GNLA militant held with sniper rifle

TURA, OCT 24: A GNLA militant identified as Griksang Marak (22 )alias Chuang was arrested on Thursday with a sophisticated sniper rifle by the Meghalaya police from Salpara village, near Mendipathar from North Garo hills.

After his arrest, Marak led the police team to a hideout at Rongcheng village in West Khasi hills  where he had hidden three weapons, a Chinese made sniper rifle along with an AK and a .303 rifle.

Police also recovered as many as 160 rounds of ammunition with four magazines of the sniper rifle, an AK magazine containing 35 rounds and four .303 calibre bullets, wireless handset, GNLA training manual, two mobile phones, four SIM card, among others.

Marak  was taking shelter in the house of a woman collaborator. The woman’s brother Dikrak R Marak has also been arrested for harbouring the militant.

“He was trying to pass off as a civilian and taking shelter in the house of the woman when we caught up with him,” said North Garo hills SP Jerry Marak.

Police said on interrogation, Marak confessed killing his area commander Still on September 12 along with a GNLA militant Mandal and two Ulfa (I) cadres Babul Sangma and Wakang Boro.

“We believe the killing took place, when they were having their dinner. He, along with other militants shot him in cold blood and made away with the arms”, SP Jerry Marak added.- From Our Correspondent