GNLA youths held in Dhubri

TURA: Three youths associated with the banned Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) are being questioned in Assam's Dhubri district by police following complaints against the trio of serving demand notes in Mancachar and its adjoining areas.
They were arrested on Sunday evening from Kakripara under Mancachar police station in Dhubri district by Assam Police.
The three suspects were identified as Dulal Miah (30), a resident of Mancachar, Biswajit Koch (20) and Aldrin Sangma (22), both from the Purakashia area in South West Garo Hills.
"They were actively involved in serving demand notes, which was monitored by our team in Mancachar. They have unleashed terror in the name of GNLA, making calls to traders in the area. We are interrogating them," said SP (Dhubri) Mridulananda Sharma. Police said the trio were tracked based on numerous phone calls they made in the last one week to traders.
Over the last two months, insurgency activities have increased in villages along the Assam-Meghalaya border, including Dhubri and South Salmara. At least 18 traders were abducted and two bodies found.
Last week, two labourers - Saheed Miah and Sohidur Islam - from Mancachar were killed on the outskirts of Tura. Twenty-four cadres of the breakaway faction of A'chik National Volunteer's Council (ANVC-B) were arrested on Saturday evening.
SP (West Garo Hills) Mukesh Singh said, "We have interrogated six senior cadres regarding their involvement and the investigation is on".
The deaths have spread tension in the area with locals and civil bodies protesting against the rise in insurgent activities in the Garo Hills.
District administrative officials from Dhubri and West Garo Hills have held a meeting with several NGOs and assured of safety and security to traders and others who frequent the region.
It was agreed that a next meeting will be held with NGO representatives, religious organizations from the Garo Hills and Dhubri in presence of deputy commissioners from both the districts.