TURA: One more rebel belonging to the inter-state extortion group that was busted two days ago was arrested from Assam on Tuesday.
A joint team of Garo Hills and Assam police arrested Dipen Das from Kukurmara in Boko based on the statements given by other rebels arrested previously.
Das was allegedly tasked with collection of extortion money and dispatching the same to the leaders of GNLA and ULFA, the two outfits who were running the show.
Two ULFA and three GNLA cadres, who were extorting money from businessmen in the coal belt of Garo Hills, were arrested last week.
In another operation, Assam police recovered a Chinese 7.62 mm pistol from the house where arrested ULFA man Kusha Rabha had been taking refuge in.
Kusha had been arrested along with another ULFA member Simanta Rabha and three other GNLA over-ground workers last week.
All the arrested men were allegedly part of the extortion ring set up by the ULFA and GNLA to target the businessmen and coal dealers of Nangalbibra-Jadigittim region of south Garo Hills.
The modus operandi was such that the victims would be identified by the GNLA while the extortion money would be paid to the ULFA in Assam to avoid detection in Garo Hills.
