TURA: The A’chik Matgrik Elite Force (AMEF) has suffered a major blow within its rank and file following the surrender of its senior most members before East Garo Hills police at Rongjeng on Monday.
As many as four of its high-ranking cadres gave themselves up to authorities along with three sophisticated automatic machine guns and a pistol and as many as 80 rounds live ammunition.
The four militants, Niksrang @ Rarik, Chiseng @ Guare, Basrang @ Asilang and Sudrakar @ Mikjrao surrendered and handed over an AK-56 and a AK-81 assault rifle, a Carbine machine gun and a 9 mm pistol along with 78 rounds of AK ammunition.
Three rounds of .32 ammo and 2 rounds of 9mm bullets together with AMEF demand pads and a receipt book.
Barring Sudrakar, the three other surrendered members belonged to the 5th batch of GNLA recruits who deserted their parent organization to join the AMEF, formed by former GNLA commander Jack Marak.
Jack was shot dead by North Garo Hills police in the first week of May, this year.
The surrendered cadres have revealed that they got disillusioned with the armed movement and wanted to return to the mainstream and be with their families.
The surrendered militants also revealed that the AMEF outfit has been operating without a full-fledged commander-in-chief since the death of Jack Marak.
On the claims made by another militant by the name of Timut alias Chijong who declared himself the self-styled military chief (C-in-C), the surrendered militants said that junior members staking claim for the leadership title had resulted in many seniors, including themselves, parting ways with the rebel outfit.
Currently, AMEF is being led by its self-styled chairman identified as Sengjan who hails from Mangsang village in East Garo Hills bordering West Khasi Hills.
UALA militant give up: The spate of surrenders by Garo militants continues to take place with another senior militant from the United A’chik Liberation Army (UALA) giving himself up to police in North Garo Hills district on Monday.
Nisan N Sangma (26) hailing from the Damas region surrendered before district police officials in North Garo Hills and handed over a 7.65 pistol with five rounds of ammunition.
He was earlier with the parent ANVC outfit but defected to the ANVC-B group formed by Bernard Rimpu N Marak and Bidith Marak alias Mukosh, informed North Garo Hills police.
When Singbirth Marak alias Norrok X Momin, self-styled action commander of ANVC-B, walked away from the organization with a group of cadres to form the UALA Nisan also joined their ranks.
ANLA finance secretary nabbed: In another breakthrough, Rongjeng police in East Garo Hills have arrested the finance secretary of another militant group- A’chik National Liberation Army (ANLA) on Sunday.
The finance secretary of ANLA identified as Binod A Sangma @Dilseng (22) hailing from Anchengbok area of upper Rongjeng was arrested after a tip off by another cadre by the name of Saddam A Sangma (18) who had been arrested from Wageasi Gambilage by Dainadubi police in North Garo Hills.
Rongmil police also arrested an ASAK cadre by the name of Neujal A Sangma @ Kengkrang from GAbil Bisa village.
