ASAK gains notoriety as police focus on GNLA

SHILLONG: Taking advantage of the focus of the security forces on GNLA in Garo Hills, the ASAK militant outfit is on an extortion and kidnapping spree.
A recent case is that of the kidnapping of a labourer in South Garo Hills.
As per police, ASAK cadres from West Garo Hills kidnapped the labourer from a stone quarry from South Garo Hills on March 30.
A police official said that as the police forces are concentrating on the GNLA, a number of smaller groups including ASAK are taking advantage of the situation.
The outfit which benefitted from this ongoing operation is ASAK which was responsible for kidnapping and killing of Vikash Kumar, an officer of Intelligence Bureau last year.
Although ASAK commander Sengbathman D. Shira who had kidnapped and killed Kumar was subsequently killed in an encounter in South Garo Hills in February this year, Reding T. Sangma, ASAK commander-in-chief has gained prominence and has been instrumental in a couple of kidnappings in the past weeks.
Similarly, his associate known as Harara has been active in West Garo Hills and has also carried out a couple of kidnappings.
Reding himself is an ex-GNLA commander and his group has limited presence in South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills. Similarly, some activities of LAEF have also been reported.