TURA: Garo National Liberation Army has released one Nokma (village chieftain) who was kidnapped from South Garo Hills 17 days ago.
The abducted Nokma of Rongding Awe in South Garo Hills, Jonisol M Sangma, was released on Wednesday in remote Rewak region.
The militant outfit had abducted him from his home on November 12.
Police have not ruled out the fact that the family paid ransom for his release, although the Nokma insisted that no money changed hands.
Meanwhile, there are no reports about the whereabouts of another Nokma from West Khasi Hills who was also taken away by GNLA two days before the abduction of the Rongding Awe Nokma.
Neelam R Sangma, the Nokma of Riangdim in West Khasi Hills, was abducted by rebels of the outfit on November 10.
The involvement of the GNLA in the twin abductions surfaced after police recently raided a hideout of the outfit in South Garo Hills where one of the Nokmas was held captive.
In that operation the militants had escaped and now police are certain about GNLA chief Sohan D Shira orchestrating the entire kidnapping episode.
Shira is said to have met Nokma Jonisol Sangma prior to his release this week.
Both the kidnapped Nokmas control an area that has abundance of coal.
A conglomerate of Garo village chieftains from the coal belt under the aegis of Daranggre Nokmas Welfare Association had made a joint appeal to the kidnappers to release their victims unharmed.
