229 militants arrested, 23 killed, large number of weapons, ammunition seized
SHILLONG: Altogether 165 militants, mostly belonging to GNLA, surrendered to the police in 2016. This is a record of sorts compared to the last five years.
As per police data, Meghalaya police started 2016 by launching an offensive against GNLA, ASAK and other militant groups in Garo Hills.
The offensive was intensified in February 2016 when operation Hill Storm III was launched and enough force was made available to Garo Hills by withdrawing from the other districts.
This paid dividends as during the year, Meghalaya police arrested as many as 229 militants and killed 23 rebels, around half of them belonging to GNLA, in encounters.
However, the cadres of GNLA and United Garo Security Force (UGSF) were instrumental in killing 15 civilians during the year.
The recoveries of the year include more than 1,300 gelatin sticks from all over Garo Hills and more than 1,800 detonators, 80% of which is from North Garo Hills alone.
Another significant feature is that 75 IEDs were recovered and defused during the beginning of Operation Hill Storm – III mainly in East Garo Hills. This saved not only Meghalaya Police but also the general public as GNLA had blasted an IED in Williamnagar earlier.
In other seizures, 67 weapons of different kinds ranging from AK-47 rifles and German Heckler rifles to pistols and SBBL guns came into the possession of police by way of seizure and when the militants surrendered.
The significant surrenders of the year include Rupanto R. Marak, deputy C-in-C of GNLA, Philport D. Shira, area commander of Northern Command, Hedeo Ch. Momin, border and Southern Command and another senior cadre of GNLA known as Indian, who is the area commander of West Garo Hills.
Another achievement for the police was the sudden surrender of GNLA commander Baichung Ch Momin recently. Meghalaya Police had also recovered a very high-powered IED from HNLC operators in the mid-year in East Khasi Hills and arrested a group of HNLC and ULFA (I) militants.
Police sources revealed that there is nexus between GNLA and ULFA (I) as well as HNLC and ULFA (I).
“ULFA (I) wants to make its presence felt in the western part of Assam and may use GNLA for this purpose. Drishti Rajkhowa, deputy C-in-C of ULFA (I), is the main operator of ULFA (I) who has influence in Western part of Assam as well as in Meghalaya,” the source added.
Prominent GNLA surrenders
Rupanto R. Marak (Deputy C-in-C)
Philport D. Shira
(Area commander
of Northern Command)
Hedeo Ch. Momin
(Border and Southern Command)
Baichung Ch Momin (Commander)
