Champion Sangma

Shillong, July 31: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma today said the arrest of GNLA “chairman” Champion R. Sangma was the result of a sustained effort of the state government to prevail upon the Centre to persuade neighbouring countries to act against militant leaders taking shelter outside India.

Champion was “arrested” yesterday by Meghalaya police from the Umkrem-Pyrdiwah area in East Khasi Hills along the India-Bangladesh border.

“The arrest of Champion is the result of a sustained effort from the side of the government to prevail upon the Centre to engage with neighbouring countries to take up issues pertaining to incidents wherein many of the leaders of militant outfits of the Northeast continue to try and take shelter in our neighbouring countries,” Sangma told reporters here.

He also said the government was continuously engaging with the Centre to take up such issues to ensure that neighbouring countries do not become safe havens and operational areas for members of militant outfits.

The chief minister said: “These are positive results of the engagement. We will continue to take up these issues. We are hopeful that similar positive results will come up.”

He said the ultimate intention of the government was to ensure complete peace in the state.

Sangma said the state government was embarking on development initiatives to address issues that lead to emergence of militant outfits.

“In the near future, all the development initiatives which can transform Meghalaya into a model state will seek to holistically address various factors responsible for the emergence of militant outfits,” Sangma said.

Champion, who had once been a part of the Meghalaya police holding the rank of a deputy superintendent, was remanded in 15 days’ police custody by a court yesterday.

His last reported assignment in uniform was as an assistant commandant of the 2nd Meghalaya Police Battalion in Goeragre near Tura, West Garo Hills district.

In late 2009, Champion was reported to have left the police force to float the militant outfit along with former A’chik National Volunteer Council leader Sohan D. Shira.

Shira has been holding the rank of a self-styled commander-in-chief of the GNLA.

On November 24 last year, it was reported that Champion had been detained by Rapid Action Battalion Commandos from Haluaghat in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

The outfit has been spreading terror, particularly in Garo hills region of western Meghalaya by indulging in killings of policemen and civilians. The militants have so far killed more than 35 people.

On January 12, the Centre declared the GNLA a “terrorist organisation” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.