Thaindian News

Shillong, Nov 24 (IANS) Three Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels and three arms suppliers were arrested here in Meghalaya with huge cache of ammunition, police said Thursday.

Jackiush A. Sangma, the chief arms procurer of a tribal Garo rebel outfit, was nabbed Wednesday night from a vehicle along with two close-aides Bappun A. Sangma and Harding M. Marak from Polo area, police said.

An amount of Rs.11,49,500 cash was also seized from Jackiush’s possession.

Jackiush was sent to Shillong for procuring arms and ammunition from Pungam Hangal who had come to Shillong for the deal, A.R. Mawthoh, the police chief of East Khasi Hills district, told journalists.

Based on the confession of Jakiush, Mawthoh said a special police team raided a hotel here in the city and arrested two arms suppliers - Pungam Hangal and Hemkholun Lupheng with 400 rounds of live AK ammunition.

Another arms supplier Ritesh Basumatary, who attempted to evade arrest by fleeing in a Maruti Zen, was arrested after a hot chase, he said.

“We have registered a case against all the six accused under various sections, including 120 (B)/121 of the Indian Penal Code read with (1AA)/29 (b) of the Arms Act,” the police official said

The Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court, meanwhile, remanded them to 14 days’ police custody.

Meanwhile, top police official termed the arrest of Jakiush as a major breakthrough for state police who have been fighting against the GNLA rebels in Garo Hills region.

“Jakiush arrest is a prized catch for Meghalaya police and his arrest is a major blow to the outfit,” a police official said on condition of anonymity.

The GNLA, headed by police officer-turned outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has over 100 rebels, including a few women cadres, operating in the three impoverished districts. The outfit has procured a cache of HK53 rifles and explosives to add to their arsenal.

Champion, who claims to be fighting for a ’separate Garoland’ in the western area of Meghalaya, has been camping in Bangladesh for several months in search of support.

The outfit has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A’chik Special Dragon Party.

Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to frequent infiltration.

It has forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).