TURA: A key GNLA figure, instrumental in guiding the militants from the banned ULFA-Independent (ULFA-I) into rebel camps in Garo Hills for training and shelter using secret jungle routes is now in the custody of Meghalaya police following his dramatic arrest along with three ULFA cadres, a week ago in Upper Assam.
He was handed over to the Garo Hills police by Assam a few days back.
The arrested Garo ultra, Saltiush N Marak, who hails from Belabor village of Dalu in West Garo Hills, had been playing a pivotal role in strengthening the bond between the Garo outfit with the Assam rebel group and Meghalaya police have been on his trail ever since intelligence revealed that Saltiush prepared the coordinates for the visit of the high profile and elusive ULFA commander Dristi Rajkhowa to a major GNLA camp in the Durama Hills in 2013.
Dristi Rajkhowa is one of the staunchest supporters and ally of ULFA chief Paresh Barua, who operates from the jungles of Myanmmar.
Rajkhowa himself shuttles between Chittagong Hill Tracts and Sherpur district of Bangladesh which lies in close proximity to the Garo Hills border, police sources reveal.
It helps the ULFA to maintain a presence in the Bangladesh side of the border with Garo Hills where it has sympathizers and can provide logistics as and when required, it is alleged.
The GNLA chief had played host to Rajkhowa at his main headquarters in the Durama hills in East Garo Hills three years ago.
Subsequently, the ULFA leader had reciprocated the gesture by giving shelter to Sohan Shira when he reportedly crossed over to Bangladesh at the height of operation ‘Hill Storm II’ launched by Meghalaya police in 2015.
The arrest of two ULFA rebels, Aprai alias Lambu and Sengbat, a couple of months back, is said to have provided further inputs on the close bonding the leaders of the two outfits share. Both arrested men were part of the team which provided the security cover for the journey by Dristi Rajkhowa, a senior police official revealed.
Meghalaya police are optimistic that with Saltiush in their net more revelations would flow on the working relationship the two rebel groups share.
His arrest would also help security forces to mark out the possible entry and exit points the militants use in the North Garo Hills district which is plagued by rebel infiltration from Assam.
