TURA, Sept 5 � East Garo Hills police have seized Rs 7 lakh that was being transported to a hideout of militant outfit Garo National Liberation Army on Sunday afternoon and arrested three persons including two Garo Students Union leaders.
Today, four militants surrendered to police at Williamnagar police station but the outfit claims to have discharged them for �indiscipline�.
Following intelligence inputs about a possible transfer of extortion money by GNLA couriers, police had put up a check point at Chisobibra village, 7 kms from Williamnagar town. They stopped a Maruti car coming from Dudhnoi in Assam (AS-01-AB-3734) and on inspection found Rs 7 lakh stashed away inside a polythene bag.
The police arrested the two occupants of the vehicle, Silchang G Momin, Cizaral D Shira and the driver Sabin Boro.
While Silchang is the GSU president of Mendipather unit, Cizaral happens to be the GSU president of Damas unit, police informed.
On interrogation they revealed that the money had been demanded by the GNLA from a group of businessmen who were running the municipal toll gate at Mendipather market.
GNLA calls bandh: The GNLA has announced a three day Garo Hills bandh from September 12 demanding that the Meghalaya Government call off operations against them and withdraw its forces from the jungles of East and South Garo Hills.
It has also welcomed the Meghalaya Government�s decision to order a high level probe into allegations of �secret killings� allegedly by the A�chik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) that is currently on a ceasefire with the State and Union Governments.
The State Government has announced a probe by Principal Secretary Peter W Ingty into the allegations of �secret killings�. The probe has been given one month time to submit the report.
Shillong Correspondent adds: Meghalaya Government has managed to get some evidence to work on about the possible nexus of politicians with the Garo National Liberation Council (GNLA) after the arrest of two GSU members yesterday.
The two GSU members were arrested from Sisobibra area, near Williamnagar, East Garo Hills trying to deliver Rs 7 lakh to the GNLA.
Interestingly, the two GSU members were carrying the amount in an envelope with �Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, Dainabui� scribbled on it. �We have taken the matter seriously and the district police are investigating if politicians are involved in funding the GNLA,� Home Minister, HDR Lyngdoh said today.
GNLA, which operates mainly on East Garo Hills, has been involved in extortion on National Highway 62 that cuts across the district. It�s been alleged that the GNLA operates on the highway with the blessings of politicians and also businessmen.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma speaking about such alleged nexus warned that none would be spared if such matter comes to the government�s knowledge.
Meanwhile, the GSU has said that the organisation maintains no links with anti-social elements or political organisations.
