A Meghalaya court Tuesday extended the judicial custody of Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chief Champion R. Sangma by 14 days, a lawyer said.
“The court of the deputy commissioner (judicial) has remanded Sangma to another 14 days’ judicial custody,” Public Prosecutor I.C. Jha told IANS.
The court has fixed Oct 9 for consideration of charges against Sangma who has been booked under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for waging war against the Indian state.
Earlier, Meghalaya Police had dropped cases filed against Sangma under sections 120 (A) and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code and a section of the Indian Passport Act.
Sangma, a former deputy superintendent of police who deserted the Meghalaya Police owing to alleged harassment by his superiors and floated the GNLA in November 2009, was fighting for a separate Garoland in the western part of Meghalaya.
He was arrested July 30 near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya. The state government terminated his services in July 2010.
Sangma’s legal counsel Sujit Dey said there are no plans to move a bail application for his client.
“His bail will be moved at the right time and so far he (Sangma) has not instructed me to move any bail,” Dey told journalists.
The GNLA, which has been outlawed by the Indian government, forged an operational alliance with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), which provided it access to sophisticated arms and ammunition.
GNLA rebels, who number around 100, have unleashed a reign of terror in the three impoverished districts of Garo Hills in the last one year and killed over 35 people, including security personnel.
