Shillong, Oct 8 (IANS): The Garo National Liberation Army, a rebel group operating in Meghalaya, suffered a major setback when one its key leaders surrendered with a huge cache of arms and ammunition, a police official said on Friday.
Mansrang M Sangma, founder member of GNLA, surrendered on Oct 6 before Sylvester Nongtynger, police chief of East Garo Hills district, in the wake of the ongoing combing operation code-named 'Operation Durama'.
"It is a major setback for the GNLA and we are expecting more rebels to surrender," Nongtynger told IANS.
The rebel leader deposited an AK series assault rifle along with magazine, a 9mm pistol with ammunition, 71 rounds of 7.62 ammunition and Chinese-made grenade.
After Sangma's surrender, Nongtynger was optimistic that the police would get definite leads about the whereabouts of abducted transport official and his driver.
Five armed GNLA rebels kidnapped R Syngkon, district transport officer (DTO) of East Garo Hills district, and his driver from his official residence in Williamnagar in west Meghalaya Sep 30 after he failed to meet their extortion demand of Rs 60 lakh.
The GNLA, one of the five Garo rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign Garoland. It is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R Sangma, whose followers are mainly deserters of other rebel outfits.
