TURA: East Garo Hills police has busted a major arms racket and arrested former members of the United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) and a local businessman who supplied firearms to the Garo National Liberation army (GNLA). They also seized over Rs 5 lakh during separate raids.
The search for the main arms dealer started on Saturday when intelligence inputs pointed at the involvement of a former UALA rebel, identified as Sengrak D Shira. Sengrak (26), who is from Karukol in South Garo Hills but lived at Chiokgre in Williamnagar, was arrested on Saturday.
He was identified as the main person behind the recent sell of weapons to GNLA for Rs 3 lakh. Sengrak’s statement led the police to his hideout from where they seized Rs 1 lakh. He also revealed the names of three of his associates who helped in transferring weapons to GNLA, led by Sohan D. Shira.
The three accused, Laxman D. Sangma (27) and Dipendro G Momin (35), both from Sampalgre village, and Krejing N Marak (36) of Chiokgre village fled after Sengrak was arrested on Saturday but gave themselves up to Williamnagar police on Sunday morning. They also handed over Rs 1.50 lakh to the police.
The three men told police that a businessman, Donbok Lyngdoh, was also involved. Later, Lyngdoh’s house was raided and he was arrested. The police found Rs 3 lakh in his house.
The arrested rebels told police that Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin, the former commander-in-chief of the now disbanded UALA, directed them to sell weapons to GNLA.
The last consignment of arms sold to the GNLA consisted of a pistol, 80 rounds of INSAS ammunition and 87 high-powered bullets of a light machine gun, police said and added that another consignment of AK rifles may have already been delivered.
Momin has gone underground following the arrest of his associates.
