After 12 years Meghalaya police finally nabbed a militant who murdered a teacher of Resubelpara Higher Secondary School.
The militant identified as Laden Ch. Sangma, who was a former self-styled area commander of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), had led a group of five on July 19, 2012 to kill the teacher, Denybirth Momin, on suspicion of being a police informer.
Momin was brutally killed outside his home at Resu Mepan Abri village in front of his wife and relatives. Police found four empty cases of AK Ammunition, two empty cases of 9mm ammunition and a letter of the GNLA, signed by the GNLA Area Commander, claiming responsibility for the murder.
While the case was registered in Mendipathar Police Station and investigated into, it was left pending due to insufficient evidence.
North Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Pawar Swapnil Vasantrao said, “Initially, the investigation of the case and collection of evidence was very difficult for the Police as no one was willing to come forward due to the fear psychosis spread among the general public.”
Nonetheless, he said the investigation of the case continued and finally after gathering sufficient evidence Laden alias Chenang was arrested from Baghmara, South Garo Hills district on March 27 by a police team of North Garo Hills.
He said during interrogation it was learnt that Laden belonged to the first batch of GNLA and was trained in the Durama Hills of Garo Hills. In 2012, he became the area commander of the Northern Zone.
Prior to his joining GNLA, he was involved selling Achik swords (Millam), Achik shield (Sepi), and Achik wearing ornaments and used to frequent different villages of the Garo Hills to carry out his business.
He met with Sohan D. Shira, the slain founder of GNLA and a former member of ANVC at Nengmandalgrea and became acquainted with him. Laden and 15 others went underground which eventually became GNLA under the leadership of Shira.
