The
Telegraph reports that Garo National Liberation Army
(GNLA)
on April 28 announced a series of
bandhs in the Garo hills to protest
against deployment of Security Forces
(SFs) for counter insurgency operations.
GNLA has announced a 144-hour bandh
(General Strike) from 6am of Monday
(April 30) to 6am of May 5 in the
three Garo hills Districts.
Further,
GNLA also announced another 300-hour
bandh from May 7 if the Government
still did not respond to its demand.
GNLA ‘political secretary’ Bikdot
Nikjang Marak said the fresh announcement
of the 300-hour bandh in Garo hills
was because of the adamant stand of
the State Government.
Meanwhile,
several church bodies in the Garo
hills region have expressed concern
over the string of bandhs called by
the GNLA and asked the outfit to desist
from this form of agitation. They
also urged the Government to call
the GNLA for talks.
Separately,
State Police announced a cash reward
of INR one million for information
on “commander-in-chief” of GNLA, Sohan
D. Shira. Police also released a list
offering cash rewards from INR 50,000
to INR one million “for information
on the presence or movement of GNLA
militants” as part of their effort
to end the terror unleashed by the
outfit’s cadres in the three districts
of Garo hills and adjoining areas.
Other GNLA leaders in the list include
“deputy commander-in-chief” Rupanto
R. Marak, former Police constable
Savio R. Marak who operates in Hahim/Aradonga
region and Baichung Ch. Momin who
looks after the GNLA’s activities
in Chokpot. | 
