SHILLONG: With several Garo Hills- based militants taking shelter in Shillong to escape the heat of the anti- insurgency operations in Garo Hills, the East Khasi Hills Police has asserted that it will thwart any attempt by militants to use the city as a safe hideout.
In recent times, members and over ground workers of militant groups from Garo Hills including GNLA and AMEF have been arrested in the capital city indicating the growing presence of Garo Hills- based militant outfits in Shillong.
In the latest such arrest, Achik Matgrik Elite Force (AMEF) publicity secretary Chuang Togan N. Sangma of Nokgil Awe, Williamnagar, was taken into custody from a hotel in the city on March 20. “Garo Hills- based militants use Shillong since there are no major operations here,” East Khasi Hills SP M. Kharkrang said, while adding that Shillong was also being used as a rest and meeting place by the militants.
Police, however, denied that Garo Hills- based militants were engaged in the extortion trade in Shillong.
“Whenever we receive inputs about presence of militants we take action by arresting them and their sympathizers to ensure that peace and tranquility is maintained in Shillong,” Kharkrang said.
Besides using Shillong to hide or to hold meetings, the militants or their over ground workers come to Shillong to purchase laptops and other materials used in their makeshift camps.
An over ground worker of the GNLA who came to Shillong for shopping recently landed in the police net.
Last year, a group of militants from Garo Hills along with a few girls had been arrested from a city hotel.
In the past, some arms dealers from Garo Hills had also been arrested in Shillong along with arms, ammunition and cash.
Besides, members of other North East militant outfits like NSCN, ULFA and NDFB, have also been arrested from various parts of Shillong in the past.
From the interrogations of the arrested militants, it was revealed that they had visited the city to hold meetings for entering into arms deal.
Police asserted that they have been keeping vigil so that Shillong is not used as a rendezvous by them.
Shillong has, by and large, remained peaceful since the last many years with the decline of the HNLC after police took various steps to neutralize the outfit.
Earlier, before the ceasefire and the peace pact, ANVC had also used Shillong as a safe meeting place with leaders of other militant groups.
