SHILLONG, July 1: Since being shunned in 2017-18, the once-dreaded Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has been unable to resurrect itself, and that may be the situation perpetually.
Police officials confirmed that as of now, there are no inputs of the proscribed group attempting to regroup in West Khasi Hills, West Garo Hills and even East Garo Hills, which at one point of time had turned to an epicentre of militancy.
A police official, on request of anonymity, said that though there were some rumours about militants trying to regroup, there is no specific inputs about the development, even as he added that police is still trying to recover the arms buried across various lands.
However, it was informed that last year there were some reports about regrouping attempts in South Garo Hills but most of those who surrendered did not want to return to the jungle due to the hardships they were undergoing.
After top GNLA militant Sohan D Shira was killed, there has been nobody to bolster their movement, the police nonetheless are keeping a close watch on the overall situation to thwart any such plans.
Regardless, some small petty groups even now reportedly try to procure arms and ammunitions to indulge in crimes like dacoity and robbery on the highway but police are keeping a tab on such activities too.
In addition, the surrender of ULFA-I wanted militant, Drishti Rajkhowa, last year in Meghalaya has also demoralised any such attempt, the official said, adding that during his surrender, police received inputs that some small groups are operating along the border areas of Garo Hills and Khasi Hills but they do not have the support from the GNLA, which at one point of time had unleashed a reign of terror in several parts of Garo Hills.
