Hardcore militant gives cops a slip

SHILLONG: Hardcore militant William Sangma, who was planning to float a new outfit called United A’chik National Front (UANF), managed to give the cops a slip along with three others, leaving his vehicle behind during a police check in North Garo Hills on Sunday morning.
Earlier, police had said slain UALA chief Norok Momin had assisted Sangma in floating UANF. According to police, ambush was laid at various places since Saturday night to apprehend Sangma. On Sunday around 7.40am, a police team from Thapa Darengchi in North Garo Hills signalled a car to stop, but it suddenly turned sideways to a field and four occupants got out and fled.
The suspected militants did not pay any heed to the warning shot fired by the police.
Police recovered a Chinese-made carbine, ammunition, a Ford car and the key of another vehicle used for abduction in the past.
They said Sangma’s criminal activities extend from Karbi Anglong to Meghalaya.
He had once floated the A’chik Liberation Co-operative Army.
Sangma had escaped from police custody in Mendipathar in August 2014.
Police said last week, he abducted a businessman identified as Tapas Bhowmik from Remgre, Rari. Bhowmik is from Siliguri in West Bengal. They believe that Bhowmik’s family members paid ransom for his release.