TURA: A GNLA rebel, who was behind a string of killings and abductions, was shot dead by Meghalaya police commandos during an early morning raid on Thursday in the jungles of East Garo Hills.
The killing of Matchallang M Sangma alias Vietnam at Bawe Duragre village, 10 km aerial distance from Williamnagar, is being seen by police as a devastating blow to the outfit.
“He (Matchallang) was taking direct orders from Sohan Shira and was very close to him. His killing has dealt a severe blow to GNLA and the writing is clear on the wall for the outfit,” a confident Meghalaya DGP S B Singh told The Shillong Times following the successful operation by the state police.
Hailing from Nengmaldalgre village, close to the home of Sohan Shira, the action commander was operating in and around Bawe Duragre area for the past few days. As many as 13 armed rebels were staying in a makeshift camp in the forest when police raided. The operations continue to locate a few cadres who are believed to have sustained bullet injuries during the gun battle that lasted for several minutes.
“The firing was very intense for several minutes and some of the militants who sustained injuries managed to escape. We are on the lookout for them,” said East Garo Hills SP R.T.G Momin.
Besides an AK-56 rifle with ammunition and Chinese grenades, police also recovered 3kg gelatin sticks used for explosives and a Claymore box to prepare improvised explosive device.
Following the mass surrender of top leaders of the outfit, GNLA chief Sohan D Shira had appointed Matchallang as the action commander and promoted him as deputy commander-in-chief.
As the action commander, Matchallang targeted surrendered GNLA members and led an execution squad to the home of surrendered GNLA ‘finance secretary’ Rakkam D Shira in Williamnagar and shot him last year.
His last execution was that of another surrendered militant by the name of Kamdak last month.
Police had long been on his trail as the elusive commander shifted base frequently from West Khasi Hills to Siju-Rongara in South Garo Hills and then to the southern banks of the Simsang river in East Garo Hills.
Last year, the rebel leader took away an elderly villager, Orget R Marak, from Rongara area and killed him in cold blood for allegedly acting as police informer.
He went on to kidnap two village Nokmas in quick succession from Rongding A’we in South Garo Hills and Reangdim in West Khasi Hills. Both were released only after paying ransom to the outfit.
With the death of Matchallang GNLA supremo Sohan D Shira no longer has any senior commander to undertake his operations. Police sources reveal that Sohan is having less than 50 rebels many of whom are young recruits and are being trained.
Sohan spends Christmas at home
The elusive GNLA chief Sohan D Shira has once again dared security forces on the lookout for him as he daringly visited his home village of Sasatgre-Nengmandalgre during this Christmas holidays, intelligence sources reveal.
To further anger the security forces, the GNLA chief even posted a Facebook picture of himself in full battle fatigue standing with the rest of his family at his home.
