TURA: An attempt by the banned GNLA to undertake a fresh recruitment of young men into the outfit was foiled by East Garo Hills police who intercepted their movement and picked up three persons from the home of the deputy commander-in-chief of the group.
Following intelligence inputs about GNLA making attempts to reinforce its cadre strength in the wake of recent mass surrenders, police launched an operation at Nengmandalgre village, across Williamnagar town, on Friday.
During a cordon and search operation of the village, police teams found three young men staying in the house of the wife of GNLA deputy commander-in-chief Toding Marak aka Rupanto.
When they were questioned they reportedly failed to give a ‘credible’ answer for their stay at the house despite coming from two different areas of Garo Hills.
One of the men hailed from Tura region while the other two belonged to Raja Apal village of Bajengdoba in North Garo Hills.
All three young men along with the GNLA leader’s wife, identified as Merry Mercy D Shira of Nengmandalgre, were taken to Williamnagar police station for further questioning where one of them spilled the beans on the recruitment process.
The recruit was identified as Singsrang M Sangma of Tura Hawakhana locality, while the other two, Sengbrap D Shira and Sengsrang D Shira, had been dispatched by Rupanto to bring him to a training camp established by the GNLA somewhere in the Durama Hills range. They had been directed to take refuge at the home of Rupanto’s wife before heading into the Durama forests when police closed in on them.
The two guides and the wife of the GNLA commander were later released on a bail bond while Singsrang M Sangma of Tura was placed under arrest after more evidence emerged of his involvement with the banned organization.
He was reportedly working as an over ground worker of the group for quite some time operating in the Tura region before finally deciding to take the full plunge into the rebel group when police cut short his ambition.
