Former GNLA leader arrested for gunning down a school teacher in 2012

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 29, 2025

A former Area Commander of the disbanded Garo National Army Liberation (GNLA) was arrested for gunning down a school teacher in North Garo Hills district way back in 2012.

“Laben Ch Sangma alias Chenang, the then Area Commander of GNLA Northern Zone was arrested for the killing of Lt Denybirth G Momin, who was a science & maths teacher of Resubelpara higher secondary school infront of his family members and small children and other witnesses in the year 2012,” police said.

An FIR registered with Mendipathar police station in 2012 had stated that on July 19, 2012 a group of armed GNLA militants numbering about 4-5 led by Laben Sangma alias Chenang went to the house of Denybirth Momin (23) at Resu Mepan Abri village and shot him death outside his house near footpath, blaming him to be a police/ANVC informer.

Three numbers of 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. 

During the interrogation it was learnt that Laden Ch. Sangma belonged to the First Batch of GNLA and he was trained in the Durama Hills of Garo Hills. Eventually, in the year 2012, he became the Area Commander of Northern Zone. Prior to his joining GNLA, he is involved in business of selling A’chik swords (Millam), A’chik Shield (Sepi), and A’chik wearing Ornaments and therefore, he used to visit different villages of the Garo Hills. One day, he happened to meet Lt. Sohan D. Shira, the founder of GNLA and a former member of ANVC at Nengmandalgre. Thereafter, in many other occasions, he happened to meet Lt. Sohan D. Shira and acquainted with him. With the idea of Lt. Sohan D. Shira, the arrested accused person Laden Ch. Sangma and 15 (fifteen) others went underground which eventually became GNLA under the leadership of Lt. Sohan D. Shira.