Shillong, Jan 17: The Meghalaya police said that the strength of the banned outfit, Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) was depleting and its “commander-in-chief” Sohan D Shira is not hiding in Bangladesh.
“Because of constant fight, their strength is depleting and we have to keep that pressure,†Director General of Police (DGP) SB Singh told reporters here on Wednesday.
Asked if Shira is taking shelter in Bangladesh soil, the DGP said, “Sohan is very much hiding in Garo Hills and moving in areas within East Garo Hills as well as in West Khasi Hills because Bangladesh is no longer a safe haven due to continued operations by security forces there against Indian militants.â€
Shira managed to give police a slip on many occasions.
“Such kind of criminals can run for two-three years but not for too long. They will be arrested or have to surrender,†he said.
He also said that Assam’s wanted ULFA “commander†Dhrishti Rajkhowa is totally depending on the GNLA.
Stating that anti-insurgency “Hill Storm operations†by the Meghalaya police was a big success, Singh informed that the militant-related incidents have come down drastically in 2017.
“There were 21 militant-related incidents last year,†he said.
As per statistics, there were 310 militant-related incidents which include killing, kidnapping, extortion, ambush and others in 2013, 341 in 2014, 310 in 2015 and 118 in 2016.
Last year, the DGP said, 77 militants, mostly GNLA cadres, were arrested, 48 surrendered, and six of them were killed during counter-insurgency operations.
