GNLA of northern command surrenders

In what could be described as the biggest surrender to take place so far , the chapter of the entire northern command of the GNLA in North Garo hills came to a close with its top leaders and soldiers laying down their arms in Shillong on Wednesday.

The surrender of 16 cadres led by its Area Commander Pilliport D Shira alias Rakban (31) also came as a big blow to the proscribed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) led by its commander-in-chief (C-I-C) Sohan D Shira.

Pilliport along with 13 other cadres of the GNLA and two ULFA cadres surrendered along with arms before the state home minister Roshan Warjri during the ceremony. Also present during the ceremony were Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Mehta, officials of the home department, local MLA of the area, church leaders and ngos.

"This is considered as one of the biggest surrender. If an entire command is willing to give up arms, we hope that others will also shun violence and join the mainstream," Meghalaya DGP Rajiv Mehta told reporters on Wednesday.

Saying that the surrendering of the cadres was because of the ongoing hailstorm-3 anti -insurgency operations of the state police, Mehta said, "I would like to reiterate this would not be possible without the major role played by church and ngos leaders."

"The aim of the state government and the state police is to bring back peace in the Garo hills region, which in its absence development have been a neglected," he said.

Claiming that a number of militant groups have come forward to surrender, the police chief said, "We are positive and optimist that the GNLA will also see this same reason to decide to give up arms."

The top leaders apart from Pilliport who surrendered- two deputy commanders - Serejing @ Keding N Sangma (30) and Chicko A Sangma @ Indian (27) and publicity secretary of GNLA northern command Anurag S Sangma @ Mike Aubry (20).

The other cadres include Nikseng Ch Sangma @ Robot (23), Abikpil Ch Marak @ Walseng (27), Lando G Momin @ Bilbar (26), Chandro N Sangma @ Rakam (20), Sengrik M Sangma @Kerika (23), Jil C Marak @ Kalmut (30), Tengrak R Marak @ Saljong (32), Lekston A Sangma @ Dangtap (21), Bairut M Sangma @ Tangbang (28) and Talrik N Sangma @ Jasbel @ Lambu (23).

Meanwhile the two cadres of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) under the leadership of D Rajkhowa include - Oprai Osom @ Horniath Rabha (29) and Sengbarth K Marak @ Nengman (30) also surrendered.

When asked about the number of criminal cases the surrendered cadres have against them, Inspector General of Police (IGP) GHP Raju said the exercise is being conducted with the different SPs of the region and laid down procedure will accordingly be followed.

Speaking on behalf of the cadres, GNLA publicity secretary Anurag S Sangma said, "We decided to surrender as we wanted to return to mainstream and continue to live our lives as before." He said, "We thought by joining the GNLA it would be better for the region but it is just the opposite - there are no clear objectives or advices."

Stating that earlier the main ideology of the outfit was to fight and demand for Garoland, Sangma however said, "But unfortunately now it is not as most of the leaders have surrendered due to the negligence of C-in-C Sohan D Shira.