State police confirm UALA involvement
SHILLONG: Police on Thursday confirmed the involvement of the United Achik Liberation Army (UALA), a breakaway faction of ANVC (B), in the recent killing of seven people in Goalpara district of Assam.
“Parts of Goalpara district are traditionally a stronghold of UALA and there are indications that someone is using UALA as a mercenary as the outfit does not have any ideology,” the State police chief PJP Hanaman said.
The attack on Rabha victims came in the backdrop of opposition of many Garo NGOs against holding of elections to Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council.
Besides in Goalpara, UALA is mainly active in the contiguous areas of East Garo Hills.
Hanaman also confirmed that three members of the group, which was involved in the killing, have been identified.
According to reports shared with the Assam Police during the high level meeting held in Guwahati on Wednesday names of three militants – AG Momin, Rakman Momin and Nishan Sangma, had figured.
The mastermind of the attack is Norrok X Momin, alias Singbirth Marak, who is the chief of the outfit.
Earlier in a statement to the media, Singbirth had accused the ANVC-B leadership headed by Rimpu Marak and Mukosh Marak, chairman and commander-in-chief respectively, for aligning with the Rabha Hasong leadership in Assam to merge the Garo inhabited areas with the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council against the wishes of the inhabitants.
Reacting to it, Rimpu Marak clarified that his outfit would not interfere in the polls to be held for Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council.
In the past, Rimpu Marak had also alleged that there was a nexus between UALA, All India Garo Union (AIGU) and the Garo National Union (GNU) in not allowing the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council to function through proper election. Marak had also said that there is a need to investigate the support of UALA to Garo National Union and All India Garo Union of Assam against holding of autonomous