North Garo Hills, March 29 : Former Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) Northern Zone Area Commander, Laden Ch. Sangma, also known as Chenang, has been arrested for the 2012 murder of a school teacher, Denybirth Momin.
Momin was brutally murdered outside his home in Resu Mepan Abri village on July 19, 2012, by a group of GNLA militants led by Sangma. The militants accused Momin of being a police informer. Police recovered AK ammunition casings, 9mm ammunition casings, and a GNLA letter claiming responsibility from the scene.
The case, registered at Mendipathar Police Station, North Garo Hills District remained pending for several years due to a lack of evidence. Initial investigations were hampered by public fear. However, police continued to investigate, and finally after gathering sufficient evidences into the case, the main accused person of the case Laden Ch. Sangma alias Chenang was arrested from Baghmara, South Garo Hills district on 27 March 2025 by Police Team of North Garo Hills.
During interrogation, Sangma revealed that he belonged to the first batch of GNLA recruits, trained in the Durama Hills. In 2012, he became the Area Commander of the Northern Zone. Before joining the GNLA, Sangma traded in selling A’chik swords (Millam), A’chik Shield (Sepi), and A’chik wearing Ornaments, which he used to travel to various villages. He met GNLA founder (L) Sohan D. Shira and a former member of ANVC at Nengmandalgre, and after several meetings, Sangma and 15 others went underground, forming the GNLA under Shira’s leadership.
