Ex-UALA cadre, 2 others arrested for forming GNLA-R

A former cadre of the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) and two others were arrested for their involvement in efforts to regroup the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).

North Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Bruno A Sangma told reporters on Tuesday that Mrak Simsang, 40, of Resubelpara, was an ex-UALA cadre.

“He (Simsang) has been rehabilitated and he is the main culprit in this case. He is wanted by Assam Police. The Assam court has ordered MPWA against him and we will hand him over to Assam Police once the investigation in North Garo Hills is completed,” he said.

The other two arrested have been identified as T Sangma (40) and Suresh Sangma (32) of Adogre, the SP said.

The arrest was made after an FIR was received at Kharkutta police station on February 24. Earlier, also on 7 February, a social media post was made stating that GNLA had regrouped.

“We have seized mobile phones from their possession, which were used in the crimes…They had demanded a ransom of Rs 20,000 from the victim in North Garo Hills,” Sangma said.

Stating that there would be more arrests in the coming days, the SP said, there were around 7-8 members in this group so we will not spare them, we will pursue them.

When asked, Sangma said that most of the weapons hidden by the GNLA were recovered and confiscated in Williamnagar during my time when I was posted there. “At present we have no seizure of weapons,” he said.