Shillong, May 09: Operation Hill Storm – III was started with a twin aim of combating the militancy in Garo Hills with police tactics as well as mobilizing the public support for restoration of peace in the region. Police teams led by Proby Dy. SPs and Sub-Inspectors branched out to various GNLA hideouts from the last week of February’2016 and destabilized the GNLA leaders.
They met immediate success when they could discover about 80 IEDs in East Garo Hills including some at public places like schools. Sohan D. Shira, the self-styled C-in-C of GNLA and his other commanders had to leave their places and go to various directions to escape the police onslaught. Simultaneously Superintendents of Police of Garo Hills districts and West Khasi Hills district contacted Church Leaders, NGOs and members of civil society and requested them to mediate and ask the GNLA commanders to come to mainstream.
After protracted negotiation, Church Leaders, NGOs and Police officers of North Garo Hills were able to pursue Northern Command of GNLA led by Philiport D. Shira to come to mainstream and he along with his cadres surrendered before Smti Roshan Warjri, Hon’ble Home Minister of Meghalaya on 04.05.2016.
After this, the District Superintendents of Police of East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills further continued their efforts and were able to convince various commanders in these two districts to join the mainstream. As a result of their efforts, 14 GNLA commanders and cadres are surrendering today before Smti Roshan Warjri, Hon’ble Home Minister of Meghalaya at 1200 Hrs.
Police operations will be intensified and forces will be regrouped to raid the remaining hideouts of GNLA. Police appeals to the remaining commanders and cadres of GNLA to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream.
