TURA: West Garo Hills police have recovered bodies of three young men, believed to be that of ANVC-B militants, with their hands tied behind their backs in Oragitok area, 25 kms from Tura on Thursday morning.
The bodies were found by villagers of Oragitok at around 8am.
The villagers informed the Nokma (village headman) who in turn alerted the authorities.
Police team along with a magistrate arrived to the site of the incident. Each victim had two bullet wounds on their bodies but there was no note left behind by the perpetrators of the crime.
Police recovered four empty cases of AK 47 rifle ammunition from the site.
The finger of suspicion on the execution lies with the GNLA. Police believe the murdered victims were from the ANVC-B outfit since one of the bodies has been identified as that of Grinder T Sangma (25), a resident of Samanda Megapgre village under Songsak police station in East Garo Hills.
“Grinder is a hardcore ANVC-B militant wanted by police in several cases including the murder of his own cadre which took place in our district,” informed East Garo Hills police chief Davis Nestell R Marak.
Meanwhile, the body of a 37-year-old villager who went missing a fortnight ago has been recovered from Bajengdoba region in North Garo Hills district on Thursday morning. The body of Withal Marak was discovered by villagers lying on the village road on Thursday.
Although the body had no bullet wounds there were strangulation marks and abrasion marks on the upper torso indicating murder.
Our reporter adds: The ANVC-B has alleged that the death of the three cadres was the result of fake encounter.
Countering the claim of police that the three ANVC-B cadres were killed by suspected militants, the ANVC-B leadership alleged that the cadres were killed by police.
In a statement issued to the media, the ANVC-B publicity secretary Doang Shira said that the youths whose bodies were found at Oragitok on Thursday morning were picked by Rongram police the day before.
“It is a case of fake encounter. We know many of our cadres will be found this way if leadership does not change in the State”, Doang Shira said.
The ANVC-B also alleged the secret “killing” order was issued by the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
“If Garo Hills MLAs support secret killing, the day is not far when these victim’s kin start taking up arms”, the ANVC-B said.
The ANVC also urged all Garo Hills MLAs to take steps towards restoring peace rather than encouraging bloodshed. “Change of leadership is the need of the hour else, these killing spree will consume many innocent lives leading to total anarchy.”, the ANVC-B said.
The ANVC -B also questioned as to why the State Government was not taking action against Alva Sangma who, according to GNLAs top leader Rafius Sangma was the chief adviser of GNLA chief.
Alva, however, had denied these allegations.