In a major development, Meghalaya police busted an entirely new set up of militants with the arrest of the new outfit’s chairman from the Hawakhana locality of Tura.
Informing on the development, West Garo Hills police, who worked in tandem with their counterparts from North, South and East Garo Hills, stated that the militants were busted during counterinsurgency operations in the past week.
The new outfit was to go by the name of A’chik National Socialist Council (ANSC).
“The self-styled chairman of the outfit, Chekam Ch Sangma, was apprehended from Hawakhana on September 25 and several incriminating documents, including hand written notes, pocket diary, etc, were recovered from him. He informed during interrogation that he formed the new group with another 25-30 like-minded people,” said Superintendent of Police Vivekanand Singh.
The group was apparently in the process of drafting its constitution and collecting weapons to start its operations with activities like kidnapping, extortion. Interestingly they were also in the process of setting up a pressure group (AKMA) that would initially help with collections for the group to buy weapons and spread terror.
The busting of the outfit, as per the SP, is also related to the earlier case of Tikrikilla. Members of the outfit had then been arrested and weapons seized. The arrested militants had informed that they were then in the process of forming a new outfit leading the police on a massive manhunt.
“They were in the process of undergoing training after enough weapons were procured. A case has been filed in this regard and an investigation is currently underway,” added the SP.
Besides Chekam, police have identified vice-chairman Wallison B Marak (alias Sengkim), Chijang A Sangma (Tejang, Jimmy), Krinsbar B Marak (Sopel, Silang), Arbas Marak (Roson, Jonbath), Raking A Sangma (Kasrang), Juliash N Sangma (Jelius, Selius), Chekam R Marak (Chekand), Hereson K Sangma (Mikdep), Daniel B Marak (Deny) and Nathalie R Sangma as members of the new outfit.
Many from the above-mentioned names were earlier part of various militant groups in Garo Hills that terrorized the region.
“Apart from these there are about 15-20 others suspected to be members of the new outfit and efforts are on to trace them. We also recovered two SBML guns and a 9mm pistol from them. They were related to the earlier case in Tikrikilla,” added Singh.
The Tikrikilla group had been involved in cases of weapon smuggling and multiple cases of vehicle theft.
