In a major breakthrough, the Bangalore and Meghalaya police carried out a combined operation and arrested Rafiush Sangma, the vice chairman of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).
The self-styled "vice-chairman" of outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), Rafiush Sangma was arrested from his residence in Bangalore, where was hiding for the last three months and had been receiving money through bank transfers and leading a "luxurious life".
"The Meghalaya police officers were in touch with us for a long time and we were all assisting them and were sharing the information. A team from Meghalaya led by DSP had arrived to Bangalore and we had assisted them by sending inspectors and staff of Koramangala and Madiwala police stations. They were able to arrest him on June 16 in Chandapur village on the outskirts of the Bangalore city. He has been produced before the Anekkal jurisdictional court," said Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar.
Sangma is the second top-ranking GNLA leader to come under the police net. In July 2012, GNLA chairman, Champion Sangma was arrested near the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya.
The banned Garo National Liberation Army is based in North Garo Hills of Meghalaya and has been involved in several acts of violence in both Meghalaya and Assam.
The government is stressing on strengthening the state's police force to tackle the rising menace of the Garo insurgents.