Two GNLA militants surrender in Williamnagar
TURA: Militants from the banned GNLA are reportedly taking shelter in villages and passing off as ordinary citizens to avoid falling into the dragnet of security forces while they bid their time to come over ground and surrender to authorities after Meghalaya police overran their general camp in the last week of February, this year.
Operation Hill Storm-3 had led to a massive build up of security forces to flush out GNLA militants from their stronghold of the Durama Hills, across Simsang river, and on February 27, 2016 police commandos had attacked two major camps of the banned outfit.
In that operation along the Dorengkigre-Pathalgre-Adokgre stretch of the Durama hill range, security forces overran the camps of GNLA chief Sohan D. Shira and his deputy army chief Thoding Marak alias Rupanto after a heavy gun battle leading to the recovery of almost 50 IED bombs and other explosives.
Since that attack many of the militants had abandoned their jungle hideouts and taken shelter in far flung villages to avoid possible capture managing to mingle with the local population.
Being cut off from all communication with their leaders and the group, many of these militants have approached their families and church elders to facilitate their return to the mainstream.
On Tuesday morning, two militants – Mithun Ch Marak alias Sildoreng and Roberth Ch Marak alias Alda – both hailing from Dimogre village of Rongsak in East Garo Hills, surrendered to police at Williamnagar.
Both the militants had been inside the general camp of the GNLA completing their armed training when security forces launched an attack forcing them to abandon their positions and flee for their lives.
The duo belonged to the 6th batch of recruits of the outfit and at the time of their recruitment in 2015, GNLA publicity secretary and police deserter Savio Marak had trained them in the use of weapons. Savio was later shot dead by police.
After being on the run for several days and completely cut off from the rest of the group following the attack on the general camp, the two fleeing ultras took shelter in remote villages spending time idling away for two months until they were able to get communication through to their families leading to their surrender.