Shillong, Jan 25 (IANS) Heavily-armed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) rebels abducted three Meghalaya government engineers at gunpoint in the state’s West Garo Hills district, but one of them was later released unharmed, police said Wednesday.
The abduction took place Tuesday midnight when the GNLA swooped upon the official quarters of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) in the Rongkhon area, 318 km west of Shillong, the state capital.
“The rebels abducted three engineers – Apus Pothmi, Boney Majaw and Marshal R Swer – at gunpoint and took them away to a nearby forest,” state police chief N. Ramachandran told IANS.
Ramachandran said the rebels, who identified themselves as members of the GNLA, however, released Swer unharmed.
“We are still investigating whether any ransom has been demanded. A search operation is on to rescue them,” he added.
Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and Meghalaya’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) commandos have been pressed into service to trace the hostages.
The GNLA, headed by police officer-turned outlaw Champion R. Sangma, has unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the western part of Meghalaya.
However, Indian intelligence officials believe Champion has been “arrested” by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) commandos Nov 23 night from Haluaghat in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.
Over 20 people, including security personnel, have been killed in the area in the last one year by GNLA rebels.
Champion, who claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland, has been camping in Bangladesh for several months in search of support.
The outfit has also forged an alliance with the Bangladesh-based rebel group, A’chik Special Dragon Party.
Meghalaya shares a 443-km border with Bangladesh, part of which is porous, hilly and unfenced and prone to infiltration.
