SHILLONG, May 21 � Meghalaya Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP)-turned militant Champion Sangma today claimed he was extended help by Pakistan�s ISI and other jehadi groups to continue a violent movement against India, but he has refused.
Sangma has deserted the Meghalaya Police and have formed the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) due to alleged harassment by his seniors.
He spoke to reporters over phone for the first time from an undisclosed location and claimed: �ISI and several other jehadi groups have extended help to the GNLA, but I have refused. We (GNLA) are not working against the interest of India, but for the cause of Garo Hills within the ambit of the Indian Constitution,� he added.
Sangma boasted of having several �friends� in China, Thailand, Myanmar, besides militant organisations of the North East, all willing to help his nascent organisation.
The suspended DSP heads a group of riff-raff youths, besides some deserters of the Achik National Volunteers Council (ANVC) as the organisation�s �chairman�. The ANVC is under a tripartite ceasefire agreement with the centre and the State governments.
GNLA has served several extortion notes to businessmen and even politicians from Garo Hills. The group is active, especially in the coal-rich belt of the three districts of Garo Hills
Sangma said he would never surrender before the Meghalaya Government, but was willing to sit for negotiation with the centre.
�GNLA would sit for talks only with the Centre and not with the State government. If we received a request from the Union Home Minister than only we would consider,� he added.
He said that the GNLA was only seeking for a �Garoland� within the ambit of the Indian Constitution. He said the GNLA is also not asking for a greater Garoland carved out of Bangladesh, Assam, Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts of Meghalaya, like the ANVC.
Asked why he deserted the Meghalaya Police and floated the militant outfit, Sangma said, he was harassed by his seniors.
Sangma was on probation, but his post was never made permanent, despite, as Sangma claims, giving several representations from the IG level right up to the Chief Minster. �So I decided to float the organisation,� he added as a matter of fact.
On the recent setbacks, including the arrest of five of its cadres today, Sangma said he has �lots of arms and ammunition� and his �friends� were willing to provide more to continue the fight.
