Armed men rob businessmen on North Garo Hills highway

TURA: A group of armed unidentified men, brandishing weapons, stopped a vehicle and robbed two occupants of their money and cell phones in Tapa Darengchi region of North Garo Hills on Monday night, a delayed report stated.
Salseng Momin and Mingnam Marak, both hailing from Resu-Dekachang locality of district headquarters Resubelpara, were returning home from Williamnagar around 6:30pm when they were held up.
Armed men, reportedly brandishing AK rifles and pistols, stopped the duo along an isolated road in Tapa Darengchi village and robbed them of Rs 12,000.
The armed men also seized their mobile phones before disappearing into the nearby jungle. Tapa Darengchi was once a hotbed for militant activity.
On June 4, 2011, suspected GNLA militants ambushed a police patrol party killing three police personnel and decamped with the AK, INSAS and SLR rifles of the slain constables.
Monday’s robbery in the same area is suspected to be the handiwork of a group of criminals who on Sunday stopped as many as 7-8 private vehicles at Dobu Agalgre, under Rongjeng police station in East Garo Hills and robbed the occupants. One of the victims lost a huge sum of Rs 1,30,000.
The gang had fled towards Tasek lake in Songsak after committing the crime and police believe the group may have possibly crossed over to adjoining North Garo Hills to evade capture.