TURA: The southern commander of ASAK outfit has given himself up to authorities at Tura BSF headquarters on Tuesday evening giving a severe blow to the armed organization which has been highly active in the South Garo Hills region since its formation last year.
Southern commander of ASAK Dimsrang M Sangma alias Nawal surrendered before the BSF Deputy Inspector General at the sector headquarters in Dobasipara and handed over a 9 mm pistol with two magazines and eight live rounds along with a Motorola wireless communication handset.
The surrendered militant first joined the GNLA in 2010 and passed out of training from its third batch of recruits, he revealed to authorities. During his training at the Durama Hills, he was taught to handle AK-47 and AK-56 rifles, 7.65 pistol and other weapons to use against security forces. He was reportedly involved in several extortion cases in South and West Garo Hills districts and joined ASAK during its formation, last year.
“He confessed that he was one of the organizing members at the time of ASAK’s formation by former GNLA finance secretary Reding T Sangma,” revealed BSF sources.
Disillusioned with a life in the jungle and waging an armed struggle against the State, the ASAK commander gave himself up to return to the mainstream.
The field intelligence unit of the BSF is said to have played a crucial role in getting the commander to surrender.
ASAK is known to have a strong base and network in the South Garo Hills region from where most of its cadres and leaders hail. It is accused of a string of abductions and extortion in the remote southern district and has been fighting for space with its founder organization (GNLA) to expand its area of influence.
