TURA: Garo militant outfit ASAK, which was formed by rebel GNLA militants, has called for a boycott of the Independence Day celebrations in Garo Hills.
The group, which has its presence in few pockets of Garo Hills, cited the failure of the government in addressing the demands of the Garo people as the reason for the boycott.
“Garos have long been seeking a separate state of Garoland but the government has not taken any steps to fulfil the aspirations of the people. As such we are calling for a total boycott of Independence Day celebrations,” said ASAK chief Reding T Sangma.
According to police the outfit has some influence in few remote areas of Garo Hills and is active mostly in the Baghmara-Kherapara-Dalu belt where it is involved in a spate of kidnappings and extortion rackets.
The group is the prime suspect in the abduction of bank employee Subodh Kumar Mishra from Gasuapara last week.
Recently, police from Dalu intercepted a group of ASAK militants who were trying to collect extortion money leading to a brief exchange of fire at Machangpani in which the militants fled leaving behind a semiautomatic pistol.