GUWAHATI: The Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) has emerged as one of the biggest procurers of arms in the state, using the city as their main transit route. The outfit, which built a nexus with Ulfa hardliners in the recent past, is now in close contact with many Nagaland and Manipur-based outfits, mainly the NSCN(IM) and Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) and gunrunners from Myanmar.
Since the beginning of this year, security forces here have arrested at least 15 GNLA militants from various areas and recovered many sophisticated weapons from them. "They are buying AK47s, AK74s, Chinese grenades, Heckler and Koch rifles, Glock guns, US-made sophisticated pistols from these gunrunners," added an official.
According to the security forces, GNLA is now procuring sophisticated arms from gunrunners in the India-Myanmar border area with the help of the NSCN(IM), PLA and Ulfa, too.
"This indicates that all these outfits are now in constant touch and involved in gunrunning. GNLA is now procuring sophisticated arms in a bid to strengthen its muscles. The outfit has a huge abduction racket in many parts of West Garo hills and in Goalpara district of Assam and is buying arms to this purpose," said another senior police official here.
On Saturday, the city police's operation wing nabbed four GNLA cadres including Pintu Marak, brother-in-law of GNLA 'commander-in-chief' Sohan D Shira, and two Nagaland-based gunrunners from the city's Tetelia area. The sleuth recovered one AK74 (grenade launcher) rifle, 25 grenades, one Barrette pistol and more than 900 live ammunition from their possession.
"Te militants confessed that the consignment was procured from Myanmar and was being taken to Garo Hills through Nagaland and Assam. The weapons were concealed in secret chambers built inside the vehicle," he informed.
The city police have already called for help from their counterparts in Meghalaya to deal with the situation. "The city has become the prey to a chain of militant outfits from the neighbouring states who are trying to spread the gun-running racket in the region. There are several cases where they outsource the smuggling through local gangs by paying them handsomely," said the official.
In a joint venture by both city and Meghalaya police, the security forces have started visiting border villages and trying to strengthen village defense parties.
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