TURA, May 28: Quashing claims of the resurgence of the already defunct GNLA as claimed in the social media a day earlier, West Garo Hills police on Sunday were able to apprehend all three persons involved in spreading the viral message.
The viral WhatsApp message on Saturday had claimed one Jingjang D Shira as the new Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief executive director and that 500 GNLA recruits are being trained in Rengdim in West Khasi Hills bordering East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts.
Photos were also shared along with the message which claimed a person seen in one of them as Nengsrang Sangma, the new GNLA secretary and Second In-Charge.
Police informed that soon after the tall claim surfaced in the social media, a counter-insurgency operation was launched and a police team was on the way to Darangagre village, when information was received from Kherapara OP that all above named persons have surrendered at the outpost.
The police team rushed to Kherapara OP and interviewed all the three persons prompting a search of a house belonging to one, Namchang Ch Momin @ Jingjang D Shira where several incriminating materials like camouflage uniform, boots etc. were recovered and duly seized.
The three persons- Namchang Ch Momin @ Jingjang D Shira, (22) S/o Late Pardinend Marak of Village – Darangagre, Adot M Sangma, (26) S/o Sri. Ritson M Marak of Village – Ganipara and Silwit R Marak, (26) S/O Shri Clement Marak of Village – Nalnapara were arrested. All three hail from villages under Dalu PS in West Garo Hills.
It has also been ascertained by police that there is no GNLA regrouping effort and the three persons allegedly committed the act to create a fear psychosis among the general public to extort money from businessmen. The possible involvement of some other persons is not being ruled out by police and an investigation is underway to unearth the whole conspiracy.
Meanwhile, an appeal has been made to the general public to inform the local police station immediately if anyone receives any information related to militancy.
“We will act on all such information and suitably reward the person giving information without disclosing his/her identity,” they assured.
