The Shillong Times reports that a militant of the Independent faction of united Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA-I) identified as Babul Rabha alias Kancha was arrested on August 19 from an unspecified location in West Garo Hills District. Based on his revelations, Police arrested another individual identified as Trenning M Sangma from an unspecified location. According to Police the duo had planned to carry out bomb blasts in different crowded locations in Tura and Williamnagar in West Garo Hills District and East Garo Hills District respectively. Trenning M Sangma was involved in recent bomb blasts at Krishnai in Goalpara District in Assam on July 23. Police also informed that Babul alias Kancha was sent to Garo Hills by ULFA-I leader Dristi Rajkhowa to carry out blasts. The Sentinel further adds that Babul Rabha was involved in training Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in assembling Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). Police also informed that Kancha had undergone training in making IED from Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in Bangladesh. Police stated that “Kancha is the master trainer in IED of ULFA. He has trained GNLA cadres in making IEDs in their general camp.”
Meanwhile, an A’chik National Cooperative Army (ANCA) militant, identified as Jiten Lyngdoh, who managed to escape from Mendipathar Police Station in North Garo Hills District on August 18 was caught by villagers from Kamalpara in North Garo Hills District on August 19, reports The Sentinel.
Earlier, on August 15, Police arrested an individual, identified as Yaqub Ali alias Bhola Ali from unspecified location for his involvement in the attack on Sarangma petrol pump at the Dainadubi-Mendipather stretch of National Highway 62 (NH-62) in North Garo Hills District on July 1, reports The Shillong Times. Police revealed that Yaqub Ali is part of the same group led by Mathew Marak and Raban Basumatary of National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) which has been using the name of Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) to extort money in Garo Hills.
Further, Marsing R Marak who is the main accused in the Gokolgre Market attack on August 10 was arrested by Bajengdoba Police in North Garo Hills District on August 15, reports The Shillong Times. It is suspected that A’chik National Cooperative Army (ANCA) was behind the attack.
The Shillong Times reports that Lobayad Abrar Wasi son of Meghalaya Apex Bank Limited (MCAB) staffer Anwar Hussain who was abducted on August 11 was released on August 13 evening at an isolated spot in Gaptuli reserve forest between Chininang and Tikrikilla in West Garo Hills District.
Separately, according to Border Security Force (BSF), Meghalaya Frontier Inspector General (IG), Sudesh Kumar, illegal arms and ammunition coming from Myanmar and China are transhipped to Dimapur in Nagaland from where the same is smuggled to other States, reports The Shillong Times on August 20. In the recent times many Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) sympathizers were arrested while smuggling arms and ammunition from Dimapur. The BSF IG also stated that fencing of India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is a must to stop smuggling of arms and ammunition. He further added that BSF did not have any specific input on the alleged nexus between the Breakaway faction of Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC-B) and Inter Service Intelligence (ISI), the intelligence agency of Pakistan.
Further The Sentinel reports that the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit on August 19 welcomed the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) announcement that it was willing to go for a ‘bilateral ceasefire’ even as he said that the outfit should however not abandon the struggle to uplift the indigenous people of the State. He stated that “The HNLC should give up arms and choose a non–violent path. But it should not abandon its struggle for the betterment of the society,” Basaiawmoit further alleged that Government was handling the various militant groups in Garo Hills region with soft hands, but in the Khasi–Jaintia Hills region Police have been successful in neutralizing the HNLC.
Further, the State Government has asked the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to keep provisions for the entry and exit checkpoints in the proposed toll gate along the National Higway-40 along the Guwahati-Shillong road, reports The Shillong Times. On August 19 Chief Minister (CM) Mukul Sangma said a formal request in this connection had already been made to NHAI.
Also, the people of Resubelpara in North Garo Hills District on August 19 numbering to at least 10000 rallied for peace to be a permanent fixture in the region, reports The Shillong Times. The rally was conducted by Citizens’ Forum for Peace (CFP).