Shillong, May 4: The curtains came down today on the "northern command" of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) with the surrender of its cadres.
Led by "area commander" Philiport D. Shira, 13 GNLA cadres and two Ulfa (Independent) militants surrendered with arms and ammunition before Meghalaya home minister Roshan Warjri at the police headquarters here.
In 2014, the police had offered Rs 10 lakh to any individual who could provide information on the whereabouts of Philiport, alias Rakban, and other GNLA cadres.
Today's surrender, one of the biggest in recent times, came a week after five GNLA cadres laid down arms here.
The cadres, who were active in the North Garo Hills district and its adjoining areas, were actually waiting for a "ceasefire" offer from the Meghalaya government. When the government did not respond, the cadres decided to surrender.
The other reason for the surrender was the ongoing Operation Hill Storm - III of Meghalaya police while the cadres also expressed dismay over the style of functioning of the GNLA leadership.
Along with Philiport, the other cadres who surrendered included Keding N. Sangma (deputy commander), Chicko A. Sangma (deputy commander), Nikseng Ch. Sangma, Abikpil Ch. Marak, Lando G. Momin, Chandro N. Sangma, Sengrik M. Sangma, Jil C. Marak, Anurag S. Sangma (publicity secretary), Tengrak R. Marak, Lekston A. Sangma, Bairut M. Sangma and Talrik N. Sangma.
The two Ulfa (I) cadres are Oprai Asom, alias Horinath Rabha, and Sengbarth K. Marak.
The surrendered cadres also deposited arms and ammunition, which included four AK-rifles, an Insas rifle, a carbine, six pistols, a grenade and 19 SIM cards among others.
The surrender came after GNLA "area commander" Philiport got in touch with some leaders of NGOs and church elders in the last one week.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of the surrendered cadres, the GNLA's "publicity secretary" Anurag said: "We want to enter the mainstream as there are no clear objectives and advice from the GNLA leadership."
Anurag also said the GNLA cadres were waiting for a "ceasefire" with the security forces. When this did not materialise, the cadres chose to come over ground and lay down arms.
The GNLA had earlier expressed willingness to hold peace talks with the government. However, the government made it clear that the outfit should first abjure violence before any peace dialogue can take place.
Trained in guerrilla warfare in the Durama region of Garo hills, the cadres, however, did not have an idea as to where the arms and ammunition came from. They passed the onus on their "commander-in-chief" Sohan D. Shira.
"The arms and ammunition were given by the commander-in-chief, and we do not know the source of the arms," Anurag said.
He, however, said the GNLA has links with other militant groups like Ulfa (I), NLFT and the NSCN (K).
On how the GNLA has been sustaining itself, Anurag said: "We collected taxes from government employees and businessmen as per the rank and position of such individuals."
When asked about the killing of havildar Khomraj Bhattarai of the sixth Meghalaya Police Battalion last year, the GNLA publicity secretary said that his outfit was not behind the murder. "None of us were involved. We have no idea who it was, but the blame was put on us," Anurag claimed.
On the alleged link between militants and politicians, he said: "We were not told about this and we do not have any information until now."
The director-general of police, Rajiv Mehta, expressed hope that more surrenders would take place. The police, however, will continue with Operation Hillstorm-III to flush out militants from the Garo hills and its adjoining areas.
