GNLA C-IN-C escapes in police raid

By Our Correspondent

Tura, Jun 27: Sohan D Shira, the commander in chief of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) managed to escape after South Garo Hills police today raided a camp of the outfit near the village of Rongsu in the district.

The incident took place at about 6 am with the area falling under Siju. The incident also left one of the senior members and bodyguard of the elusive commander in chief dead.

Police raided the hideout of the GNLA which allegedly had about 20 cadres of the outfit together at the same place.

“Our police teams, including SF-10 commandos conducted search operations around the forest areas around Chitmang Hills and Rongsu areas on inputs of the presence of the Sohan D Shira. When approaching the suspected GNLA camp, our team came under heavy fire from the militants and we retaliated in self defense,” said Abraham T Sangma, superintendent of police, South Garo Hills.

The exchange of fire between the police and the militants lasted for about 15 minutes after which the shooting stopped.

Upon searching the area, a body of a slain cadre identified as Ading Ch Marak (Lukseng Ch Marak) was recovered from the spot along with a few other incriminating documents. Marak is a 6^th batch GNLA cadre and was also a personal body guard of Sohan according to police sources. Marak is said to be from the district of East Garo Hills.

The police also recovered AK 56 ammunition, GNLA id cards, GNLA flags, a laptop with charger, demand notes as well as various other camp materials from the site of the encounter.

The other GNLA cadres along with Sohan D Shira however managed to escape due to the incessant rainfall in the area this morning. The area is also heavily forested, allowing for the cadres to escape.