GNLA shutdown hits life in Meghalaya

A three-day hours bandh called by a tribal militant group called Garo National Liberation Army  from Monday threw normal life out of gear in the three districts of Garo hills areas in Meghalaya on the first day though there was no report of any untoward incident.

An official source informed the bandh called by the militant group forced shutdown of all educational institutions, business establishments and government offices in many parts of the affected districts despite heavy deployment of security personnel by the administration.

The GNLA has called the bandh demanding withdrawal of security forces from the Garo hills districts.

The outfit has also demanded an inquiry into existence of the alleged "mass graves" in some locations of Garo hills and accused another militant group Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC) which is now in truce, of "executing innocent civilians secretly". The Meghalaya government has already instituted a high-level inquiry into the alleged graves.

The GNLA has threatened to bomb different areas in the Western part of Meghalaya if the government failed to respond to its demand for withdrawal of security forces from Garo hills areas, the bastion of the outfit.

"We want the government to withdraw all security forces from Garo Hills and suspend the combing operation against us, or else we will bomb several areas in Garo Hills," Kakam D Shira, a top GNLA rebel leader stated in a statement issued to the media.

Warning the public not to violate their shutdown, the rebel leader said, "Our bomb experts have prepared explosives and will be exploded by our experts in different parts of Garo Hills. We will not be held responsible for any damage or loss of life."

The GNLA's threat came after personnel of the Combat Battalion for Resolute Action commandos and Border Security Force were deployed in the Garo Hills region.

In fact, the GNLA rebels in the early hours of Saturday hurled unsuccessful grenade attack at a check-point of Transport department in Dainadubi area in Meghalaya's East Garo Hills district.

However, no one was injured in the attacked.

Meanwhile, security forces were put on high alert following the threat even as Meghalaya police ruled out withdrawing security personnel or suspending combing operation against GNLA.

The GNLA, a Garo tribe rebel groups, is fighting for a sovereign 'Garoland'. More than 10 people, including security personnel, have been killed in the Garo Hills during the last one year by the GNLA rebels.

The outfit, headed by a deserter police-officer-turned-outlaw, Champion R Sangma, recently slapped extortion demands ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore on government officials, ministers, legislators and businessmen.