UALA peace pact
SHILLONG: The demand of United Achik Liberation Army (UALA) commander in chief Norrok X Momin, alias Singbirth N Marak for general amnesty has become the stumbling block for early disbandment of the cadres.
Earlier, dates in February and March were fixed for the disbanding ceremony and the new date is yet to be finalized.
Sources said on Sunday that during last week’s meeting with Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi and police officials in Tura, Norrok, who attended the meet for the first time, insisted for general amnesty for the crimes committed in the past.
However, the state government had made it clear that heinous crimes will be followed up and others will be withdrawn with the approval of the courts.
It was on December 18 last year that the Agreed Text of Settlement was signed between the state government and UALA in Tura.
As per the agreement, while the state government will examine the status of all the criminal cases involving leaders and cadres who will be subjected to due process of law with regard to FIRs filed against them, non- heinous cases may be withdrawn with the approval of the competent courts.
It was after breaking away from ANVC-B that Norrok had formed the UALA in February 2013.
Norrok was the action commander when he was with ANVC-B before forming UALA.
Later in October the same year Novembirth Marak, the former self-styled general secretary of GNLA, joined UALA as its chairman.
Besides the cadre strength of 70 including those recruited from Goalpara , the UALA also has many weapons in its possession, mostly taken away from ANVC-B.
Earlier, the UALA was involved in the killing of seven people, six from Rabha tribe in Goalpara on November 3, 2013 prior to the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council elections. Nine persons were injured in the incident.
As per police reports, UALA was also allegedly involved in Garo-Rabha conflicts in the Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council (RHAC) area of Goalpara and the neighboring Kamrup (Rural) district.
UALA had opposed inclusion of Garos in Assam in the RHAC.
Another crime was the killing of two jail officials allegedly by the outfit.
The district administration and police had in the past pointed out that Norrok, who was then with ANVC-B, was the mastermind behind the attack on Williamnagar jail in February, 2013 resutling in the death of two jail officials Assistant Jailer, Neil Warjri and Warder, Sarai Singh Thabah.
They were dragged out and shot dead in cold blood, but the ANVC-B had denied the charges.
Police had also initially suspected the role of GNLA behind the crime.
However, the magisterial probe into the incident did not name any militant outfit as responsible for the Williamnagar jail attack, but wanted the police to further investigate into the matter.