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In December 1872, the British sent out battalions to Garo Hills to establish their control in the region. The Garo warriors confronted them at Rongrenggiri with their spears, swords and shields. The battle that ensued was unmatched, as the Garos did not have guns or mortars like the British Army. Pa Togan Sangma or Togan Sangma or Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma was a Garo (Tibeto-Burman ethnic group from the subcontinent) tribal leader. Along with other Garo warriors, Pa Togan Sangma attacked the British officials while they were sleeping during their occupation of the region. Despite being ill-equipped, he came up with the idea of using huge shields made of plantain stems that could stop bullets from hitting the Garo warriors. He fell fighting with unmatched heroism and courage in December 1872.

Pa Togan Sangma is immortalised at the martyr's column in Shillong, where his name is enshrined along with U Tirot Sing and U Kiang Nongbah, the gallant heroes of the Khasis and Jaintias.