TURA: With the surrender of the last senior commander, Baichung Momin alias Nikam Ch Momin, on Friday, elusive GNLA chief Sohan D. Shira is witnessing a shrinking manpower.
The loss of several cadres to police encounters and desertion among his ranks had prompted the GNLA chief to hold a general meeting at the outfit’s headquarters in the jungles of Dabalgre in the Durama Hills in September.
Sohan had planned to promote several of his senior members and commanders, including Baichung, who was at that time holding the position of 2nd lieutenant in-charge of the general camp.
But the GNLA chief’s plans fell through after police commandos started simultaneous raids from East and South Garo Hills borders in which two militants died. Sohan and the remaining team fled but their general camp was destroyed.
“Since that raid, the GNLA has not been able to establish any permanent camp and was unable to hold any meeting as most of them fled and later surrendered,” revealed SP Anand Mishra of South Garo Hills.
A month later, deputy commander-in-chief Rupanto (Toding) surrendered with his men just around the time the action commander, Jimmy Momin, had also given himself up.
According to police sources, Sohan currently has control over the Gasuapara-Chokpot belt where three of his close associates, namely Kamdap, Baltuish and Nikseng, are said to be operating.
Sohan is believed to have as many as 20 armed cadres with him though police believe most are junior members with little experience.
With the last of his key men giving himself up to the authorities, police believe it is only a matter of time before Sohan himself falls into the security net or surrenders.
