Brother-in-law leads police to Sohan arms cache

TURA: The search for hidden GNLA arms led to another recovery from the forests across the Simsang river in East Garo Hills on Sunday.
Slain GNLA chief Sohan D Shira’s brother-in-law and four overground workers of the outfit led the search team to the hideout in the forests of Nengmandalgre and Bolkingre where the rebel leader had stashed the arms and ammunition before his death.
The police said only a handful of GNLA cadres knew about the place.
A powerful Light Machine Gun (LMG), which belonged to Shira, two AK-56 rifles, an INSAS rifle and as many as 30 automatic pistols were found concealed in different parts of the jungle in the two villages.
Besides, 44 SLR magazines containing 60 live rounds, 44 pistol magazines, 2 LMG magazines, one magazine each of AK and INSAS rifle and seven walkie-talkies were also recovered.
While one set of the arms were hidden next to a pig sty another batch was sealed in waterproof material inside a banana plantation.
) In the past one week there have been several recoveries including two dozen pistols, Claymore IED casings, remote control devices and detonators and bulletproof jackets.
Williamnagar police had detained Shira’s brother-in-law and the four others for questioning.
The four men, Lebison Ch Marak (37), Jonathone Ch Momin (32), Albin Ch Momin (45) and Jatngbath T Sangma (25), are from Dorengkigre village. They were later arrested and a 17-year-old juvenile from Chachatgre village was handed over to an observation home.
East Garo Hills police have been conducting extensive search operations in the forests where the GNLA chief once had a base.
Shira was known to have a huge number of assorted weapons most of which remain hidden in the forests of East Garo Hills with their location known to a few loyal cadres.