Shillong, Mar 29: Laden Ch Sangma alias Chenang, who was arrested for killing a young school teacher in North Garo Hills 13 years ago, was engaged in selling Achik swords, shields and ornaments before joining the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA), police said.
Belonged to the first batch of now-disbanded GNLA, Chenang was trained in Durama Hills and he went on to become the outfit’s area commander of Northern Zone.
“Prior to his joining GNLA, he was involved in the business of selling A’chik swords (Millam), A’chik Shield (Sepi), and A’chik wearing ornaments for which he used to visit different villages of Garo Hills,” police said.
During one of his visits on business purpose, he happened to meet the deceased GNLA commander-in-chief Sohan D Shira and a former ANVC member at Nengmandalgre.
Thereafter, he gradually developed an acquaintance the then GNLA C-in-C.
As per Sohan’s idea, Chenang and 15 others went underground and eventually became GNLA.
He was arrested on Friday on the charges of killing a school teacher Denybirth G Momin in North Garo Hills district way back in 2012.
Denybirth G Momin, who was a science & maths teacher of Resubelpara higher secondary school, a senior police officer said.
Killing of the 23-year-old teacher in front of his family members and small children on 19 July 2012 by a group of 4-5 armed GNLA militants led by Laben Sangma at Resu Mepan Abri village blaming him to be a police/ANVC informer, had sent shockwaves across Garo Hills.
Three empty cases of AK ammunition, 2 empty cases of 9mm ammunition and 1 letter in the letter pad of GNLA signed by GNLA area commander, claiming the responsibilities of the killing, were found at the spot.
