Shillong, May 09: Today fourteen GNLA cadres who surender before the home minister Smti Roshan Warjri confess that,widespread disenchantment and loss of faith in the leadership of Sohan D Shira, CNC of GNLA has lead to the series of surrenders of top rung leaders of GNLA including today surrender of the Finance Secretary of GNLA Rakkam from Nongal area along with 13 other cadres.
The surender militant deposited Four AK Rifles, One HK Rifle, Six pistols, Grenades, VHF Communicatio sets, and a large quantity of GNLA documents including demand letters were produced before the police by the surrenderees.
The MeghalayaDGP has acknowledged the efforts by the religious leaders, NGOs and other leaders from the civil society who too proactive initiatives to negotiate and bring these cadres overground.
The surender militant from the GNLA group while Criticizing the leadership style of Sohan D Shira, most of the cadres said that “they have to work like slaves in the jungles and face the hardship for collecting money from various sources and deposit the same with Sohan.” Sohan started misusing these funds and gave huge sums of money to his relatives for investing in coal, transport business and also in buying land.”These cadres lamented that there is no point in making money for Sohan at the cost of their life and decided to give up the path of violence and join the mainstream.
The ongoing police operations in Garo Hills have created panic, disorgnaization and fear in the rank and file of GNLA. Many cadres have used the opportunity provided by the religious leaders and NGOs and gave up arms and surrender to the law of the land. Rakkam said that as Finance Secretary, the money extorted is used for feeding the cadres and the leftover money had been sent to Sohan D Shira as per his directions.
