GNLA militants surrender in Meghalaya

A top leader and five other hardcore cadres of the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) today surrendered before the police in Meghalaya's West Garo Hills district.

The cadre surrendered before Inspector General of Police (Western Range), H Nongpluh, SP Mukesh Singh, Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi, Commandant of the 5th Battalion, Aditya Goenka and other senior officials at a ceremony in Tura.

The six were identified as Manan Ch Sangma alias Kimpret, area commander of Dadeng, Kasan Ch Marak alias Habraghat, Simarong S Sangma alias Sainal, Chakseng Ch Marak alias Malran, Jemistar D Sangma alias Deniram and Tengku S Sangma alias Watcheng.

They surrendered an AK-56 with 2 magazines, 82 live rounds of AKs, two 7.65 pistol with 2 magazine and 12 rounds of 7.65 pistol, and one highly-explosive grenade.

"We are happy to welcome our young friends back to normal life, who have realised that it is no point fighting and indulging in violence," Nongpluh said.

"The cadre will be kept in Meghalaya police battalion for three days. A rehabilitation package will be worked out for them to lead a normal life," SP Mukesh Singh said.

He said the cadre were brought by the police from Rongbakgre village, near Jengjal about 25 km from Tura.