey a cause for the killing which should not be taken as truth since ruthless killing in any manner is not justified.
The latest case is that of 35-year-old Josbina Sangma, who was shot dead in the presence of her four children, by GNLA militants on June 3 at Chokpot allegedly for being a police informer.
The GNLA had claimed that the woman was killed since she was a paid police informer and it was based on her information that on May 1 this year GNLA trainer Kram D Sangma was shot dead by SWAT commandos after a raid at a GNLA camp inside Daji Badimagre-Boldakgre village of Chokpot.
In another case of police informer losing life, the GNLA militants on May 27 midnight this year eliminated a former worker of GNLA identified as Sengran R Marak after he was dragged out from his house at Daji Badimagre village of Chokpot. He was shot dead in the presence of his wife and children. The accusation of GNLA was that the victim was working for the police. As per reports, two armed militants, who barged into the house of the victim, did not even bother to hear the plea of the victim’s wife and young son who was ill.
Chokpot legislator Clifford Marak said that on February 10, the GNLA militants had shot dead two villagers identified as Priding Momin and Metalson M Sangma under Chokpot since the police had failed to protect them. The killing came a day after the police took the duo for operations against the militants resulting in the death of a GNLA cadre in a hideout.
According to Marak, the police should adopt ways and means to protect their sources or informers.
The legislator said that police should remember that the extremists also have informers and in the remote areas of Garo Hills, the villagers have to risk their lives if they want to provide any information to the police.
The State Home department should ensure that sources of information are not harassed and killed, he added.
Besides the cases in 2014, several other cases of police informers and their families being attacked or killed have been reported since 2012.
On August 6, 2013, armed GNLA militants shot dead 47-year-old Jenifar N Sangma for a being police collaborator at Rangmai village of Ruga region, 25 km from Chokpot, in front of his family besides assaulting his young son which led to his collapse.
Sangma had been earlier arrested by the police for being an overground worker of GNLA.
On February 26, 2012, GNLA militants executed a retired State Police constable identified as Warnath S Sangma, in East Garo Hills, accusing him of being a police informer.
The modus operandi was the same as the victim was dragged out of his house at Bansam Awe village, 20 km from Williamnagar in East Garo Hills, and shot him dead.
Again on February 4, 2012, the GNLA continued its action of execution by killing a 60-year-old man identified as Edward Sangma blaming him to be a police informer. His body was recovered from South Garo Hills.
On January 30 of the same year, the body of a PWD labourer identified as Songjing Sangma from West Garo Hills was recovered by the police and after investigation it was found that GNLA had executed him for being a police informer.
Again on January 27, the GNLA militants killed two persons identified as Johas Sangma and Justin Momin from West Khasi Hills on the accusation that they were police informers.
Prior to this on January 16, the GNLA executed two youths identified as Engti Marak and Pak Momin hailing from East Garo Hills and the allegation was that they were working for police.
There was another attempt by the GNLA to kill a woman, a widow with four children, on October 26, 2011, for being a police informer.
GNLA militants shot at the 40-year-old woman, Rabilla Marak hailing from Nengmandalgre village in East Garo Hills, and she was seriously injured.
Earlier, the husband of the woman was killed by Sohan Shira when he was still with the ANVC.
Killing in the name of police informers
June 3, 2014: Josbina Sangma (35) executed by GNLA at Chokpot
May 27, 2014: Ex-worker of GNLA Sengran R Marak killed near Chokpot by GNLA
Feb.10, 2014: Two villagers – Priding Momin and Metalson M Sangma – from villages under Chokpot shot dead by GNLA
Aug.6, 2013: 47-year-old Jenifar N Sangma shot dead by GNLA near Chokpot
Feb.26, 2012: Retired constable killed by GNLA in East Garo Hills
Feb.4, 2012: Body of 60-year-old Edward Sangma, executed by GNLA, recovered from South Garo Hills
Jan.30, 2012: Recovery of body of PWD labourer, Songjing Sangma from West Garo Hills, executed by GNLA
Jan.27, 2012: Bodies of Johas Sangma and Justin Momin, killed by GNLA, recovered from West Khasi Hills
Jan.16, 2012: Two youth – Engti Marak and Pak Momin – hailing from East Garo Hills, shot dead by GNLA