GNLA second in command surrenders

Shillong, Dec. 9: One of the most wanted terrorists of Meghalaya, a senior cadre of the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), today surrendered allegedly after his attempts to deposit terror funds were foiled by the police last week. Baichung, whose actual name is Nikam Ch Momin, the second- in-command of the GNLA militant group formed in 2009, surrendered before South Garo Hills district SP Anand Mishra along with arms and ammunition, the police said. He brought along with him a 5.56 X 45 HK-33 Rifle, 120 rounds of ammunition, one magazine, two mobile phones, 2 extra batteries, 4 SIM Cards, an ID Card, etc, they said. Baichung, who was wanted and held responsible for terror activities and had survived several encounters with the police, was under pressure due to counter insurgency operations in the district and demonetisation, Mishra said. Last week, two persons sent by Baichung were arrested while depositing Rs 28 lakh in a bank, he said, adding there was no other alternative left for him than to give himself up. With Baichung’s surrender, the GNLA is left with the founding Commander-in-Chief Sohan D Shira and a few other cadres. Police foils plot to kill SP, 2 GNLA cadres held Police today claimed to have foiled a plot to kill the SP of South Garo Hills (SGH) by arresting two suspected cadres of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) from Baghmara town. According to an investigation by police, SP, Anand Mishra allegedly received threat messages on both his personal and office cell phone numbers since October 20. The two cadres of the outfit who have been arrested were identified as Boresh Sangma (38), of Bul Awe in Baghmara, and Rankhu Momin (49) of Bolsal Ading, in Baghmara. The duo had even demanded an amount of Rs 50 lakh from the SP, police said. “They were using only one number and this was being used exclusively for the purpose of sending threat messages. It was a ‘blind’ case to crack but thankfully the IT team managed to tackle it,” said Mishra. The mobile phone and SIM card used to threaten the SP have been recovered from the duo. Meanwhile, SGH police claimed to have arrested a civilian cadre of another militant outfit, ASAK, in an early morning raid today. Barash Sangma (27) of Namisikgre, SGH was allegedly involved in ferrying weapons, essentials and lately converting and depositing terror generated money of ASAK chief Reading T Sangma, through various bank accounts. “He was wanted for some time and was avoiding arrest till Special Force 10 (SF-10) commandos of Baghmara nabbed him today morning,” said Mishra.