TURA: Security forces are on high alert for the dawn-to-dusk Garo Hills bandh called by the militant group A’chik Matgrik Elite force (AMEF) on Tuesday.
The AMEF outfit that is active in parts of East and North Garo hills districts have called the 5 am to 5 pm shutdown to protest the killing of their military chief Jack Marak who was gunned down by security forces in North Garo Hills over a week ago.
The militant chief was part of GNLA before breaking away with finance secretary Reding T Sangma to float the ASAK outfit. Jack Marak later drifted away to form the AMEF and was behind a string of kidnappings and attack on civilians, including the murder of a daily wager on mere suspicion of being a police informer.
He was killed when police stormed his hideout in Mandadrop village of Kharkutta on May 2. He was the prime suspect in the abduction of Dadenggre Block Development Officer P.K. Boro in 2011.
Earlier, Kuwatsring Matgrik, the publicity secretary of the outfit claimed in a statement that Jack Marak was not killed in gun battle with police but merely sustained a minor injury in the leg. He alleged that he was shot dead later after being mercilessly tortured.
While condemning the alleged inhuman act, the outfit has urged the people of Garo Hills to observe the bandh. However, it informed that emergency service providers like pharmacies, water tankers, milk vans, ambulances and other services including those people with medical emergencies would be exempted from the purview of bandh.
