Meghalaya: Five suspected GNLA-R members arrested in South West Khasi Hills

Guwahati: At least five suspected members of the claimed Garo National Liberation Army-Regroup (GNLA-R) have been arrested near the Indo-Bangladesh border in South West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya.

The five accused were arrested for allegedly attempting to extort businessmen in the region.

Police said that the arrests were made based on an FIR filed on October 28.

According to the FIR filed at the Nonghyllam Police Station under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, the five accused attempted to extort a businessman.

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They served the complainant with an extortion note of Rs 5.5 lakh from the Garo National Liberation Army Regroup (GNLA-R). Following the note, the suspects allegedly made threat calls from an unknown number to the businessman.

The police in the region, based on the complaint and specific inputs, initiated an investigation with a team from the special cell.

Following the investigation, the police tracked down a suspect identified as Mann R Marak (25), a resident of Upper Rajapara village in South West Khasi Hills. He was claimed to be the primary suspect in the case.

Upon questioning him, he revealed details about four others, one of whom is a minor.

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The arrested suspects include Marson R Marak (18) and Babulin D Sangma (27), both residents of Upper Rajapara village, Tartus N Marak (20), resident of Mulapat village under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division and a 16-year-old teenager.

The police are now investigating the links of the suspects with the GNLA/GNLA-R.

While it has been claimed that they are suspected members of the GNLA-R, the police said that a thorough investigation is needed to ascertain if the outfit has really regrouped.