Five hardcore GNLA rebels surrender with arms

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, April 28: Five hardcore cadres of the Garo tiol Liberation Army (GNLA) surrendered before the Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Mehta along with four sophisticated arms and a huge catche of ammunitions in Shillong today.

The cadres of the outfit that were under the area commander Rakkam and were active the Siju-galbibra belts of South Garo Hills district. The surrendered rebels have been identified as Rakseng Ch Marak alias Gelogram, Krewingbirth S Sangma alias Gonga, Jamil Ch Momin alias Jamindar, Walban R Marak alias Bawil alias Rewak and Tarzan Ch Sangma alias Ruby. They deposited three AK-56 Rifles, one Carbine, one G-3 Rifle, a grede, ten magazines and 519 rounds of ammunition.

The surrendered rebels belonged to the 4th batch of the GNLA in Durama range of Garo Hills.

“After completing their training they were tasked to commit crimes such as kidppings, abductions and extortions,” DGP Mehta told reporters.

The surrender of five rebels today is a part of the series of surrender by armed militant groups in Garo HIlls following the sustained pressure put on them by the police and central para-military forces under Operation Hillstorm-3. Operation Hill Storm -3 was launched on February 24 this year.

“We are hopeful that more such surrender will happen in the days to come,” Mehta stated adding, “Peace needed to be given a chance for all round development of Garo Hills”.

Interacting with the media soon after the formal surrendering ceremony, the leader of the group Kweringbirth S.Sangma alias Gongga said, “Police pressure and realization about the futility of the armed struggle prompted them to lay down their arms.”

Interestingly, the five rebels who were trained along with the ULFA cadres denied their involvement in the series of abductions, extortions, killings and attacks on police in the past two years.