TURA: Suspected GNLA militants have taken captive a trader who went to sell his wares at the Rongrikimgre weekly market in remote Chokpot region of South Garo Hills on Monday morning.
Taking advantage of the absence of policemen in the weekly market, three men in jungle fatigues carrying an AK rifle and two pistols entered Rongrikimgre market at around 8:30 AM and in the presence of the public took away Bapi Saha (25), a trader hailing from Sibbari border village.
Rongrikimgre is 21 kms away from Chokpot town and located in the most interior region.
The GNLA is the prime suspect in the case since its area commander Baichung Momin and the outfit’s deputy commander-in-chief Rupanto Momin (Toding) are both believed to be operating in the Chokpot region ever since they were driven out of their stronghold in the Durama Hills in East Garo Hills by SWAT and SF-10 commando units of the state police.
The militants were last spotted taking their victim, Saha, towards the densely forested area of Morap Abri which lies beyond Rongrikimgre.
Chokpot has faced militant activities for close to two decades due to the presence of one outfit after another. Since the emergence of the GNLA it has been a stronghold of the banned outfit and of late even other groups like the ASAK have begun to operate in the region.
Militant groups prefer this area because it is densely forested and surrounded by hills on its northern and eastern side including the foothills of the Nokrek National Park which makes it easy for the ultras to slip away in times of pursuit by the security forces.
