Now Meghalaya rebels announce ‘cash rewards’ for information on police

Agencies GUWAHATI, NOVEMBER 6 [dropcap]O[/dropcap]ne day after Meghalaya Police shortlisted 10 “most-wanted’ militants – eight of them of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) – and announced cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information about them, the GNLA has hit back, announcing rewards of Rs 15 lakh for information about movement of police personnel in the districts. “The threat is real and we have taken this threat very seriously. The DGP in fact has immediately directed the SPs in the Garo Hills region to go all out against the militants and intensify operations,” Meghalaya IGP (Operations) GHP Raju told The Indian Express from Shillong on Thursday. Operation Hillstorm, launched by the police against the GNLA in July has been further intensified from yesterday, he added.While the Meghalaya Police had announced rewards of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to arrest of 10 “most wanted” militants on Tuesday, the GNLA responded yesterday evening through a statement issuing threats to all police and civil administration officers in the five districts of the Garo Hills region. The outfit also announced cash rewards of Rs 15 lakh for providing information of the movement of senior police officers. “The GNLA has been in a state of disarray following launch of Operation Hillstorm in July. We have busted many of their important hideouts, and killed and arrested several of their top leaders. Increased police presence has also prompted villagers to deny shelter to them,” IGP Raju said. While the GNLA had killed three policemen this year, the police have killed 45 militants this year, majority of them of the GNLA. The threat, issued by GNLA ‘commander-in-chief’ Sohan D Shira also warned those trying to pass on information about the militants to the police and said those found doing so would meet the same fate as Jospin Sangma, the woman who was killed in Chokpot inSouth Garo Hills district in May this year. The Meghalaya Police meanwhile has asked its personnel to take utmost care while chalking out their movements, while security has been beefed up in police stations, offices and residences of officers as well as of civil officers including district magistrates. Formed by Pakchara R Sangma alias Champion Sangma, a DySP who deserted Meghalaya Police in 2009, the GNLA has been involved in killing, abduction, extortion, bomb blasts and attacks on security forces particularly in the Garo Hills region as also adjoining districts in Assam.